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.

Shandel Sutherland • February 1, 2025

Fire Relief Fundraiser - American Legion Post 853

UPDATE: 2/7/2025 - ONLY 17 tickets left for the Fire Relief Fundraiser on 2/15/2025.

These tickets are now available ONLY at Post 853. If you want to support this effort, please stop in today to purchase your tickets - $30.00. The response from Borregans has been incredible! Casey is at the bar today. Stop in, say hi, have a beverage, purchase your tickets.

We look forward to seeing you at the steak dinner. THANK YOU!

- Post 853

BBQ Ribeye Steak Dinner and Live Music

The American Legion Post 853 is inviting the community to a Fire Relief Fundraiser on Saturday, February 15, 2025. This event aims to raise funds to support local fire victims, with proceeds going to the California Disaster Relief Grant. The evening will feature live music, a delicious dinner, and an opportunity for the community to come together for a meaningful cause.

Fire Relief Fundraiser: Quick Facts

Event Name: Fire Relief Fundraiser – BBQ Ribeye Steak Dinner and Live Music
Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025
Location: American Legion Post 853, 4515 Borrego Springs Road
Live Music: 4 PM to 7 PM (Glenn Smith and The Human Jukebox)
Dinner Service: 5 PM to 7 PM
Menu: Ribeye steak, baked potato, vegetables, Caesar salad, dinner roll, and dessert
Ticket Price: $30 per person (must be purchased by February 10)
Where to Purchase Tickets:

Post 853 Bar:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 3 PM to 7 PM

Tuesday: 3 PM to 9 PM

Saturday: 11 AM to 7 PM

Sunday: 11 AM to 5 PM

Bargain Barn:

Friday and Saturday, 9 AM to 2 PM

Fundraising Goal: $2,000 to support the California Disaster Relief Grant
Proceeds: Donations will benefit fire victims through the California Disaster Relief Grant
Open to the Public: Everyone is welcome to attend or donate
Donations: Can be dropped off at Post 853 or the Bargain Barn

This event brings the community together to support fire victims while enjoying live music and a hearty dinner.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Borrego Springs Honors Veterans at Christmas Circle

By Andrea McKenna • November 12, 2026

American Legion Post 853 hosted Borrego Springs’ Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 11, at the Christmas Circle Community Park bandstand.

Borrego, November 1949: Ten Cents a Copy

By Andrea McKenna • November 2, 2026

Actor Jon Hall, Borrego’s new honorary marshal (center), with the October 1949 Borrego Sun at the opening of Hoberg’s Desert Resort. From left: Sun publisher Paul Strand, Paramount starlet Mari Blanchard, actress Beverly Tyler and Jack Benson of Benson Tours. Photo by Gaylord Johnson, Borrego Sun, November 1949. Courtesy of the Fred Jee Collection.

Old Borego Open House Celebrates the Valley’s Historic Heart

By Martha Deichler • October 31, 2026

Please join the Civic Foundation for its annual Old Borego Days celebration No, Borrego is not misspelled in the title above. This is the way Borrego was spelled back in 1928, when the first post office opened in what is now called “Old Borego.” The site is located at 1580 Rango Way. Please join the Civic Foundation for its annual Old Borego Days celebration of the historic heart of the Borrego Valley on Sunday, November 8, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The turnoff from Rango Way will be marked with a sign. Please note that no restrooms are available. Visitors will be able to enter the old post office and general store, originally run by Eslie Wynn, and view a fascinating video from the 1950s extolling the virtues of life in Borrego Springs. One of the first homes in Borrego Springs will also be open for public viewing, offering a nostalgic look back at life in the community’s earlier years. In addition, Borrego Springs Elementary School fourth graders, who study California history, will have their essays on display. Three students will receive awards for their writing on “Borego Now and Then.” Ram Media Foundation, the nonprofit behind the Borrego Sun, will also share display items from its archive, offering another glimpse into the valley’s past. Old Borego Days Sunday, November 8, 2026 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. 1580 Rango Way, Borrego Springs