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 27, 2026

Frosted Faces Foundation Gives Senior Pets a Second Chance

Helping Senior Dogs and Cats Find Love, Comfort, and Family in Their Golden Years

For many local animal lovers, pets are family. Frosted Faces Foundation, a nonprofit based in Ramona, is helping senior dogs and cats receive the love, medical care, and second chances they deserve while also creating meaningful companionship opportunities for older adults.

Founded in 2014 by Kelly and Andy Smíšek, Frosted Faces Foundation began by fostering senior shelter dogs who were often overlooked because of their age or medical needs. What started as a small rescue effort quickly grew into a larger mission focused on saving aging pets and supporting the people who care for them.

Today, the organization works closely with shelters to rescue senior animals facing uncertain futures. Each pet receives individualized veterinary treatment, rehabilitation, behavioral support, and the opportunity to be adopted into a loving home.

For residents considering adoption, senior animals can be an especially good fit for a quieter desert lifestyle. Older dogs and cats are often calmer, already house-trained, and happy to enjoy companionship, short walks, and peaceful routines.

One of Frosted Faces Foundation’s unique efforts is its Seniors for Seniors program, designed for adults age 65 and older. The program helps connect seniors with companion animals while reducing barriers that may make pet adoption feel difficult later in life.

The organization thoughtfully matches adopters with pets based on lifestyle and care needs, while volunteers help provide added support when needed. Assistance can include transportation to veterinary appointments, prescription pickups, delivery of pet supplies, and regular check-ins.

Participants may also access complimentary veterinary services through Frosted Faces Foundation’s on-site clinic. If a senior adopter is hospitalized, the pet can temporarily board at the facility free of charge. If an adopter can no longer care for the animal, the pet can return to the foundation.

In addition to adoption services, Frosted Faces Foundation offers temporary boarding during family emergencies, financial assistance for veterinary care, foster opportunities, and long-term care planning programs that help ensure pets remain safe if their owners pass away.

In 2016, the nonprofit purchased its Ramona facility to provide a safe transitional space for senior animals needing medical care or behavioral support. In 2021, it opened an on-site veterinary hospital focused on the specialized needs of older pets.

At the heart of the organization is a belief that growing old is not a burden, but a privilege.

For those looking to adopt, foster, volunteer, or support senior pets, Frosted Faces Foundation is helping create brighter final chapters for animals who still have plenty of love left to give.