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 • June 27, 2024

Paul Thomas Anderson Filming Around Borrego Springs

Paul Thomas Anderson's New Film Partially Filmed Around Borrego Springs

An upcoming untitled film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, and Sean Penn is set to hit theaters on August 8, 2025. This film has generated buzz not just for its star-studded cast and director, but also for its unique filming locations, including in and around Borrego Springs.

YouTube: @Road2

Local Filming Locations

Part of the film's production took place in and around Borrego Springs, capturing the natural beauty and landscapes that define our area. Key scenes were shot along Montezuma Road, Henderson Canyon, Hellhole Canyon, and other spots within the Anza-Borrego Desert area. These locations will provide a stunning and authentic desert backdrop for the film.

Who is Paul Thomas Anderson?

Paul Thomas Anderson, also known as P.T. Anderson, is an acclaimed American filmmaker born on June 26, 1970, in Studio City, California. He is known for his distinctive storytelling and stylistic filmmaking, influenced by his early access to a vast array of films and his upbringing in the San Fernando Valley.

Notable Films:

Hard Eight (1996)
Boogie Nights (1997)
Magnolia (1999)
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
There Will Be Blood (2007)
The Master (2012)
Inherent Vice (2014)
Phantom Thread (2017)

P.T. Anderson's films are known for their complex characters, innovative use of lighting, and ensemble casts.

Crashed Cars Parked at Borrego Springs Resort - Paul Thomas Anderson Movie

Borrego Springs Resort Hosts Hollywood

Borrego Springs Resort hosted the production crews during their stay, providing accommodation and serving as a venue for wrap-up events and other logistics. The resort became a hub of activity, offering a glimpse into the workings of a major film production.

Photo By: Sicco Rood

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio spotted filming in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park on May 24, 2024, for Paul Thomas Anderson's untitled film, releasing Aug. 8, 2025.

www.nbcsandiego.com

Film's Plot

Fox5SanDiego suggested that Sicco Rood believes the movie is a modern adaptation of the 1990 Thomas Pynchon novel “Vineland.” According to Goodreads, the book is about “a group of Americans in Northern California in 1984 that are struggling with the consequences of their lives in the 60s.” Learn More About Vineland

"It will be the director's most commercial effort to date, with Variety reporting the budget is approaching $100 million." - Variety

Social Media Mentions:

Leo arriving at the beginning of the week in Borrego Springs to film
by u/juju1174 in paulthomasanderson

Montezuma Valley Rd. closed for filming

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The Cinema of Paul Thomas Anderson (Director Cuts)

Learn More:

Leonardo DiCaprio landed at the Borrego Valley Airport -Borrego Sun

Movie Filming in Borrego Springs - Borrego Sun

The Montezuma Grade: Anza Borrego State Park

Jonny Greenwood to Score New Paul Thomas Anderson Film - Consequence.net

Actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn film in Borrego Springs - Desert Sun

Learn More About Film in Borrego Springs

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.

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 .