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 • July 8, 2026

Flashback: Bill & Jenny Wright’s Lasting Impact On Community Concerts

When the future of the Community Concert Association was uncertain, Bill Wright inspired a path forward through growth, volunteers and community support.

As the Borrego Springs Community Concert Association announces its new season, it is worth remembering the people who helped keep this tradition alive.

Founded in 1975, the all-volunteer nonprofit brings high-quality, eclectic music to Borrego Springs. Each season includes five public concerts and four free educational concerts for local students. Children are bused to the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center to experience professional live music, and musicians also visit local schools for interactive programs that introduce students to music up close.

That tradition almost came to an end.

When the Association had fallen on hard times (2015) and was preparing to disband, Bill Wright stepped forward. By reaching out to his many business associates, Bill raised enough money to help save the organization and keep professional musicians coming to the Borrego stage.

Among his written correspondence with the board, Bill Wright repeatedly advocated for “growth, not reduction,” encouraged members to “recruit new volunteers” and “develop sponsorship opportunities,” and closed one letter with a promise that captured his commitment: “We will do more than our share to keep the great music series going.”

Richard Gray, who later served as Managing Director, and the board took on that mission and ran with it, helping preserve both public concerts at the theater and free school concerts for Borrego Springs students. In a rural community without formal music education, these programs give many local children one of their only opportunities to experience professional live music and stage performance up close. Gray continues to support the Association behind the scenes.

Today, Virginia Sloan Perrin, who has been involved with the Association for decades, serves as chair alongside a dedicated volunteer board.

As Gray remembered, “Bill was my friend. And a friend to many other causes in our community. Next time you visit the Library, say, thank you! I always do.”

The Borrego Springs Community Concert Association continues because of volunteers, donors, members and sponsors who believe live music should be accessible to everyone, including Borrego Springs’ youngest audiences.

To support the new season, student performances and the future of live music in Borrego Springs, consider becoming a member, sponsor or donor.

Hands-On Music Education Inspires the Next Generation

Elizabeth Renner and Jinny Perrin, both retired music teachers and BSCCA board members, help guide the student programs by bringing hands-on music education and experience directly to local students.

Local students are bused to the theater to enjoy a free live concert.

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To support the future of local media and preserve the past, please contact Andrea at andrea@rammediafoundation.org.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

A Yacht Club in the Borrego Desert

By Andrea McKenna • September 28, 2026

Borrego Springs Yacht Club Brings Model Sailboat Racing to Rams Hill Borrego Springs is home to an unusual desert pastime: model yacht racing. The Borrego Springs Yacht Club was founded in 2010 by Steve Luckman and Dennis Daoust. The club has grown to about 40 members and operates at a pond on the former nine-hole golf course at Rams Hill. Members race V32 sailboats, 32-inch non-motorized model boats controlled remotely through their sails and rudders. The boats were manufactured in California for decades but are no longer in production. Races typically draw 16 to 20 boats, with courses marked by duck decoys used as buoys. The racing season runs from November through May, although members can practice throughout the year. Six club events are held during the season, including Opening Day in November, the Pacific Cap in January, the Invitational in February, the Misplace Race in March, the Powder Puff in April and the Tequila Bowl in May. Winners receive trophies that are held until the next event. The club also maintains a palapa-style clubhouse and hillside seating overlooking the pond, providing space for members and spectators during race days. Membership was listed at $250 per year. The Borrego Springs Yacht Club offers a distinctive local version of sailing, combining competition, model boat craftsmanship and community activity in the desert. If you have any interest, contact Dennis Daoust at captain-havoc@earthlink.net .