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 • September 17, 2024

Yellow Woman Ranch: Women's Retreat in Borrego Springs

Stylized nude figure with raised arms against a yellow sunburst background, with “Yellow Woman Ranchi” text.

YWR: A Sanctuary for Women's Empowerment

Yellow Woman Ranch in Borrego Springs is the realization of a dream by Rossy Sanchez, an Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness teacher. With a deep commitment to empowering women, Rossy has created a unique desert retreat where women can reconnect with themselves, find support, and celebrate their inner strength.

While still in its early stages, Yellow Woman Ranch is set to become a sanctuary for wellness and empowerment, offering a peaceful space for women to recharge and build meaningful connections.

For more information, feel free to reach out to Rossy at rossy@yellowwomanranch.com or call 760-399-7159. Visit Yellow Woman Ranch to explore further.

Stay tuned as this vision continues to unfold in the beautiful desert landscape of Borrego Springs. To learn more about the inspiration and mission behind Yellow Woman Ranch, check out these 3 videos:

1. What Exactly is Yellow Woman Ranch?

Curious about what Yellow Woman Ranch is all about? This video provides an inside look at the ranch, its mission, and the various wellness and empowerment opportunities it offers for women in the serene setting of Borrego Springs.

2. Why the Name Yellow Woman Ranch?

In this video, Rossy Sanchez shares the story behind the name "Yellow Woman Ranch." Discover the special meaning and inspiration drawn from a unique piece of art found on the property, and how it perfectly symbolizes the spirit and mission of this women's retreat in Borrego Springs.

3. What Inspired the Creation of Yellow Woman Ranch

In this video, discover the heartfelt story behind the creation of Yellow Woman Ranch. Learn how Rossy Sanchez's vision for a supportive community of women led to the founding of this unique desert retreat in Borrego Springs.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Borrego, November 1949: Ten Cents a Copy

By Andrea McKenna • November 2, 2026

Actor Jon Hall, Borrego’s new honorary marshal (center), with the October 1949 Borrego Sun at the opening of Hoberg’s Desert Resort. From left: Sun publisher Paul Strand, Paramount starlet Mari Blanchard, actress Beverly Tyler and Jack Benson of Benson Tours. Photo by Gaylord Johnson, Borrego Sun, November 1949. Courtesy of the Fred Jee Collection.

Old Borego Open House Celebrates the Valley’s Historic Heart

By Martha Deichler • October 31, 2026

Please join the Civic Foundation for its annual Old Borego Days celebration No, Borrego is not misspelled in the title above. This is the way Borrego was spelled back in 1928, when the first post office opened in what is now called “Old Borego.” The site is located at 1580 Rango Way. Please join the Civic Foundation for its annual Old Borego Days celebration of the historic heart of the Borrego Valley on Sunday, November 8, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The turnoff from Rango Way will be marked with a sign. Please note that no restrooms are available. Visitors will be able to enter the old post office and general store, originally run by Eslie Wynn, and view a fascinating video from the 1950s extolling the virtues of life in Borrego Springs. One of the first homes in Borrego Springs will also be open for public viewing, offering a nostalgic look back at life in the community’s earlier years. In addition, Borrego Springs Elementary School fourth graders, who study California history, will have their essays on display. Three students will receive awards for their writing on “Borego Now and Then.” Ram Media Foundation, the nonprofit behind the Borrego Sun, will also share display items from its archive, offering another glimpse into the valley’s past. Old Borego Days Sunday, November 8, 2026 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. 1580 Rango Way, Borrego Springs

Tibet Comes to Borrego: Lama Tashi Norbu Returns to Yellow Woman Ranch

By Rossy Sanchez, Yellow Woman Ranch • October 19, 2026

Lama Tashi Norbu returns to Borrego Springs for four days of Tibetan art, teachings and traditions.

BORREGO OUTFITTERS INVITES COMMUNITY TO ANNUAL BORREGO DAYS HOT DOG COOKOUT

By Borrego Outfitters • October 13, 2026

Sheri Garcia and Ben Nourse work the grill during a previous Borrego Days Hot Dog Cookout at Borrego Outfitters. The annual community event returns Saturday, October 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Flashback: When Borrego Grew Gladioli for the West Coast

By Andrea McKenna • October 12, 2026

Photo: From the 2015 Borrego Sun online edition, "Borrego Springs - April 1956, Acres Of Blooms"

Flashback: Guest Chef Nights at the Desert Club, 1955

By Andrea McKenna • October 11, 2026

From the Borrego Sun online edition, 2015 - In this photo, Chef Jacobs looks over a menu with Beverly Burnand and Mrs. Ron Chaney.

New Sign Welcomes Visitors to Yellow Woman Ranch

By Andrea McKenna • October 11, 2026

Yellow Woman Ranch founder Rossy Sanchez and Ivan Alvarez, owner of Alvarez Welding and Design, stand beside the ranch’s newly installed custom metal sign on Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs.

A Yacht Club in the Borrego Desert

By Andrea McKenna • September 28, 2026

Borrego Springs Yacht Club Brings Model Sailboat Racing to Rams Hill Borrego Springs is home to an unusual desert pastime: model yacht racing. The Borrego Springs Yacht Club was founded in 2010 by Steve Luckman and Dennis Daoust. The club has grown to about 40 members and operates at a pond on the former nine-hole golf course at Rams Hill. Members race V32 sailboats, 32-inch non-motorized model boats controlled remotely through their sails and rudders. The boats were manufactured in California for decades but are no longer in production. Races typically draw 16 to 20 boats, with courses marked by duck decoys used as buoys. The racing season runs from November through May, although members can practice throughout the year. Six club events are held during the season, including Opening Day in November, the Pacific Cap in January, the Invitational in February, the Misplace Race in March, the Powder Puff in April and the Tequila Bowl in May. Winners receive trophies that are held until the next event. The club also maintains a palapa-style clubhouse and hillside seating overlooking the pond, providing space for members and spectators during race days. Membership was listed at $250 per year. The Borrego Springs Yacht Club offers a distinctive local version of sailing, combining competition, model boat craftsmanship and community activity in the desert. If you have any interest, contact Dennis Daoust at captain-havoc@earthlink.net .