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 • January 15, 2026

KRAM 90.5 Brings Public Radio to Borrego Springs

Great news! KRAM 90.5 FM is now live and broadcasting 24/7 in Borrego Valley!!

The Ram Media Foundation building at 730 Christmas Circle, now home of KRAM 90.5 FM in Borrego Springs.

Borrego Springs is gaining a new public radio presence.

KRAM 90.5 FM is now established at 730 Christmas Circle, marking the arrival of a locally based public radio station and community media space in the Borrego Valley. The station operates from the former Wells Fargo building, which has been repurposed for public broadcasting and related media uses.

KRAM 90.5 is an FCC-licensed station and an initiative of the Ram Media Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The project has been in development for approximately three years and broadcasts at 90.5 FM, making it accessible to listeners at home, in their cars, and through digital platforms.

The station carries programming from KPBS, creating a broadcast connection between Borrego Springs and San Diego County public media. KPBS reaches an estimated 250,000 weekly listeners countywide, and KRAM 90.5 is included in KPBS station identifications, giving Borrego Springs regular mention across regional airwaves.

Gabriel Wisdom, founder of the Ram Media Foundation, said the partnership reflects both local and regional priorities.

“By airing programming from KPBS on KRAM 90.5 FM, we’re linking Borrego Springs with trusted journalism, and a cultural connection that strengthens civic life in San Diego’s beautiful desert community,” Wisdom said.

Wisdom said the station’s call letters were selected to reflect the surrounding landscape.

“The call letters KRAM honor the area’s famous bighorns that roam freely in the foothills,” he said.

He added that the collaboration balances local identity with broader reach.

“The KRAM–KPBS alliance is grounded in local identity, while keeping San Diego’s close-knit desert population connected to the wider world.”

Anne-Sophie Gaudet, muralist, with Gabriel Wisdom beside the KRAM 90.5 FM sign in Borrego Springs.

Former Wells Fargo Becomes Home of KRAM 90.5

The building at 730 Christmas Circle has long been a recognizable landmark in Borrego Springs. Its transition from a commercial banking space into a radio station reflects a shift toward public service and community use.

Exterior updates include station signage and a large-scale mural by artist Anne-Sophie Gaudet, whose work is familiar throughout the Anza-Borrego region. The mural reflects the desert landscape and Borrego Springs’ dark-sky environment, featuring a bighorn sheep beneath a star-filled night sky.

Interior spaces support station operations, with additional uses planned as the project continues to develop. The layout allows flexibility for broadcasting functions and future community-oriented activity.

Who Is Gabriel Wisdom

Gabriel Wisdom is the founder of the Ram Media Foundation and the creator of KRAM 90.5 FM in Borrego Springs, a locally based public radio station connecting the community with regional and national public media.

His career includes nationally syndicated radio, public radio contributions, and television commentary. He began his broadcast career in the late 1960s as a DJ at KPRI-FM in San Diego and later worked at major stations including KGB-FM San Diego and KMET-FM Los Angeles during the formative years of FM rock radio. His early radio experience informed elements of the film Almost Famous, and he assisted filmmaker Cameron Crowe in recreating the KPRI studio used in the movie.

In addition to his media work, Wisdom is a professional portfolio manager with AMM Investment Management, providing investment services for individuals, retirement accounts, and organizations.

Wisdom is also a licensed pilot and, with his wife Diana, owns the Borrego Airport Pilot House on historic homesteaded land adjacent to Borrego Valley Airport. The property supports aviation-related gatherings and community events. The couple regularly spend time in Borrego Springs and maintain strong ties to the area.

Additional context on Wisdom’s role in the early FM radio era is available in the documentary KGB: The FM Radio Revolution, available on YouTube.

Related Initiatives

In addition to the KRAM 90.5 project, Wisdom is involved in creative work focused on the Southern California desert.

He recently released Salton Sea Tales, an eco-thriller novel set in the Salton Sea region that explores environmental risk, resource extraction, and survival in the California desert. Proceeds from the book support the Ram Media Foundation.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Puttin’ on the Glitz Gala to Support Performing Arts in Borrego Springs

By BSPAC • November 13, 2026

Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center is seeking sponsors for its November 21 fundraiser

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.

SLOWJAMASTAN CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE WITH HISTORIC TERRITORIAL EXPANSION

By Robert Dobalina, Slowjamastan • November 12, 2026

World-Famous Micronation to Announce Five-Acre Expansion, Unveil Two New States During November 14 Jubilee The Republic of Slowjamastan is celebrating its fifth anniversary of independence with a historic announcement: the nation is expanding its territory by nearly 50 percent. On Saturday, November 14, from 1–3 PM, Slowjamastan will host its 5th Anniversary of Independence Jubilee, featuring the official announcement and ribbon-cutting ceremony for five newly acquired acres of land, one for each year of independence. The five additional acres, contiguous with the nation's existing 11-acre territory, bring Slowjamastan's total footprint to 16 acres. The public is invited to participate in the festivities, which include: • Historic ribbon-cutting celebrating Slowjamastan's territorial expansion. • Two new states officially commemorated within the nation. • Visa-free entry for the first 10,000 visitors. Crocs remain strictly prohibited. • Free Cactus Cooler while supplies last. • Meet and greet with The Sultan and the Chief of the Porder Batrol. "Five years. Five acres. Sixteen acres of freedom, questionable legislation, and absolutely no Crocs," said The Sultan. "Most countries celebrate anniversaries with cake. We bought more country." Founded in 2021, the Republic of Slowjamastan has attracted worldwide media attention for its unconventional approach to nation-building, complete with its own government, passports, border checkpoints, and national traditions. EVENT DETAILS What: Slowjamastan's 5th Anniversary of Independence Jubilee When: Saturday, November 14, 2026 | 1–3 PM Where: Republic of Slowjamastan, Imperial County, California. See slowjamastan.org/location Admission: Free Learn more about Slowjamastan: www.slowjamastan.org MEDIA CONTACT Robert Dobalina bob@slowjamastan.org

Community Resource Center Invites Everyone to Annual Friend-Raiser Open House

By Andrea McKenna • November 11, 2026

Food, friends, entertainment and community spirit come together Friday, November 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center (CRC) in The Mall. The Borrego Springs Community Resource Center is opening its doors for its annual Friend-Raiser Open House, inviting residents, visitors and newcomers to stop by, meet some friendly faces and learn more about the organization. The CRC is an important part of the Borrego Springs community, providing food assistance, educational opportunities and programs that bring people together. From its food bank to citizenship classes, Spanish lessons, computer literacy, exercise and Ballet Folklórico, the center offers resources and activities for people of all ages. The Friend-Raiser is an opportunity to see what the CRC is all about, meet the people behind its programs and connect with neighbors in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Guests can enjoy food, wine and presentations featuring Las Flores del Desierto Ballet Folklórico , along with local dogs training for American Kennel Club (AKC) Rally Obedience titles. Whether you're a longtime supporter, new to Borrego Springs or simply curious about what the CRC offers, everyone is welcome to come by. Stop in, say hello, meet some friendly faces and celebrate the community connections that make Borrego Springs special! Event Details Friend-Raiser Open House Friday, November 13, 2026 5–8 p.m. Community Resource Center (CRC) Located in The Mall, Borrego Springs All are welcome!

SAVE THE DATE!: ARTTALK with artist ARhAyas PSonn AllureA

By Elizabeth Rodriquez • November 11, 2026

Join the artist ARhAyas PSonn AllureA for ARTTALK on Saturday, November 21 at 3pm at The Gallery at The Palms to converse about his assemblage collages relating to the erasure of Goddess wisdom and its metamorphosis to time present. Refreshments will be served for your enjoyment. The Gallery at The Palms is located at 2220 Hoberg Road, Borrego Springs, Ca. 92004

OpiCure Ascent to Freedom ride: Uniting community to honor recovery

By OpiCure Foundation • November 10, 2026

This is more than a bike ride. The OpiCure Ascent to Freedom Ride in Borrego Springs takes place Saturday, November 21, and brings together riders, friends, families, and the recovery community for a full day of connection and celebration, in association with Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Join the ride through the desert, jump into the pickleball tournament (all skill levels welcome), and enjoy meals provided for the riders as we come together to mark sobriety, share stories, and support one another. Whether you’re riding, playing, volunteering, or simply showing up, you’re part of this. Come be part of something bigger than any single activity — come be part of the Ascent to Freedom. “We wanted this to be a fun day that everyone can enjoy. Come meet the Opicure Community and grow with us,” says OpiCure Foundation President Cullen Easter. In the heart of the Anza-Borrego Desert, this inaugural OpiCure event brings together people in recovery, their families, and the cycling community to celebrate sobriety, share stories of strength, and raise awareness about the opioid crisis. "By turning the simple act of riding into a collective ascent toward freedom, it shows that recovery is possible, community heals, and every pedal stroke can move us closer to a life beyond addiction," says Cullen. "The OpiCure Ascent to Freedom is about community, movement, and celebrating recovery in every form." OpiCure Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Foundation focused on addressing opioid-related addiction and deaths. More information on the event is available at opicureride.com .