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.

Supervisor Jim Desmond • October 9, 2026

Rain may be coming this weekend. Free sandbags are available now.

San Diego County offers up to $1,100 to help youth sports organizations purchase lifesaving defibrillators.

San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond shares news of a new County program designed to make youth sports safer. With applications now open, the AED Voucher Program helps local leagues and organizations purchase lifesaving equipment and prepare for upcoming state requirements.

The following message is from Supervisor Jim Desmond.

Forecasts are calling for the possibility of heavy rain across San Diego County this weekend. Forecasts change, and this one may too. But whether the storm hits hard or passes us by, I’d rather we all be ready than caught off guard.

We don’t get big storms very often here, and that’s exactly why they cause problems when they do show up. Dry ground, hillsides and clogged drains don’t handle a lot of water at once. A little work on Friday can save you a real headache on Sunday.

Free sandbags

The County and CAL FIRE are offering free sand and bags to residents in the unincorporated areas. Two things to know before you go: call ahead to make sure they still have supply, and bring your own shovel.

Sand and bags:

Fallbrook, De Luz Fire Station #16: 39431 De Luz Road, 760-728-2422
Valley Center Fire Station #2: 28205 N. Lake Wohlford Road, 760-751-7605
Palomar Mountain Fire Station #79: 21610 Crestline Road, 760-742-3701
Warner Springs, Sunshine Summit Fire Station #59: 35227 Highway 79, 760-782-9113

Bags only:

Deer Springs Fire Station #11: 8709 Circle R Drive, Escondido, 760-749-8001
Deer Springs Fire Station #12: 1321 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos, 760-741-5512
Deer Springs Fire Station #13: 10308 Meadow Glen Way East, Escondido, 760-751-0820
Escondido, Miller Fire Station #15: 9127 W. Lilac Road, 760-728-8532
Borrego Springs Fire Station #60: 2324 Stirrup Road, 760-767-5436
Ocotillo Wells Fire Station #61: 5841 Highway 78, Borrego Springs, 760-767-7430
Ranchita Fire Station #58: 37370 Montezuma Valley Road, 760-782-3467 (not staffed 24/7)
Warner Springs Fire Station #52: 31049 Highway 79, 760-782-3560

A note for Fallbrook residents: Pala Mesa Fire Station #4 is closed for construction and is not a pickup site right now. Please use the De Luz station instead.

If you live in one of our cities, your city has its own pickup sites. The full countywide list is here: https://www.alertsandiego.org/en-us/recovery/sandbags.html

Using them the right way

Fill bags about half to two thirds full. An overstuffed bag won’t sit flat and won’t seal.
Fold the top over and lay the bag on the fold.
Stack them like bricks, with each row offset from the one below, and press them down as you go.
Put them where water will actually flow: garage doors, low doorways, and the uphill side of anything you want to protect.

The County also put together a short how-to video, which you can find here: https://www.countynewscenter.com/?p=222639

A few other things worth doing before the rain

Clear your gutters, downspouts and any drains or culverts on your property.
Bring in or tie down anything in the yard that could wash or blow away.
Charge your phones and check your flashlights.
Never drive through a flooded road. It takes a lot less water than you think to move a car.
Sign up for emergency alerts and find more storm guidance at AlertSanDiego.org.

If you are in danger, call 911. For anything else, my office is here to help. Just reply to this email or give us a call.

Stay safe, and look out for your neighbors, especially the ones who might need a hand filling a few bags.

San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond
https://www.supervisorjimdesmond.com/

Learn More About Borrego Springs

The Gallery at The Palms Presents ARTTALK with The Outliers Artists – Saturday, October 17

By Elizabeth Rodriquez • September 20, 2026

Join us in celebration of Borrego Days and, And now there's this: The Outliers exhibition. Artists will talk about their work and its relationship to "outsider art", the outer boundaries of art production and challenging conventions of mainstream art culture. Refreshments, artists and ARTTALK! - Elizabeth Rodriguez, Curator The Gallery at The Palms at Indian Head 2220 Hoberg Road, Borrego Springs, CA 92004