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 • June 3, 2026

From a Baseball Field to Camp Borrego: A Story from the Anza-Borrego Foundation Blog

ABF’s latest blog explores the surprising chain of events that led to the creation of Camp Borrego.

The Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF) regularly publishes stories about the history, conservation, education, and people connected to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. One of the latest entries in its blog series, Moments in Time with Dave Van Cleve, shares how an unexpected conversation ultimately led to the creation of Camp Borrego.

Dave Van Cleve has deep ties to Anza-Borrego. He served as superintendent of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park beginning in 1989 and later oversaw six additional state parks, including Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. After retiring from state service, he worked with The Nature Conservancy and helped add more than 1,000 acres to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

According to Van Cleve, the idea for Camp Borrego began during a meeting about a drainage project at a baseball field at Cuyamaca Outdoor School. While discussing the project, he raised the possibility of creating an outdoor school experience in Anza-Borrego. Educators told him that sixth-grade outdoor education opportunities were already well established, but suggested that a fifth-grade program in the desert could fill an important need.

Van Cleve brought the idea back to ABF, where staff began working through the challenges of transportation, housing, meals, staffing, and program development. With approval from the park, an area in Borrego Palm Canyon became the home of Camp Borrego. Early students stayed in camping tents before the facilities evolved to include Gers and later yurts.

For the first several years, the program was offered free of charge through grants and private donations. During its first decade, Camp Borrego served more than 300 students annually from 10 to 11 schools. Today, the program continues to serve Borrego Springs students while ABF works toward expanding educational opportunities in the future.

The story is a reminder that some of the most important community programs begin with a simple conversation and a willingness to act on an opportunity. Readers interested in Anza-Borrego history, conservation, and education can find this and many other stories on the Anza-Borrego Foundation blog, which is updated regularly with new articles and insights from those who have helped shape the park.