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.

Ram Media Foundation • May 19, 2026

Press Release: Ram Media Foundation Acquires Historic Borrego Sun

Ram Media Foundation buys Historic Borgess Sun, expanding local journalism and digital community media.

Dedicated to Expanding Local Journalism and Digital Community Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BORREGO SPRINGS, Calif. — Ram Media Foundation, a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on strengthening community through media, has acquired the historic Borrego Sun, reinforcing its commitment to local journalism, public media access, and community storytelling in Borrego Springs and surrounding desert communities.

Founded in 1949, the Borrego Sun has served as a local source of news for more than 75 years. Acquired in 1954 by Copley Press, the newspaper became part of San Diego’s broader media landscape while maintaining its strong local identity. Patrick Meehan purchased the Borrego Sun from Copley Press in 2011 and operated the newspaper until its acquisition by Ram Media Foundation.

The newspaper’s legacy is also reflected in the Borrego Sun archives spanning from 1949 to the present, which were acquired by the San Diego History Center in February 2025 to help preserve the historical record of Borrego Springs and surrounding desert communities.

“Local media plays a critical role in keeping communities connected and informed,” said Gabriel Wisdom of American Money Management, LLC. “We are honored to continue the legacy of Borrego Sun while expanding its reach through modern digital platforms that serve residents, visitors, and the greater desert region.” Wisdom, a general aviation pilot, and his wife Diana built an octagon-shaped vacation home adjacent to Borrego Valley Airport. Known locally as the “Borrego Pilot House,” the distinctive residence resembles a four-bladed propeller from the air and has become a recognizable visual landmark for pilots and aviation enthusiasts flying through or to the Borrego Valley.

“Years ago, I read an article in the Borrego Sun explaining that Borrego Springs needed someone willing to build a non-commercial FM radio station licensed specifically to serve the community,” Wisdom said. “That idea eventually inspired the creation of KRAM 90.5 FM. It took nearly three years, numerous FCC engineering studies, environmental reviews, and considerable persistence, but today Ram Media Foundation owns and operates K-RAM 90.5, bringing KPBS Public Media to San Diego County’s isolated desert community.”

“Preserving the historic Borrego Sun, expanding local journalism through modern digital platforms, and creating media and journalism apprenticeships for Borrego youth naturally aligns with the Ram Media Foundation’s initiatives of strengthening community through media, education, and public access to information,” Wisdom added.

Digital media publisher Andrea McKenna, a full-time Borrego Springs resident, serves as Executive Director of Ram Media Foundation. Her online service, GoToBorregoSprings.com, has joined the Foundation’s media network as a companion community platform focused on events, culture, tourism, social media, and community information.

Together, the platforms are expanding online access to local news, features, events, social media, and community information 24 hours a day.

About Ram Media Foundation

Ram Media Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to strengthening community through journalism, storytelling, public media access, education, social media, and creative communication. The Borrego Sun, GoToBorregoSprings.com and KRAM 90.5 FM are located at 730 Christmas Circle, Borrego Springs.

Media Contact

Andrea McKenna

Executive Director
619-892-0393

Ram Media Foundation

Andrea@rammediafoundation.org
RamMediaFoundation.org

BorregoSun.com