How big is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

More than 600,000 acres, or roughly 1,000 square miles. It is the largest state park in California and the third largest in the United States, spanning parts of San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties.

How much does it cost to enter Anza-Borrego?

Day use is $10 per vehicle, collected at the Visitor Center, developed campgrounds and several popular trailheads including The Slot and Hellhole Canyon. The park has no entrance gates and much of it can be accessed without a fee.

When is wildflower season at Anza-Borrego?

Annual wildflowers can appear from January through mid-April, with peak bloom most often between late February and early April. Timing varies year to year based on rainfall and temperature.

Is Anza-Borrego a Dark Sky Park?

Yes. The park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018 at Silver tier. Borrego Springs, the town at its center, has been an International Dark Sky Community since 2009, the first in California.

Do I need four-wheel drive at Anza-Borrego?

Not for the paved roads, the Visitor Center or the main campgrounds. The vast majority of the park's roughly 500 miles of dirt roads do require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park open at night?

Yes, the park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The Visitor Center is open daily 9am to 5pm October through May, and weekends and holidays only June through September.

June 5, 2026

Borrego Springs California by Copley Productions

www.youtube.com/@Road2

Vintage Borrego Springs: Two Historic Films by Copley Press

This vintage video features two films about Borrego Springs created by Copley Press.

The first film, “A New Beginning,” was made in 1957. The second film, “A New Way of Life,” begins around the 25-minute mark and was made in 1964. That second film was narrated by Gale Gordon, known for his work on I Love Lucy.

Together, these films offer a fascinating look at how Borrego Springs was promoted, developed, and imagined during the mid-20th century.

Borrego Springs is located in San Diego County and is completely surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest state park. The community is known for its small businesses, restaurants, lodging, Christmas Circle, Borrego Days Desert Festival, and its protected night skies as an officially recognized International Dark Sky Community.

The name Anza-Borrego comes from explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and “borrego,” Spanish for little lamb, referring to the area’s desert bighorn sheep.