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 5, 2026

OLAX and American Legion Team Up for a Successful Community Night

Celebrating Tacos, Lotería, and Community

On Saturday, May 30, tacos, lotería, and community spirit filled American Legion Post 853 as OLAX de LatinX and the Legion teamed up for their first collaborative community event.

The evening drew approximately 150 people, including kids, parents, grandparents, veterans, and longtime residents. Guests enjoyed tacos, lotería, karaoke, friendly competition, and time together across generations.

Children played inside and outside while adults gathered around tables, visited with neighbors, and took part in the evening’s activities. The event created a warm, lively atmosphere and showed how much Borrego Springs values opportunities to come together.

The OLAX team worked hard in the kitchen and throughout the event, preparing food, serving guests, and helping keep the evening running smoothly. They worked alongside the American Legion team, making the night a true example of two local groups coming together with shared purpose.

Photos by Kym McNabb of American Legion Post 853.

While this was the first event hosted together by OLAX de LatinX and American Legion Post 853, it was not their first connection. Earlier this year, the Legion passed its long-running recycling program at Center Market to OLAX, allowing an important local service to continue.

OLAX de LatinX is a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting and empowering the LatinX community of Borrego Springs. Its mission focuses on community growth, unity, positive change, and creating a better future for local families and neighbors.

American Legion Post 853, located on Borrego Springs Road, has served veterans and the Borrego Springs community since its charter in 1998. Known as “The Hottest Post in the State,” the Post supports active and retired military veterans, their families, scholarships for local youth, and community programs and projects.

This first community event was significant because it brought together two local organizations with shared goals: service, support, and community connection. The strong turnout showed how much Borrego Springs values events that connect people across generations and cultures.

One special moment came when attendees sang “Happy Birthday” to Borrego Springs Youth Intern Mia Garcia, who celebrated her 14th birthday while helping at the event. Mia also spent part of the evening documenting the gathering and interviewing Commander Dennis O’Leary about the first OLAX-Legion partnership.

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, cooked, served, organized, and helped make the evening a success. Events like this show the strength of Borrego Springs when local organizations work together.

"This partnership brings together two organizations dedicated to supporting students, veterans, and the Borrego Springs community." — Dennis O'Leary, Commander, American Legion Post 853

"OLAX is an organization that supports and celebrates Hispanic culture and provides scholarships." — Mia Garcia, Borrego Sun Youth Intern