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.

Andrea McKenna • May 25, 2026

Emergency Cooling Assistance Program Returns for Summer Heat Season

Borrego Ministers Association prepares to help residents stay safe

As temperatures begin to rise in Borrego Springs, the Borrego Ministers Association is preparing once again to assist residents facing dangerous indoor heat conditions through its Emergency Cooling Assistance Program.

Last summer, the program helped local residents whose home cooling systems failed during periods of extreme heat. Working alongside local company HVAC, the Borrego Ministers Association provided temporary portable air-conditioning units and emergency cooling support for households experiencing unsafe living conditions.

The program served residents living in trailers, older homes, and other structures where cooling systems struggled or stopped working altogether during prolonged high temperatures.

One resident, Kelly, described the dangerous conditions inside her trailer after her roof unit failed during a severe heat wave.

“It just doesn’t seem to stay cool at all when it’s 126 degrees outside,” she said. “We were just all slowly cooking.”

The Emergency Cooling Assistance Program was originally supported through a Courageous Love Grant from the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and continues to focus on protecting vulnerable residents during extreme summer weather.

“Our goal is simple,” said Fr. Dave Madsen of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. “We want people to stay safe, stay healthy, and get through the heat.”

As additional portable cooling units become available, the Borrego Ministers Association hopes to expand assistance to more households throughout the summer season.

Residents needing emergency cooling assistance or wanting more information about the program may contact Borrego Ministers Association at borregoministersassociation.org