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.

Sally Walsh, Art Critic • November 13, 2026

Mixed Tempos & Goddesses | Art Review

Artist ARhAyas PSonn AllureA — The Gallery at The Palms, November 2026

The Mythological Metamorphosis Memorials show celebrates the Goddess as a source of inspiration and creativity. The goddess and fine art have long been closely linked, from ancient religious worship to allegory. Throughout art history, the goddess has been both a subject of art and the personification of creativity itself.

ARhAyas PSonn AllureA - The Second Kiss - The Gallery at the Palms

ARhAyas PSonn AllureA works as an artist and shaman, and his art is the outlet for his deep spiritual exploration of the Goddess. In his work, the artist and the shaman are joined in creativity.

He is an advanced collage artist with excellent technical skills. He builds a single picture from layers of cut-out color printed images, overlapping photographs and magazine clippings to create a seamless new narrative. He often adds elements of assemblage, the three-dimensional extension of collage.

"The Second Kiss," an assemblage/collage with gold leaf embellishment, stands out. It was inspired by Austrian Symbolist Gustav Klimt's famous painting The Kiss.

Working with writer and poet Ahran, the artist also created a Rune Tarot card set with a companion guidebook and a 3D-printed Rune dice set.

For a deeper understanding of PSonn's art, attend the ART TALK with ARhAyas PSonn AllureA on Saturday, November 21, at 3 p.m. at The Palms Gallery, The Palms. PSonn will talk about how his current show relates to the erasure of Goddess wisdom and its metamorphosis into the present.

The Gallery at The Palms

2220 Hoberg Road

Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Mixed Tempos — Studio 628 & Galeria el Patio

Continues through November 30, 2026

The show was a spectacular opening for Galeria el Patio, Gary Henderson's second gallery. The crowd was desert chic, and artist Kippi Leonard was a highlight. Palm Springs Life featured her in its November issue as an "Artist Trailblazer," which is well-deserved recognition.

Artist Kippi Leonard at Galeria el Patio.

The collection includes original works by Palm Springs artists Kevin Goddess and Robert Landry, Borrego local Wil Garner, sculptor Marcy Gregory and artist Victoria Johnson. All of them are outstanding, and the level of fine art in this show is impressive. Henderson has been praised for his choice of artists, and the two galleries show high-end work by professional artists.

Gary Henderson and Kevin Goddess at Galeria el Patio.

Artist Robert Landry at Galeria el Patio.

It's an exciting gallery experience in a space designed by owner Gary Henderson, an award-winning designer.

Inside Studio 628 at el Patio.

Galeria el Patio

Gallery hours: 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment.

628 Palm Canyon Drive, el Patio

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Borrego Springs ArtWalk Set for December 5

By Andrea McKenna • November 13, 2026

Borrego Art Institute and The Gallery at The Palms welcome visitors for an evening of art Borrego Springs ArtWalk will take place Saturday, December 5, from 5 to 7 p.m., with Borrego Art Institute and The Gallery at The Palms welcoming residents and visitors to explore their galleries. Part of the 2026–27 ArtWalk season, the event brings evening gallery visits to Borrego Springs on the first Saturday of the month. The December gathering offers an opportunity to browse exhibitions and include both locations in a night out around town. Borrego Art Institute is located at 665 Palm Canyon Drive, at Christmas Circle. The Gallery at The Palms is located at The Palms at Indian Head, 2220 Hoberg Road. For more information, contact Borrego Art Institute at 760-767-5122 or gallery@borregoartinstitute.org , or The Gallery at The Palms at 760-767-7788 or stay@thepalmsatindianhead.com .