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 • August 31, 2026

Imperial Valley Data Center Proposes Recycled Water Plan for Salton Sea

Proposal claims recycled wastewater could support Salton Sea restoration without using Colorado River water

A proposed data center project in Imperial Valley has generated debate over its potential effects on water resources, energy infrastructure and the environment.

The Imperial Valley Data Center (IVDC) is proposed for a site in Imperial County. Supporters of the project say it would use treated municipal wastewater for cooling operations rather than Colorado River water or groundwater. They also say treated wastewater associated with the project could provide benefits to the Salton Sea.

The proposal comes as the Salton Sea continues to face significant environmental challenges. Declining water inflows have contributed to falling water levels, exposing additional lakebed and raising concerns about dust emissions, air quality, wildlife habitat and public health.

Supporters argue the project could bring economic investment, jobs and infrastructure improvements to the region while utilizing recycled water resources.

Critics and some public officials have raised concerns about the project's overall environmental impacts, energy demands, water sourcing, and the adequacy of environmental review. Questions surrounding water supply agreements, infrastructure requirements and regulatory approvals have been part of ongoing public discussions.

The project has attracted attention from local governments, residents, environmental groups and business organizations throughout Imperial Valley. Supporters and opponents continue to disagree on whether the project's potential benefits outweigh its potential impacts.

For Borrego Springs residents, the discussion is relevant because the long-term health of the Salton Sea affects regional air quality, wildlife habitat and environmental conditions across the desert region.

Sources

IVDC project article:
https://www.ourimperialvalley.com/ivdc-net-water-positive-salton-sea-restoration/

KPBS reporting:
https://www.kpbs.org/news/environment/

California Salton Sea Management Program:
https://saltonsea.ca.gov/

Imperial Irrigation District:
https://www.iid.com/

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Renate Nishio holistic bodywork brochure, Borrego Springs

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Phil Mickelson called her with food poisoning two days before Torrey Pines. Meet Renate Nishio, who helped make Borrego Springs a place people come to heal.

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By Andrea McKenna • October 29, 2026

Photo courtesy of Mike Rogers.

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By Shirley Vialpando • October 23, 2026

For Shirley Vilapando, Borrego Springs has always been more than a place to live. It has been a community of friendship, faith, support and belonging.

Tony Cecena to Lead Both Borrego Springs Resorts

By Andrea McKenna • October 13, 2026

The lifelong Borregan will oversee Borrego Springs Resort while continuing as General Manager of La Casa del Zorro. Tony Cecena has been appointed General Manager of Borrego Springs Resort in addition to his current role leading La Casa del Zorro, according to an announcement shared by Chris Adams. The appointment brings together two familiar desert destinations under shared leadership. La Casa del Zorro offers guest rooms and private casitas, dining, pools, tennis and pickleball. Borrego Springs Resort features rooms and suites with mountain or pool views, a heated pool and lighted tennis courts. For Cecena, the expanded role reconnects him with a property where he spent 22 years working across hotel and food operations, technology, accounting and sales. He began his hospitality career at La Casa del Zorro while attending high school. Adams described the arrangement as a partnership rooted in cooperation and collaboration, praising Cecena’s passion for hospitality. With deep ties to both properties, Cecena brings decades of experience and a longstanding commitment to the Borrego Springs community.

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