anza borrego state park day trip

California North County | Coastal San Diego Travel

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park – A Must Do Day Trip From San Diego

We have absolutely fallen head over heels in love with Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.  An easy 1 hour and 45 minutes drive from San Diego, it’s a must see day trip for the outdoors enthusiast.  Almost 650,000 acres and 500 miles of dirt roads, there’s endless possibilities to even make it a destination in itself for multiple days.  Desert beauty, Spring wildflowers, ancient discoveries, incredible natural formations, and roadside artwork make it a top spot for families, couples, individuals, and truly anyone.

The Drive from San Diego

Our favorite time of year to go to Anza-Borrego, not just due to the mild temperatures, but it’s when the desert wildflowers start blooming.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor’s Center

We recommend that your first stop be at the Anza-Borrego Visitor’s Center .  After the drive, everyone is ready to use the bathrooms and step out of the car.  At the Visitor’s Center you can get tons of information, guides, and directions from the volunteers, as well as enjoy the little trails right there.  They also have some exhibits where you can learn about that area that are also fun for kids.

Just walking around the Visitor’s Center you can enjoy the desert bloom.  We arrived at the tail end, probably the last day you could really count as Spring wildflower season, and there was still a lot to enjoy.

If you look carefully, you’ll spot desert wildlife.  This guy was HUGE!  Literally the size of a small dog.  And he wasn’t too scared, he let us hang out for a while and take a lot of photos.

Just 20 – 30 minutes from the Visitor’s Center is an incredible trail called The Slot .  A short trail suitable for all skill levels including children, twists and turns as you make your way through the narrow slot canyon, tons of climbing opportunities, it’s truly a must see.  All the details can be found in our The Slot blog post.

About 30 minutes down from The Slot you’ll find another Anza-Borrego treasure, the Wind Caves.  Overlooking the Carrizo Bandlands, you’ll feel like you were transported to another world.  Another short and easy hike suitable for all ages, the awe inspiring scenery is just the tip of the iceberg once the Wind Caves sandstone formation appears just begging to be explored by adults and children alike.  You can get all the details on this must see destination in our Wind Caves blog post .

Galleta Meadows

One of the most unique things about your drive around Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are these giant free-standing sculptures you will see everywhere!  Some are near the roads, but others you’ll catch quite in the distance and then you just drive off-road to get up close.  The sculptor Ricardo Breceda made these come to life base on the vision of Dennis Avery.  Dozens of these metal sculptures can be found sprinkled around the area and make for a fantastic scavenger hunt that both adults and children will enjoy.  Giant tortoise, elephants, camels, sloth, saber tooth cat, mammoth, giant serpent and so much more!  At the visitor’s center they will give you a map if you want to hit them all!

By far our favorite is this giant serpent that actually spans across the road!  It’s not far at all from the Visitor’s Center.

These sculptures are always set back with lots of space to explore.  Just park your car anywhere in the sand.

Ocotillo Forest

When the desert blooms are alive in the Spring, visiting the Ocotillo Forest is a site to be seen.  Not far from the Visitor’s Center, just park your car on the side of the road and explore.

The Hunt for Wildflowers

During the wildflower season, you can just drive around until you see something you want to explore.  Park your car on the side of the road and have at it!

Other Places to Explore

We are just getting started with Anza-Borrego!  We’ll continually add to this post with our new discoveries.  Next on our list is:

• 17 Palms Oasis
• Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
• Agua Caliente

Need to Know

• For many of the trails a high-clearance vehicle with 4WD is required, but not all.
• Many of the trails do not permit dogs, so leave Fido behind so your day isn’t impacted.
• There are several routes to get there.  We recommend the route through Ramona.  Avoid the route through Julian via the 8 freeway.  It’s much more curvy, and our kiddo unfortunately couldn’t keep his stomach settled on that route.
• Check the weather forecast.  This is the desert and gets very hot in the summer.  Take water and we recommend packing a lunch to enjoy as you experience the outdoor fun, there aren’t a ton of food options especially in the middle of a trail!
• Check how windy it will be and bring sunglasses for everyone.  If the wind picks up, this is desert and a lot of debris/sand can get in the eyes.  We learned that the hard way!  Fortunately the Visitor’s Center sells sunglasses so we were in luck.

Where is your favorite spot in Anza-Borrego?  Ask your questions or share your comments below, we’re listening!

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Explore the World, Madeline

Mom. Wife. Outdoors enthusiast. San Diego lover. Obsessed with travel. Over the last 20 years since living in San Diego, friends and family have visited and my heart breaks a little when they tell me their itinerary is full of theme parks. Not that there is anything wrong with theme parks, but there is SO.MUCH.MORE to San Diego than theme park hopping. I’ve always been passionate about helping people discover what truly makes San Diego America’s Finest City and helping them create memories they will cherish forever! Follow me to ignite your own passion of travel and exploration in San Diego, and wherever else our travels take us.

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This Rare Earth

A travel resource for the adventurous and often-solo female

A Complete Guide to Visiting Anza Borrego Desert State Park

California , Blog , North America , USA / April 18, 2023 by Monica / Leave a Comment

This is the ultimate guide to visiting Anza Borrego Desert State Park! From camping to hiking to driving and stargazing, I’ve got it all covered. Whether you have one day in Anza Borrego or you visit several times per year, here are the highlights of Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

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Did you know that California has the most state parks of any state in the entire USA? And, Anza Borrego is the largest of all of them, sprawling over 600,000 acres of desert wilderness.

Seemingly endless landscapes stretch out, covered in ocotillo cacti, rugged rocks, and sandy washes. In the springtime, bold yellow and purple flowers dot the otherwise brown-toned floor.

Anza Borrego is so vast, that even in California, you can feel alone here.

Roughly 80 miles northwest of San Diego, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is not extremely well know to those outside of California (and, frankly, there are plenty of people within California who don’t know about it, either!)

But that’s a shame! This park is filled with unique natural wonders like natural California fan palm oases, odd rock formations, slot canyons, and desert wildlife.

Here is everything you need to know to visit Anza-Borrego Desert State Park!

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Table of Contents

This unique pocket of the California desert is located within easy driving distance of San Diego, Los Angeles, and basically any area in Southern California.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park Basics:

• Anza Borrego Desert State Park was established in 1933.
• The park is located in Southern California.
• It will take roughly 2.75 hours to drive here from Los Angeles and 1.5 hours from San Diego.
• Two-thirds of the park’s area is designated wilderness.
• Anza Borrego Desert state Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
• Entry into Anza Borrego Desert state Park is free, but some areas require a day use or camping fee.
• Anza Borrego Desert state Park is an international dark sky park, meaning the stargazing is unmatched.

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When is the Best Time to Visit Anza Borrego Desert State Park?

The temperature here can vary from one part of the day to the next as well as season to season. This is pretty typical for the desert! I personally enjoy visiting Anza Borrego at any time of year, but yes – the temperatures will vary greatly in different months.

Winter (December – February): Temperatures hover around 70 degrees Fahrenheit at the high point and drop to the 30s overnight. Winter is a great season for hiking and exploring, and is an ideal time for the longer, more strenuous hikes in the park.

Spring (March – May): The park has great weather at this time of year, with highs typically in the 80s and lows in the 50s. This is a beautiful time to visit Anza Borrego and catch all of the vibrant blooms from cacti and wildflowers. Bonus – when the conditions are just right, Anza Borrego may showcase colorful superblooms !

Summer (June-September): Summer months can be busy simply because school is out and family vacations are in full swing. However, most people would prefer to avoid the intense heat of summer if they could. Temperatures are regularly in the triple digits. Less strenuous hikes are possible in the early hours, but not recommended mid-day.

Fall (October – November): Fall’s weather is fairly similar to spring, with highs in the 70s and 80s and lows in the 40s and 50s. Most people I know plan their camping adventures for the fall, once the temperatures drop. This is the most popular season in the park though, so expect crowds and plan campsites in advance.

Is There an Entrance Fee for Anza Borrego Desert State Park?

Most of the park’s 600,000-plus acres are completely free for visitors. How cool is that?!

Just a few of the more popular spots, like the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail , Tamarisk Grove, Bow Willow, Vern Whitaker Horse Camp and the Visitor Center cost between $5 to $10 to enter. Day use fees or campsite fees may apply.

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Things to Do in Anza Borrego Desert State Park

It’s probably no surprise – this expansive desert park has a lot of hiking trail options. If hiking is your thing, I highly recommend checking out my best hikes in Anza Borrego post. There you’ll find detailed information on several hikes that I mention below.

A note on safety. If you have never hiked in the desert before, or don’t do it often, please check out my Desert Hiking Essentials list. That way, even in the most remote hiking areas of Anza Borrego, you’ll be safe and prepared.

The Slot Hike

Yep, California has slot canyons. And Anza Borrego’s The Slot is one of my favorite hikes in Southern California !

This short trail is partially shaded depending on what time of day you visit. Don’t bring a large backpack or much to carry; the narrow passageways are pretty tight in some spots! canyon walls towering high above.

It can be tricky to reach, depending on the weather. Be sure to check out directions, fees, and details here .

Borrego Palm Canyon Trail

Probably my second-favorite hike in Anza Borrego, the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail is a moderately strenuous trek through several scenic spots.

The palm oasis at the end is the highlight, but you might be lucky along the way and spot the bighorn sheep that the park is named after.

Note that you do need to pa to access this portion of the park. Check out directions, fees, and details here .

Wind Caves Trail

This hike is approximately one-mile roundtrip – so, short and sweet but with a fun reward! It leads to wind-eroded sandstone caves and passageways to explore. Though the trail is short, be prepared for some steep spots.

Last reminder: for more Anza Borrego hikes and detailed information, check out my Anza Borrego hiking post .

Do you love hiking in Southern California? Check out my 52 Hikes in Southern California E-Book! Click the image below for the full details.

Stepping deep into the heart of Anza Borrego creates an unbeatable environment for stargazing. While you will see an impressive expanse no matter where you are in the park, some of the best spots for stargazing are:

• Culp Valley area and Culp Valley Primitive Campground (accessible with 2WD)
• Blair Valley/Little Blair Valley/Blair Valley Primitive Campground (accessible with 2WD)
• Fish Creek Primitive Campground (high clearance and 4WD vehicles recommended)
• Mountain Palm Springs Primitive Campground (high clearance and 4WD vehicles recommended)

Pro Tip: Avoid the full moon or cloudy nights for the best star-visibility.

How To Get Around

Anza Borrego is remote enough that you simply can’t rely on public transportation here. You will definitely need a car, whether it’s your own or a rental car .

Furthermore, this park has multiple areas that are completely inaccessible without 4WD. Please use caution when driving, particularly after rain as some areas might be washed out or experience flash flooding.

In the hot summer months, having a car is a must to cool off in AC between stops. Anza Borrego can reach the triple digits in the daytime.

Be sure to grab a map at the Visitor’s Center if it is your first visit here. It highlights the roads, the hiking trails, and the camping spots within the park.

An important note; one thing that I’ve always found difficult about Anza Borrego is the lack of intuitive driving paths.

The park forms a sort of “circle” around the town of Borrego Springs , but there is no way to drive a circular path around the park. Rather, you will need to enter and exit at various points to see the sights.

This is why staying overnight in a central location like Borrego Springs is the best choice. Check out my top hotel recommendations below.

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Camping in Anza Borrego Desert State Park

This park is incredible for camping. From traditional campsites to rugged dispersed camping, here you can do it all.

If you want to camp at a campsite with basic amenities like toilets and designated sites, reserve a spot in Borrego Palm Canyon or Tamarisk Grove Campground here . Reservations can be made up to six months in advance. These campsites do fill up in the spring and fall, so plan ahead when possible.

On the other hand, you could go for free dispersed camping if you don’t mind a more rustic experience. This means you can camp anywhere within Anza-Borrego State Park as long as you follow these rules:

• Your car is parked no more than one car length off the road (fyi, you may walk further to set up your campsite.)
• You are at least 100 yards away from any water source.
• You may not have any ground fires.

Depending on your preference, there are pros and cons to either choice. But, they are both an awesome experience.

You could also consider car camping at Rockhouse, Pegleg, and Clark Dry Lake. Bring in everything you need, from food to snacks to water. Especially water.

Hotels Near Anza Borrego Desert State Park

I highly recommend making Borrego Springs your home-base if you stay overnight here.

After several overnight visits, I have some favorite hotels here, too! here are the best places to stay in Borrego Springs Below.

1.  The Palm Canyon Hotel and RV Resort

On my most recent visit to Borrego Springs, I stayed overnight here – and absolutely loved it. The hotel is designed like a town straight out of the Wild West. You could end up with a room in the Saloon or the Dance Hall or the Sheriff’s Station – but only in name, as per the paint job outside.

Inside, the rooms are decorated very clean, comfortable, with a touch of the wild west, too. RV parking is plentiful, and the pool (or hot tub!) is just perfect after long days in the desert. I must admit that the wifi here is somewhat spotty, but I suppose in the middle of the desert one can’t complain.

2.  Borrego Springs Resort and Spa

I have also stayed overnight at the Borrego Springs Resort and Spa, and it is another great option. The motel-style rooms are comfortable, and they have a lot of amenities on site, like tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a hot tub.

Everything was comfortable and parking was a breeze. It is also reasonably close to areas that you’d likely visit within the park, like the Anza Borrego Visitor Center and the Palm Canyon Trail.

3.  Borrego Valley Inn

Last but not least, the Borrego Valley Inn is a cute, southwestern style hotel reminiscent of New Mexico’s adobe inspired architecture.

It also has a great pool – something you cannot discount in the desert! – and air conditioned stylish rooms. Guests have a range of options to choose from to fit their needs, from a basic double room to a King Suite with a private jacuzzi.

Points of Interest in Anza Borrego

Font’s Point

This scenic lookout over the badlands of Anza-Borrego is one of the most beautiful spots in the park. It similar to what you might see at Death Valley National Park . It’s often referred to as the Grand Canyon of California.

A word of caution; the sandy trail off S-22 can get quite sandy. When the conditions are right, you might make it without 4-wheel drive, but I don’t recommend chancing it unless you are familiar with driving in the desert.

If you do visit, sunrise is the best time to see it. The sun bathes the jagged peaks in golden yellow. It’s a sight to see.

Galleta Meadow Sculptures

The Galleta Meadow Sculptures are a collection of more than 130 massive, larger-than-life metal creatures like dinosaurs, serpents, and other creatures stomping across the sandy brush.

This permanent art installation by Ricardo Breceda is really a stop you shouldn’t skip. It is free to view, and you’ll have a blast trying to find the scattered creatures.

Read more about their history and where to find them in this article .

The Pumpkin Patch

I became obsessed with this strange area called The Pumpkin Patch within Anza Borrego roughly a decade ago, and honestly I still find it fascinating!

This geological oddity features pumpkin-sized boulders strewn all across the desert floor, seemingly dropped from the sky. These formations are called concretions, and are formed when tiny wet specks of sandstone dry and cement around a small fragment, like a shell or leaf.

While most sandstone I’ve come across seems to erode over time, these “pumpkins” grew in size. Note that you cannot access this spot without 4WD.

Clark Dry Lake

Clark Dry Lake features that quintessential dry desert ground; cracked and patterned from the hot, heavy sun. You can walk around the dry lake bed and get some awesome photos here.

Directions: The Clark Dry Lake bed is about 10 miles from the center of Borrego Springs, off the S-22 and down Rockhouse Trail.

FAQs about Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Is Anza Borrego Desert State Park Worth Visiting?

Hands down, yes! There is a lot to see and do here, from hiking to camping to driving and stargazing. In fact, this is one of my favorite desert parks in California .

Pro Tip, it is even better if you own or rent a 4WD vehicle, simply because you can access some of the most remote areas.

How many days do you need in Anza-Borrego?

If you can spend a whole weekend in Anza Borrego, you will get to see a lot. In just two or three days time, you can hit the best hiking trails , see the metal sculptures , and stop at the best viewpoints.

What wildlife is in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is home to the typical desert wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for rattlesnakes, small scorpions, and coyotes. Anza Borrego is also home to bighorn sheep, bobcats, and cottontail rabbits.

Oftentimes you won’t get to see the animals, but if you’re quiet and watchful you might get lucky. I’ve spotted bighorns and rabbits, myself.

Is Anza-Borrego in bloom now?

At the time of writing, Anza Borrego is experiencing a superbloom . However, each spring the park will see colorful flower fields growing in certain areas of the park.

Find out more here .

What are some interesting facts about Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

• Anza Borrego Desert State Park spans across three Southern California counties: San Diego County, Riverside County, and Imperial County.
• As the largest state park in the contiguous United States, this park spans more than 600,000 acres of desert land.
• Much of the park is completely free to access! Only certain camping and hiking areas carry a fee.
• Anza Borrego is an International Dark Sky Park, meaning you will find incredible stargazing here.

Are there rattlesnakes in Anza-Borrego?

Yes, there are four types of rattlesnakes that can be seen inside of Anza Borrego Desert State Park and the surrounding areas. You may see Sidewinders, red diamond, speckled and western rattlesnakes here, so always watch where you’re going on hiking trails.

Where To Go Next?

If you are staying overnight and have the time, I highly recommend checking out all of the fun things to do in Borrego Springs . There is a lot more to see right in this region!

If you haven’t had your fill of the desert, I highly recommend exploring Joshua Tree National Park for a completely different experience! The landscapes here are unlike anywhere else.

Or, soak in natural mineral waters in Palm Springs . You get the best of the desert and luxury all in one. Bonus, one of my all-time favorites hikes, Andreas Canyon , is also found here.

If you’d rather try out some coastal hiking, head over to Torrey Pines State Park for epic views. Or, drive even farther north and spend a day in Malibu .

Lastly, if you’re a regular hiker (or aspire to be), grab a copy of my 52 Hikes in Southern California e-book. It will give you a new hike to tackle every single week of the year!

I hope your trip to Anza Borrego Desert State Park is everything you expect and more! I fully believe you will love this small pocket of California just as much as I do. Let me know how it goes below.

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About Monica

Monica has been a solo female world traveler for over 15 years. She is an expert on outdoor adventures, solo female travel, and off the beaten path destinations. She is the founder of This Rare Earth and is a firm believer that the world is not as scary as the media might have you think! Learn more about her here . Connect with her on Instagram .

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Anza Borrego in a Day: Experience the Best Things to Do at California’s Largest State Park in One Day

Anza Borrego, near Joshua Tree National Park, is well known among California natives and thankfully we listened when friends shared this gem. If you only have one day in Anza Borrego, don’t worry we’ll help you maximize your time.  

Living life as full time RVers has given us an incredible opportunity to explore the beautiful state of California. We spent two months there, discovering beaches, hiking trails, and hidden gems only locals know about. We can confidently share tips about Anza Borrego including where to find the best campsites, attractions along the way, and more!

We left San Diego and headed east to explore some of California’s National Parks but decided to spend a day at Anza Borrego Desert State Park en route. No regrets.  

Things to do with One Day at Anza Borrego Desert State Park  

Anza Borrego covers a lot of area but the most popular attractions are located within 15 minutes drive from the Visitor Center. 

Start your trip at the Visitor Center and don’t forget to use the self-pay kiosks in the parking lot to pay the $10 vehicle admission fee.  Credit cards are accepted at the Visitor Center kiosks but exact change is required if paying at a trailhead. 

A few of the top things to do at Anza Borrego are: 

• Anza Borrego Visitor Center 
• Hiking 
• Off-Road Trail Riding 
• Sculptures at Galleta Meadows 
• Scenic Driving Tour along Erosion Road 
• Salton Sea 
• Private Tour of Anza Borrego & Surrounding Areas

What is Anza Borrego known for?  

Anza Borrego  is the largest desert state park in the continental United States.  The park is over 640,000 acres with over 500 miles of dirt roads.  Wilderness encompasses most of the park area.  

The landscape resembles a smaller version of the Grand Canyon.  Earthquake activity has caused wrinkles and faults in the rainbow-colored hills.    The Wind Caves and the Anza Borrego Mud Caves are popular natural wonders at Anza Borrego Desert State Park but both were closed due to COVID when we visited.  

Where is Anza Borrego?  

The park is located in the Colorado desert of Borrego Springs, California. 

Only 53 miles from the southern entrance to Joshua Tree National Park, Anza Borrego is definitely worth a stop.     

What does Anza Borrego mean?  

Before visiting, I wasn’t sure what Anza Borrego meant.   I do not know much Spanish so it was a complete mystery.    

Anza Borrego Desert State Park was named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de  Anza.    He discovered the first land route to California while passing through the park.

Borrego  is a Spanish word for lamb, referencing the local endangered Peninsula bighorn sheep. 

Fun Facts About Anza Borrego  

• Anza Borrego Desert State Park is over 640,000 acres and is California’s largest state park. 
• The park covers 20% of San Diego County and contains 500 miles of dirt roads. 
• There is one species of native palm tree in the park, California fan palms. 
• Palm oases are an indication of a permanent water source or an indication of the water table near the ground surface.    
• Over 550 fossils have been found in the park including ground sloths, giant tortoises, and camels. 
• Desert cactus and wildflower bloom between January to April.   The timing and magnitude of the bloom vary each year. 
• Summer is very hot at Anza Borrego.  It is one of the hottest locations in California with a record high of 122 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Kumeyaay and the Cahuilla Native Americans lived in Anza Borrego as long as 12,000 years ago.  Both tribes still reside in San Diego County.   San Diego County is home to 18 Native American reservations .  

Admission   

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is spread over a large area and admission fees are only required in the most popular areas such as the Visitor Center, Hellhole Canyon, and Borrego Palm Canyon.   We planned our activities to fit all of these into one day which meant we only paid the $10 admission once during our visit.   

The daily admission cost is per vehicle and can be paid with a credit card at the visitor center self-pay kiosks. 

Camping  at Anza Borrego  

The park has multiple campgrounds on  ReserveCalifornia.com   with varying degrees of amenities.   There are also several private campgrounds in the area.   

Free Camping at Anza Borrego  

Anza Borrego offers an abundance of free camping options with no amenities. 

Free car or tent camping near Anza Borrego  

Dispersed backcountry camping is allowed in most of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park with a few restrictions. 

• Cars must be parked less than 100 feet off road but walk in camping allowed further from road.  
• No ground fires. 
• Camping allowed more than 100 yards from water sources. 
• Leave no trace. 

Free RV Camping near Anza Borrego   

We chose to park along the park border at the Peg Leg Smith Memorial.  It is a trailhead with a pit toilet and a large parking area.  Peg Leg Smith was a mountain man that served as a guide for many early expeditions.  The legend is that Peg Leg found a gold mine once but never found it again.  Some believe the lost mine might be located in the hills near the Memorial. 

Several other RVs were parked at the Peg Leg Smith Memorial and in the nearby desert.   We stayed here for three nights and didn’t have any issues.  It is a convenient and free location to explore Anza Borrego.  

Top Things to do at Anza Borrego

Anza Borrego is an ideal destination for those who seek to connect with nature and the great outdoors. There are plenty of options for hiking and biking trails. You will find yourself surrounded by rolling hills, wildflowers, and more. Experienced hikers may want to check out one of the backcountry trails or take a stroll at dusk along one of the many scenic trails. If you’re looking for something different, a desert safari offers visitors a thrilling glimpse into the unique flora and fauna that can be found in California’s deserts.

Travelers can explore deep within the Park on four-wheel drive vehicles or hop aboard a jeep tour that takes you up close and personal with some of Anza Borrego’s most picturesque spots.

There is also camping available in certain areas which makes it easy to stay longer and explore even more! In addition to all of these activities, there are also plenty of other things to do at Anza Borrego such as stargazing, bird watching, soaking up some sun at the beaches, or stopping by one of the local attractions like Culp Valley or Galleta Meadows sculpture garden.

How long do I need at Anza Borrego? 

Anza Borrego is the largest state park in California and has enough things to do for a whole week.  But if you are limited on time, I’d recommend a minimum of a half-day but a full day will allow time to explore the sculptures at Galleta Meadows.   

Anza Borrego Visitor Center 

The Anza Borrego Visitor Center contains a museum with exhibits about the local Native American Indian tribes.  It includes several individual stories and displays about tribal practices and traditions.  

The museum also contains several geology displays including fossil replicas of extinct camels, ground sloths and giant tortoise.   There are also a few impressive taxidermy displays of local species.   

My favorite part of the Visitor Center was the Anza Borrego State Park film.   The educational video was about 15 minutes long and focused on the animals found in the park.   The baby mountain lions were definitely the stars of the show. 

Hiking at Anza Borrego  

Anza Borrego Desert State Park has an abundance of hiking options including slot canyons, palm oasis, mines, and high desert “mountains”.   Even if you don’t have a full day at Anza Borrego, there are several shorter trails for interested visitors. There are also nature walking trails around the visitor center and campground.

The top 10 rated trails in Anza Borrego range from less than a mile and easy rated to a 16-mile difficult section of the Pacific Crest Trail.    

The most popular hikes in Anza Borrego according to AllTrails are: 

• The Slot 2.3 miles moderate 
• Goat Canyon 5.8 miles difficult 
• West Butte, Wind Caves, Slot Loop 4.5 miles  moderate 
• Laguna Mountain Ridge via PCT 16.6 miles difficult 
• Pictograph Trail 2.6 miles easy 
• Calcite Mine 3.7 miles moderate 
• Wind Caves 0.9 miles moderate 
• Palm Wash Loop 7.8 miles moderate 
• Maidenhair Falls  5.8 miles moderate 
• Borrego Palm Canyon 3.2 miles moderate 

In our day at Anza Borrego, we hiked Maidenhair Falls and Borrego Palm Canyon.  For fairly fit visitors, this 9 mile combination is manageable.

Maidenhair Falls via Hellhole Canyon  

As stated previously, Hellhole Canyon is a popular hike at Anza Borrego and requires a park pass. 

There is a toilet and a self-pay (cash only) kiosk at the trailhead if you want to go straight to the trail before visiting the Visitor’s Center.    

The 5.8-mile hike has two points of interest in addition to the desert animals and plant life.   

Hellhole Canyon Oasis is the first point of interest and is a palm oasis with several California fan palms.   It feels like a destination worthy of a hike on its own but it’s just the midpoint of this trail.   

The second point of interest is Maidenhair Falls which is a small mossy cove with a trickling waterfall.   Based on AllTrails reviews, the waterfall gains strength and size during wetter times of the year.   We enjoyed a snack on the shaded rocks in front of the trickle. 

The trail between the oasis and the waterfall is not level and requires some maneuvering. 

I would not recommend it for anyone with balance or mobility issues.   The last mile required stepping from one boulder to another and some were large enough that I had to use my hands to lift myself up and over. 

We saw several seniors on this trail so it is possible. But do not expect an easy stroll. 

Borrego Palm Canyon  

Our second hike at Anza Borrego was the 3.2-mile Borrego Palm Canyon trail.  The trailhead parking area is located near the Visitor Center behind the campground. 

A walking path also leads from the visitor center to the trailhead if you want more mileage.    

An interpretative educational pamphlet is available at the Visitors Center for this hike.  15 numbered posts along the trail align with the short stories on the pamphlet which cover nature, history, geology and Native American Indians.

This trail was more popular than Maidenhair Falls and we passed many groups of all ages on the main trail to the oasis.   

Posted signs advised the oasis was closed for restoration.  Once we arrived at the palm oasis, we saw several hikers off-trail wandering along the water’s edge. 

It was sad to see vegetation being destroyed in the name of a selfie.   However, the oasis closure made the end of the trail unclear. 

The oasis was beautiful but the end of the trail felt anticlimactic. 

A ranger at the visitor center advised us to take the alternate route back for better wildlife spotting opportunities.  

Sadly, we didn’t see any Bighorn Sheep or Mountain Lions but we enjoyed watching the Gambles Quail and other birds.  We didn’t see any other hikers on the alternate route and it was a nicer experience than the main trail. 

OHV Trails at Anza Borrego Desert State Park  

With over 500 miles of dirt roads, off-roading is popular at Anza Borrego.  We didn’t do any off-roading so cannot recommend any specific trails.

A guided 4×4 small-group desert offroad tour is a great way to get your feet wet in offroading.

With a knowledgeable guide leading the way, you’ll have the opportunity to feel the thrill of the ride in a safe, secure environment.

Not only will you have access to top-notch vehicles, but you’ll explore gorgeous desert landscapes and learn about the terrain along the way.

Whether it’s your first time exploring an offroad trail or you’re an experienced driver looking for some new sights, check out this Desert 4×4 OHV Tour that includes Anza Borrego and more.

Galleta Meadows Desert Sculptures  

Borrego Springs is home to over 130 metal sculptures. 

You do not want to miss the opportunity to see this amazing art in the desert if you spend a full day or more at Anza Borrego.   The Galleta Meadows sculptures in Anza Borrego are free to visit and you do not need an Anza Borrego park pass to visit these.    For all of the details on visiting the sculptures check out our Galleta Meadows blog.  

Scenic Driving Tour – Erosion Road  

The  Erosion Road driving tour pamphlet  provides a 21-mile one-way self-guided driving tour.

Pro Tip: If you only have one day in Anza Borrego, the Erosion Road tour isn’t a top priority. 

The tour takes you east from the park towards the Salton Sea with stops at several geological sights.  

You do not need a valid admission pass to take this tour since it follows a public road.  However, I would recommend it only if you are driving east on Highway S22 (the Borrego Salton Sea Way) or are particularly interested in geology.  

Salton Sea  

Salton Sea is located 32 miles east of Borrego Springs.   We drove to the Salton Sea at the end of our Erosion Driving tour.    

The Salton Sea is one of the world’s largest inland lakes.  High spring flooding caused the canal gates on the Colorado River to fail in 1905 which caused the entire volume of the river to fill the Salton Trough. 

It took engineers 18 months to stop the flooding and by that time the Salton Sea had grown to 45 miles long and 20 miles wide.   

The lake is slowly drying up and the resulting increased salinity limits the type of fish able to live in the lake.  On our visit, the lake smelled strongly of Sulphur but there were birds in the water’s edge.  

Many photographers enjoy taking photos of the abandoned resorts and vacation homes on the lake.  

We found the east area of the Salton Sea to be impoverished and didn’t take any photos of the abandoned buildings and graffiti.  

Private Tour of Anza Borrego

Although private tours don’t usually fit my travel budget but thought I’d share for those who are interested in splashing out for a memorable trip.

Many visitors love having an expert guide to make the most out of their time in Anza Borrego with a custom-tailored itinerary.

This 8 hour private tour of Anza Borrego offers you the opportunity to explore California’s most diverse desert and beyond without any of the headaches of driving or planning. Tour guides know every spot in the beautiful region.

The most popular tour stops are the historic town of Julian, Galleta Meadows Sculpture Gallery, Anza Borrego and Cleveland National Forest. With a local leading your journey, you will be able to relax and enjoy a stress-free tour of this incredible natural landscape.

Let someone else drive and guide the hikes at Anza Borrego.

Summary One Day in Anza Borrego  

With desert sculptures, palm trees, Native American history, and desert hiking, Anza Borrego Desert State Park has things to entertain all types of travelers for a day or even a week. 

Within an hour of Joshua Tree National Park and without all of the crowds, Anza Borrego is a can’t miss California desert road trip stop. 

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The Ultimate Anza-Borrego Adventure Guide

Anza Borrego Desert State Park will blow your mind. It’s one of the most remarkable wilderness areas in the United States. A mix of natural beauty, vastness, relative obscurity, and a challenging, rugged landscape makes this an outdoor playground to intrigue the most jaded of park visitors.

This guide offers a general introduction to the park, as well as some suggestions for starting your adventures in Anza Borrego, including lodging, camping, offroad adventures, and more. For more detailed information on trails, camping, and other destinations, check out the list of the additional resources at the end of this intro guide.

As backup when you are off-the-grid, get our  free printable version of the guide here .

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Details

• Season: November – May
• Location: San Diego County
• General GPS Coordinates: 32.754033,-116.272079
• Management: U.S. Bureau of Land Management
• Directions: From Interstate 8, take the Boulevard exit. Proceed south to the first stop sign. Turn left/east on Old Highway 80. After approximately 2 miles, turn left on McCain Valley Road.

Anza-Borrego Overview

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in a big place. It’s 915 square miles in size and can be explored via 500 miles of dirt roads, rugged four-wheel-drive routes, and many miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails. More than 200 species of wildflowers bloom in the desert, and wildlife is plentiful: bighorn sheep, coyotes, lizards, rattlesnakes, foxes, bobcats, cougars, and many species of birds, including roadrunners.

The park offers numerous possibilities for outdoor adventure and recreation, with popular activities including offroading, hiking, camping, and mountain biking. A portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Mexico to Canada, passes through Anza Borrego. In the spring, tourists flock from all over Southern California to see the desert wildflowers blooms.

The park is mostly on the eastern side of San Diego County, with portions touching Imperial County to the East and Riverside County to the North. It typically takes a couple of hours to get to Anza Borrego from San Diego or the Inland Empire.

Video Version of this Guide

Getting Oriented

Due to its size and the ruggedness of the landscape, deciding where to start exploring in Anza-Borrego can be daunting. A good first base of operations is the town of Borrego Springs. I tend to think of Christmas Tree Circle, a large roundabout in the center of Borrego Springs as my central point of reference for the area.

The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center is located just on the outskirts of town and offers informative exhibits on the park’s natural history, brochures, and maps of the park, and knowledgeable rangers who can answer your questions.

The visitor’s center is located at  200 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 . You can also call 760-767-4205 or visit the  park website  for information.

It’s worth noting that adjacent to the visitor’s center are the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground and Borrego Palm Canyon Trail, both managed by the State Park Service. You could visit Anza Borrego and just hit the visitor’s center, Borrego Palm Canyon campground, and trail, and have a terrific trip (throw in some dining in town to keep it civilized.)

A quick note on dogs. They aren’t allowed on trails, wilderness areas, or flower fields. Also, be aware that desert cactuses drop some nasty spines on the ground that can wreak havoc on dogs’ paws. Seriously, it isn’t pretty. I’ve seen people and dogs get some nasty injuries from cholla in particular. And please DON’T leave dogs in cars alone. Cars can heat up rapidly in the desert, which can be deadly for animals trapped inside.

Borrego Springs Restaurants and Hotels

About the food, there are several good restaurants in Borrego Springs worth mentioning. I’ve eaten at Red Ocotillo, Carlee’s, and Kesling Kitchen, and can recommend them all. I haven’t eaten at Carmelita’s Mexican Grill or Coyote Steakhouse, but I hear they are solid eateries. There are tons of places to camp in Anza Borrego, but if you are looking for a hotel to serve as a basecamp, there are several in Borrego Springs.

My family and I have stayed at Palm Canyon Hotel and RV Resort several times and really enjoyed it. The name of the resort doesn’t do it justice. It’s well maintained and has a cool vibe — kitschy retro chic? The hotel is old-west themed and you can rent vintage RVs for a glamping experience.

I can’t vouch for it personally, but people say good things about the Borrego Valley Inn, an adults-only hotel managed by the same company as the Palm Canyon Hotel and RV Resort. If you’re looking to step it up a notch (maybe impress a romantic interest, for instance), La Casa del Zorro Resort and Spa is a posh oasis to return to after a day of desert adventuring.

Another major factor to consider when first planning a visit to Anza Borrego is the seasons. To sum it up, summer might kill you. Seriously. Anza Borrego is brutally hot in summer, with average daily high temperatures over 100 degrees between June and September. It’s not unheard of for summer daytime temperatures to soar past 120 degrees.

I consider October through April to be Anza Borrego season. That said, the Anza Borrego Foundation has put together a  page offering guidance  on visiting the park in summer. Even visiting in the cooler months, it’s important to keep some basic safety precautions top of mind. Bring LOTS of water and drink it. Make sure you have adequate sun protection, including things like hats, sunglasses, sunblock, and shade.

Also, note that cellular service in Anza Borrego is spotty at best. So bring a paper map or an electronic one that doesn’t require an Internet connection. To that end, see the end of this post for some helpful guidebooks and maps that will come in handy when you’re navigating off the grid. Bringing a compass isn’t a bad idea either.

Anza Borrego Camping

While a visit to Anza Borrego can be a day trip from San Diego or the Inland Empire, the park is designated as an International Dark Sky Park and it’s well worth planning an overnight stay at a campground to admire Anza Borrego’s star-filled night sky.

California State Parks manages three campgrounds where sites can be  reserved online : Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, Tamarisk Grove Campground, and Vern Whitaker Horse Camp. The park service charges day-use fees for Borrego Palm Canyon, Tamarisk Grove, Bow Willow, and Horse Camp campgrounds.

The park also maintains several primitive campgrounds that are first-come, first-served. These include Bow Willow, Mountain Springs, Blair Valley, Yaqui Well, Yaqui Pass, Culp Valley, Sheep Canyon, Arroyo Salado, Mt. Palm Springs, and Fish Creek primitive campgrounds. All of the campgrounds offer vaulted toilets, except Yaqui Pass. Only Fish Creek and Sheep Canyon sites have fire rings. Ground fires are prohibited, so you’ll need to bring a firepit with you if you’ll be staying in one of the campgrounds with no fire rings. Here are a few options for firepits .

Beyond the formally designated campgrounds mentioned above, you can camp pretty much anywhere in the park. There are two simple rules. You can only park one car length off the road, whether you camp right next to your car or hike further from the road. And you can’t camp within 100 yards of any water source, which typically means a stream. It goes without saying, but avoid trampling vegetation or otherwise damaging the landscape.

Visit the OSC  complete guide to Anza-Borrego camping  for more detailed information.

Anza Borrego Hikes

You’ve hit up Visitor’s Center and you know where you’ll be staying at night. Now what? There are so many options for things to do in Anza Borrego, how to choose? A low-key hike is a good way to get started.

Anza Borrego offers so many hiking trails that picking one can be tough. Here are a few trails that are relatively easy to locate, fairly short, and offer a taste of what makes Anza Borrego so special.

Borrego Palm Canyon Hike

Borrego Palm Canyon Hike is located just west of the town of Borrego Springs. The mellow hike is a 3-mile out-and-back that brings hikers to a surprisingly lush grove of palm trees fed by a mountain stream. There’s plenty of parking (for a fee) and restrooms at the trailhead. The area is managed by the state park service.

See our  Borrego Palm Canyon Trail Guide  for maps and other information.

The Slot Hike

Anza-Borrego offers a number of slot canyon hikes, and one of the most popular is known simply as The Slot. The hike is about a mile long out-and-back, and winds through a deep and extremely narrow canyon (just wide enough at points for a single person to pass). Squeezing through the slot is an adventure and a fun way to experience the maze-like quality of Anza Borrego’s desert canyons.

For more information, visit our guide to the slot canyon trail .

The Wind Caves Trail

The Wind Caves Trail, located in the eastern portion of Anza Borrego, south of the outpost of Ocotillo Wells, has a lot to offer. The 1.5-mile round-trip hike starts with a steep climb out of Fish Creek Wash and then climbs gradually for a total ascent of about 250 feet to the Wind Caves. The caves are bored into sandstone formations by the wind, hence the name. The views from the Wind Caves of the surrounding badlands are spectacular.

The road through the canyon is sandy and fairly rugged in places. A high clearance all-wheel drive vehicle is suggested at a minimum, though an actual four-wheel drive would be preferable.

See our  Anza Borrego Wind Caves Trail Guide  for more information. See our guide to Anza-Borrego wildlife for info on what desert creatures you might see on the trail.

Marshall South Home Trail

Marshall South Home Trail is a 1.3-mile round trip hike in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park that brings you the erstwhile outpost of Marshal South, who homesteaded in this remote desert location in the 1930s.

Off-Road Adventures

Anza-Borrego is covered in dirt roads and off-road trails through the park’s many desert canyons, mountains, badlands and valleys. There are some gnarly offroad trails in Anza Borrego, but there are also plenty of places to explore that don’t require a lifted Jeep.

We’ve put together a guide on Ordealist.com to some of our favorite off-road destinations and trails in the park .

Metal Sculptures

The landscape around Borrego Springs is home to strange metal denizens. More than 150 metal sculptures by the California artist Ricardo Breceda roam Anza Borrego, including dinosaurs, wild ponies, scorpions, and a massive sea serpent. Not to keep you in town and out of the backcountry for too long, but these are worth a look — and a selfie. The most impressive of the sculptures are located in and around Galleta Meadows, just to the north of downtown Borrego Springs. To get there, head north on Borrego Springs Road from Christmas Tree Circle in town and go for two miles, where you’ll start seeing the sculptures. Check out ou r detailed guide to the Galleta Meadows Sculptures for more info.

Desert Wildflowers

If you live in Southern California for a while, you’ve heard the term “super bloom.” This refers to years when heavy winter rains result in an explosion of wildflowers in the desert. In fact, flowers bloom every spring to varying degrees, and Anza Borrego is a terrific place to see desert blooms.

The tricky part is navigating the crowds and figuring out precisely where in the park the flowers will be blooming. The crowds can be hard to avoid, but here are some tips: 1) Visit in late February or April, as March is typically the peak tourist season; 2) Get out early in the day before the mid-day/afternoon rush, and 3) stop by the state park visitor’s center or call this hotline to find out what part of the park is in bloom during your visit: 760-767-4684

Erosion Road Tour

Maybe you don’t feel like hiking or anything else strenuous for that matter. Hey, we’re not judging. Try the Erosion Road Tour, a 21-mile road tour of some of the geological wonders of Anza Borrego. The park service has put together a list of cool things to see in the badlands area of the park along Highway S-22 as it heads east out of Borrego Springs. Stops along the tour include Borrego Badlands Overlook, Coyote Mountain, Truckhaven Rocks, and the Calcite Mine Overlook, among other things. This  PDF guide  from the park service gives locations and background on the stops. For more information on off-roading and overlanding safely, visit our sister site, Ordealist .

The Anza-Borrego Mud Caves are an off-the-beaten-path geological feature that’s worth a visit – although not without it’s risks. For more information, check out our guide to the mud caves .

Additional Resources

For more in-depth information, here are a few other great resources for exploring Anza Borrego:

Desert Gear Guide

Exploring the desert is safer and more comfortable with the right gear. Check out our Desert Gear Guide

Anza Borrego Desert State Park Website

Official California State Parks  website for the park .

Anza Borrego Visitor’s Center

Great place to get up-to-date information on road conditions, campgrounds, closures, wildflowers, wildlife, and much more. Definitely worth a visit at 200 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, CA 92004. Or call at 760-767-4205

ReserveCalifornia.com

Online reservations website  for Anza-Borrego campgrounds that take reservations.

ABF.org the website of the  Anza Borrego Foundation offers terrific resources on the park, including visitor guides, events information, and conservation activities.

Free Printable Anza Borrego Quick Start Guide

Get the  free printable version  of this OutdoorSocal.com guide. We’ll email you the PDF.

For more information on backcountry areas, check out our guide to state parks in San Diego .

Chris Emery is an outdoor adventure junkie who lives in San Diego, California. He is the editor of OutdoorSoCal.com, the guide to the Southern California outdoors.

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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Guide: Hiking, Off Roading, Slot Canyons & Camping

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park encapsulates a large portion of the land in Southern California east of San Diego. This massive park is relatively wild, with not many paved roads to its main attractions and with unyielding heat during the summer. That being said, if you plan your time right, there are many amazing experiences to be had in this small area. Here is my guide on some of the best locations.

Like I mentioned above, Anza Borrego is a desert, and it is not something I recommend hiking in during the summer unless you are incredibly prepared. During the rest of the year though, the cooler temperatures make this arid desert a great place to hike. Here are a few of my favorite hikes, many of which take you to unique spots like slot canyons and a palm oasis.

Borrego Palm Canyon

Hellhole Canyon

Off Roading

You can see a lot of great places in the park with a traditional car, but to really experience what it has to offer you need to have four wheel drive. Most of the park’s roads are dirt, and while some are passable during certain times of year without 4×4, it is best to plan on needing it, so you do not get stuck. Here are some fantastic things you can see if you have a 4×4 vehicle.

Font’s Point

Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves

Clark’s Dry Lake

Hollywood & Vine

One of the main attractions in the park that is easy for all cars to access are the sculptures of Galleta Meadows. These massive metal beasts are scattered all around the town of Borrego Springs and include dinosaurs, serpents, horses, elephants, and a sloth, just to name a few. Click on the image below to read a post I wrote on visiting them.

Historic Sights

If you are into visiting the historical markers that dot California’s landscape, then you will be really excited about how many of them are down here. That being said, most do not do more than mark the site of an old event or building, but a few have something more to look at. You can see two of the more interesting ones below.

Peg Leg Smith Monument

Palm Spring

Special Times in the Park

Anza Borrego has two things that really make it a magical place during certain times of the year, stargazing and wildflower viewing.

The first is that it is a dark sky community, which means they limit light pollution. Because of this, it is one of the best places in Southern California to see the stars and to photograph them as well. When I was there last you could easily see the milky way with your naked eye. Plan in advance for the darkest days of the month to come down here.

Wildflowers

The other attraction is the wildflower blooms that happen in the spring. The typically brown and dreary desert becomes a palette of colors during one short month and people descend on the park to see the blooms. If you happen to be here during a superbloom, you can see flowers as far as the eye can see in certain areas and it is magical time to be in the park.

Where to Stay

The town of Borrego Springs has a half dozen or so hotels, resorts, and RV parks. You can also camp at the large campground near the visitor center, or you can camp at many spots around the park as well. I personally like the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground as it has big roomy sites.

Borrego Palm Canyon Campground

Where to Eat

There are a few spots to eat in Borrego Springs, but if you are exploring out in the park, then make sure to bring your own food as there are not really any options. For restaurants in Borrego Springs, here are my two favorites. Carlee’s is especially good for grabbing a drink while you are waiting for the stars to come out.

Kendall’s Cafe

Carlee’s Place

Here are two videos I made from my time exploring Anza Borrego. I hope they are inspiring to you as well, as this is an awesome park!

Where do I get a map? There are maps online but the best one is at the visitor center and it costs $2.

How much does it cost? There is no fee to enter the park, other than the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail. Hiking here costs $10.

How can I avoid the crowds? Anza Borrego is not as popular as many of the other Southern California parks like Joshua Tree. Because of this, you will often find solitude on your hikes, especially if you pick some away from Borrego Springs. During wildflower blooms, it can be pretty busy though.

Now it is your turn, what did I leave off this list that you love exploring in Anza Borrego State Park? Be sure to leave them in the comments so that others can find them as well.

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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: The Complete Guide

Things to Do

• Best Hikes & Trails

Wildflowers

Where to camp, where to stay nearby, how to get there, accessibility, tips for your visit, anza borrego state park.

Anza-Borrego is California's largest state park with over 600,000 acres full of wildflowers, palm groves, and gorgeous views of the Colorado Desert. Some say, that you'll find more wildflowers here than any single person could see in a lifetime. With over a hundred miles of hiking trails, you'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the views of this desert landscape.

It is best known for the wildflower spectacle that lights up the desert with vibrant colors every spring. The bloom is made up of over 90 different flowering plants, the abundance of the bloom varies every year depending on conditions like precipitation and temperature. Even when the flowers aren't blooming, the park is still an amazing place to visit.

When visiting the park, you may also see a rare and endangered desert bighorn sheep, which explains how the park got the name of Borrego which is Spanish for sheep. Around the park, you'll find a few palm grove oases that pop around small springs and may spot a Swainson's hawk soaring overhead. The bird has one of the longest migrations of any American raptor, their 6,000-mile spring migration from Argentina to their breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska.

Aside from the wildflowers and wildlife, visitors can enjoy the park's many different landscapes and rock formations from the badlands to the wind caves and slot canyons. Many trails travel through these landscapes, some of which you can take your bike or horse on. If you want more time to explore the trails, you can book a campsite for the night and one of the larger campgrounds or the more primitive backcountry sites.

If you're just making a quick visit to Anza-Borrego, the desert garden outside the Anza-Borrego State Park visitor center is a concentrated version of the park's entire 600,000 acres. Besides desert plants, it also includes a pupfish pond. They might not look like much, but pupfish are fascinating creatures that can thrive in water from fresh to water that is nearly as salty as the ocean and survive temperatures from near freezing to 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius).

Best Hikes & Trails

This huge park is full of hiking trails, but some are more popular than others. Trails vary in difficulty and lengths ranging from loops that are less than a mile to 32 miles long. Elevation can also vary from just 62 to over 1,800 feet above sea level.

• The Slot: This 2.3-mile loop is extremely popular as it travels through a slot canyon with 40-foot high walls and an uphill climb halfway through.
• Goat Canyon Trestle Bridge: At 5.7 miles long, this loop passes through a wildflower area and can also be used for mountain biking. Halfway through, you'll reach the unique bridge.
• Pictograph Trail: On this 2.6-mile out and back trail, you'll find a waterfall and Native American pictographs on a large boulder.
• Palm Canyon Loop: About 2 miles long, this is an easy trail to do in a day. Your final destination before turning around is the palm oasis and sandy bank next to a small river.

Many visitors come to Anza-Borrego for the wildflowers, which bloom from January or February through March or April. The number of flowers and timing of the bloom varies every year, which makes it hard to plan for. To make matters worse, by the time it's clear when they will be at their peak, every hotel room within 100 miles will be lighting up their "no vacancy" signs. Your best bet to catch the flowers at their peak is to  check the park website  for updates or call the wildflower hotline at 760-767-4684.

If you miss the wildflower bloom or are visiting the park out of season, you can still see many flowers. If flower-spotting is your priority be sure to stop in at the Visitors Center to ask the rangers for recommendations on where to find blooms in the park.

You can find developed campsites inside Anza-Borrego Desert State Park that are well-stacked with amenities to provide your water and electricity needs, but there are also many primitive backcountry sites if you prefer more rugged camping. Like all California state parks, it pays to make your reservation in advance if you want to secure a campsite.

• Borrego Palm Canyon Campground: This campground has 122 campsites available, plus running water, restrooms, and hot showers. Campsites are limited to eight people per group.
• Tamarisk Grove Campground: A smaller campground, there are 27 sites for RVs and tents, plus cabins. Here, there are also restrooms and showers, but there is no potable water.
• Bow Willow Campground: This first-come, first-served campsite has just 16 primitive sites and is very secluded. There are only chemical toilets.
• Mountain Palm Springs Campground: This extremely rugged campground has just a vault toilet, but is very remote. You will need to bring all your own supplies and water.
• Blair Valley Campground: Another remote campsite with only a vault toilet, this is a small valley campground with several sites available.
• Culp Valley Campground: This tiny campground is remote and located at an elevation of 3,300 feet. Sites are first-come, first-served.

Borrego Springs is the nearest town to Anza-Borrego, where you can find a place to stay , eat, or stock up on groceries. It's also possible to visit Anza-Borrego on a long day trip from Palm Springs or San Diego However, there are plenty of nice resorts and hotels nearby where you can stick around to enjoy the beauty of the desert while relishing the invention of air conditioning.

• Borrego Springs Resort & Spa : Every room in this luxury resort has a balcony overlooking either the Santa Rosa mountains or the pool.
• La Casa del Zorro Resort & Spa : This enormous resort has many sporting courts for tennis, shuffleboard, and even offers yoga classes in the fitness center. Across the 42-acre property, there are 28 pools.
• Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort : Here you'll find unique vintage trailers and airstreams, but can also bring and park your own RV.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is 84 miles (134 kilometers) northeast of San Diego and 88 miles (142 kilometers) south of Palm Springs . Because it's such a big park, there are many different ways to get there from either city.

The drive from San Diego to Anza-Borrego is especially scenic, crossing the mountains and descending into the desert floor. From San Diego, you should travel north on the I-15 until you can travel west on the Scripps Poway Parkway and eventually get on the I-67 going north. This road will turn into CA-78, which you will follow until you can go north on CA-79. From CA-79, you'll make a right on Montezuma Valley Road and follow the road for approximately 22 miles until you reach the entrance.

From Palm Springs, the route is a lot more simple. Travel east to get on the I-10 towards Salton City until you can continue south on CA-86. When you get to Salton City, you'll turn west on the Borrego Salton Sea Way until you reach Borrego Springs.

Travelers with disabilities will find a few accessible hiking trails in addition to accessible campsites at some of the campgrounds. Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, Tamarisk Grove Campground, Bow Willow Campground, and Horse Campground each have anywhere between one and three accessible campsites with accessible restrooms. There are three trails that can be accessed by wheelchairs.

• The Campground Visitor Center Trail: This is a .75-mile trail that connects the Visitor Center to the Borrego Palms Campground.
• Visitor Center Loop Trail: This short educational trail is .4 miles long and features interpretive panels which are also written in braille.
• The Culp Valley Trail: A half-mile long each way, this route starts at the Culp Valley Campground and is made of compacted soil that could work for some wheelchairs. The trail is generally flat with slopes between five and nine degrees, but there are a few armored crossings that could pose some difficulty. You can also find accessible parking an accessible restroom at the trailhead.
• The Visitor Center is open seven days a week, October through May, and on weekends from July through September. They charge a state park entry fee.
• In the summer, you might get a glimpse of Anza-Borrego's elusive Peninsular Bighorn Sheep in the canyon bottoms. They are also active from August through December during the mating season.
• The desert is hot year-round, but especially so in the summer so the best time to visit is in mid-winter or early spring.
• Dark skies at Anza-Borrego make any  meteor shower  a perfect time to be there, especially if it happens when the moon is dark or just a sliver.
• If you'd like to take a guided tour around the park, try California Overland  for group and private tours, as well as desert camping experiences.
• Dogs are only welcome on designated roads and campgrounds, which are listed on the park website .
• There are many ways to get involved in the ongoing research in the park as a citizen scientist, such as volunteering to count Swainson's hawks and bighorn sheep.
• Art-lovers should keep an eye out for the Ricardo Breceda scrap metal sculptures that are scattered throughout the park. There are over a hundred sculptures that represent prehistoric animals like dinosaurs and more recent historical characters like a gold prospector.

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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s Best Things to Do

03/27/2023 by Kristin Addis 4 Comments

When it comes to fascinating land formations, incredible stargazing, and some of the best sunrises on earth, you can’t beat the deserts of the American west.

If you’ve been following this blog for a while (if not, welcome!), you know I’m a big fan of this part of the world for the adventure it provides and the peaceful moments of desolation.

A couple of years ago, my brother and I decided to head out to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park northeast of San Diego for Christmas. We had the best time camping out, driving around in the 4-wheel drive, and exploring this beautiful part of California. Here are some of the best things to do in Anza-Borrego:

Table of Contents

1. Font’s Point Sunrise

In a state famous for its sunsets, where can you find the best sunrise in California? IMHO, Font’s Point is not only the most impressive part of Anza-Borrego, but the best sunrise in all of California. On a clear day, see the sun lighting up the golden landscape all the way out to the Salton Sea, seemingly forever without any people or buildings in sight.

to access it, turn right at this point off of Highway 22. Be fore-warned that there can be deep sand on this road all and throughout much of the park, so a car with 4-wheel drive is wise. 

You can see more of the sunrise in the video of my solo trip to Anza Borrego:

2. Palm Canyon Trail

The Palm Canyon Trail is a 3.5-miler close to the visitor center and easily accessible from a paved parking lot. It leads to an oasis of palms and was the original intent behind turning this land into a protected state park.

Currently the Palm Grove itself is closed for restoration, but the hiking trail is open and offers beautiful views of the park’s flora. Nearby, there’s also the Panoramic Overlook Trail, a one-miler that also offers lovely views.

3. 4×4 Through the Badlands Washes

The Badlands are what make Anza-Borrego so stunning and unique. I used to think I’d have to visit the Badlands National park in order to see land formations like this before realizing it was in my own backyard!

For a little history, this used to be a tropical area full of water a few million years ago. It’s rich in over 550 different types of fossils dating back 6 million years ago, showing the progression of the changing environment to the arid desert it is today. My brother was finishing up a degree in geophysics at the time, so this was particularly interesting to him!

The Badlands and rock formations are incredible but vulnerable, so please don’t climb directly in the badlands or vegetation, but rather stick to established trails and washes.

You’ll definitely need a four-wheel-drive car for this, and I did see someone get stuck when I was there, so know your limits and check roads before you go crazy!

Additionally, washes can fill up with water quickly, so be extra alert during the monsoon season (late summer) when thunderstorms can cause flash floods.

4. Wind Caves

I love the wind caves, a unique geological phenomenon caused by, I suppose wind and water?

Or perhaps they’re so named for the way the wind sounds moving through the holes in these caves. Either way, they’re pretty cool to check out.

It’s a short hike from the Fish Creek wash if you have the vehicle for it, or you can park at the primitive campsite at the end of the paved road and walk in. This elongates the day but it’s doable and gives you views of lovely rock formations all along the way.

5. The Pumpkin Patch

The pumpkin patch is located just east of the Anza-Borrego park boundary. It’s an area about the size of a city block covered with rocks the size of a large pumpkin.

You can access it off of highway 22, though you will need to drive some dirt roads and washes to actually get to the pumpkin patch. Like much of Anza-Borrego, you’ll need a four-wheel-drive, high clearance vehicle. Find them here.

6. Cactus Loop Trail

Near the Tamarisk Grove Campground, on your way into our out of Anza if coming via Julian, there’s a short, easy trail that winds through Ocatillo, Cholla, and more gorgeous cacti that if it’s spring, might be blooming. If it’s a super bloom year like the spring we had pictured above, you may see poppies as well.

This one is easy to access with parking right along the side of the paved road.

7. The Slot Canyon

You don’t have to head all the way to Utah or Arizona to check out some awesome slot canyons. They may not have the colors of Utah, but they have their own special beauty.

They can be tricky to find, so I recommend checking out this guide for more information on how to find and enjoy them. Remember to only use the slot canyons when there’s no rain anywhere near them, as flash flooding is a concern with canyons and washes in Anza-Borrego, particularly during the summer monsoon season.  

8. Hellhole Canyon

This moderate, 5.5 mile out and back hike is best saved for the winter, fall, and early spring. As you can gather from the name, it’s roasting in the summer!

This hike is less crowded than palm canyon, and equally accessible near the southwest part of the visitor’s center parking. Expect to see a palm oasis, possible bighorn sheep, and scramble a bit to the Maidenhair Falls at the end. How impressive these falls are will depend on time of year and rainfall.

9. Stargaze

You can’t beat the desert for stargazing. In a state with lots of light pollution, Anza-Borrego offers a unique opportunity to see a crystal clear Milky Way over the badlands.

Be sure to go during a new moon for the best star viewing. Alternatively, the full moon could be pretty cool too, but it would be more about the moon than the stars. If you’re a photographer, the Milky Way core is out from March until October. This photo was taken in December and though ‘core-less’, it’s still beautiful to me.

10. Galleta Meadows Sculptures

Artist Ricardo Breceda has created over 130 metal sculptures sprinkled throughout the desert that are free to enjoy. In some areas, if you have a car that can handle sand, you can drive right up to them (but parking along the road and walking up to them doesn’t take much effort if you don’t). My personal favorite is the Serpent, but prepare to find tortoises, camels, scorpions, and creatures that roamed the desert long ago.

There’s a decent concentration of them along Borrego Springs Road. Find the map here .

Springtime Blooms

In February and March, though exact timing changes year-to-year, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park puts on a beautiful show of wildflowers.

In heavy drought years followed by heavy rain years, the flowers are the most impressive. Though the exact location changes depending on the year and timing of the season, some areas that often have blooms are Henderson Wash, Coyote Canyon, and the Cactus Loop trail. Please keep to the dirt and off of the flowers. If there’s a trail, stick to the trail.

There are many areas in Southern California that have amazing super blooms, you can read more about them here . 

Desert Safety

All is not lost if you don’t have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, as some parts of the park are paved and there’s still plenty to see, here’s a self driving tour put together by the state park.

However if you will be driving through the washes and more precarious roads, don’t plan on having any cell service, and please don’t drive on the badlands, vegetation, or any vulnerable areas.

You should have a spare tire, know how to change it, and be extra careful which roads you choose to go down. Never drive through the washes when they are wet or if there could be rain anywhere in the vicinity.

Additionally, temperatures can reach over 120°F in the summer months. I much prefer the California desert during the winter months ( check out my whole winter road trip itinerary here ).  

If traveling to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park during the summer, choose to be nocturnal, enjoying it during the sunset, stargazing at night, and the early morning hours. Personally, I love enjoying the outdoors this way! You can read more about how to night hike here . 

Pin me for later:

While it’s impossible to write an exhaustive list for a state park that covers nearly 600,000 acres, this post has the highlights that feature the most unique land formations, the best views, and the most loved hiking trails. But I hope you also get a chance to discover your own unique adventure in Anza-Borrego State Park and that this post has helped to guide your way.

The Perfect California Deserts Road Trip Itinerary

The ultimate california bucket list, the best weekend trips from los angeles, about kristin addis.

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

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11/03/2020 at 11:33 pm

Hi Kristin !!! How do you capture such an amazing photos? Which camera do you use. Your blogs and articles are excellent, however I like your photos or the destination most.

Kristin says

11/04/2020 at 1:20 pm

https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/bemytravelmuse-camera/ 🙂

Kirsten Wasson says

02/17/2023 at 4:25 pm

I love your independent spirit! So unpretentious, and lively, and smart. Thank you!

02/22/2023 at 12:56 pm

Thanks so much!

ANZA-BORREGO

The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California and is known for its vast landscape and diverse wildlife. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. It is home to the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, which can be very elusive, as well as roadrunner, desert cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits, Gambel’s Quail, and a variety of reptiles.

Visitors can explore the park by driving on its extensive dirt roads or hiking its trails. A free park magazine presents information about the different resources in the Park, along with a basic map. A more detailed park map can be purchased at the Visitor Center store.

Wildflowers

A spring bloom of annual flowers takes place approximately January through mid-April. As its nonprofit partner, Anza-Borrego Foundation worked closely with the Park and provided up-to-date information on the best bloom locations and other tips to help protect the wildflowers and allow visitors to enjoy their visit. Learn more - click the icon above!

Primitive, backcountry, and developed campsites are available at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Visit the Park website to learn more. Learn more and request a tour – click the icon above!

Event Calendar

ABF offers many educational programs and fun events ranging from photography to wildlife to archaeology. Take a Spring Plant Walk. Combine hiking and hops on our next Hops & Hikes outing. You’re sure to find something that will spark your interest! Learn more - click the icon above!

Campfire Programs

You don’t have to be a camper to visit the campground for our free evening programs. Presented by park staff and knowledgeable volunteers, Campfire Programs are held at Borrego Palm Canyon, Tamarisk Grove and Bow Willow Campgrounds, primarily on weekends.

Nonprofit and educational organizations for children in kindergarten through high school may request an interpretive program at the Visitor Center. Please call ahead to arrange a program.

Guided Nature Walks & Hikes

Often beginning at the Visitor Center, walks and hikes range from 45 minutes to a few hours, and are led by park staff or volunteers. The monthly schedule announces the topic, time, place and other details. Learn more. Learn more - click the icon above!

More than 600,000 acres of exciting terrain await visitors to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. There’s the easy, half-mile ‘Ehmuu-Morteros Trail, the strenuous, three-mile Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail, and even the Pacific Crest Trail spanning 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada! Learn more - click the icon above!

Photo Contest

Submissions for the 2024 Anza-Borrego Desert Photo Contest will open November 2023. Until then, check out the 2023 winners in the categories of plants, people, animals, landscapes, nightscapes, and black and white photos. Learn more - click the icon above!

Junior Ranger Programs

This free hour-long program for kids aged 7-12 is both fun and educational! You can sign up at the Visitor Center on the weekend of the program. Programs are offered on Saturday mornings throughout the winter and spring. Parents may drop off and pick up their children at the Visitor Center. You can also visit the California State Parks’ website for more information.

Dark Sky Program

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park completely encloses the village of Borrego Springs, California, and together they achieved International Dark Sky Community status in 2009. ABF works with the Park and village to protect dark night skies over the southern California desert.

Contact Information

• (760) 767-0446
• [email protected]
• Privacy Policy

Mailing Address:

• P.O. Box 2001, Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Administration Office:

• 587 Palm Canyon Dr. #122, Borrego Springs, CA, 92004

Visitor Center:

• 200 Palm Canyon Dr. (At the west end), Borrego Springs, CA, 92004
• Hours: 9:00AM-5:00PM Daily
• (760) 767-4205

State Park Store:

• 587 Palm Canyon Dr. #110, Borrego Springs, CA, 92004
• (760) 465-2605

Proud Partner of California State Parks

© 2023 Anza-Borrego Foundation

Privacy overview.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: The Top Sites & Trails

Last Updated on: 20th October 2023, 12:49 pm

At over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California’s largest State Park. For reference, if it were a National Park, it would rank in the top twenty. As such, you can’t expect to see everything in a single day – or even two.

The park was named after Juan Bautista de Anza, an 18th-century Spanish explorer. At the time when this region was claimed by Spain, Anza helped establish a new route to California via mainland Mexico rather than the Baja Peninsula. And this barren desert landscape probably looks just as Anza saw it centuries ago.

Most visitors will be experiencing the park either as a day trip from San Diego or while en route to Joshua Tree National Park as part of a longer trip. My case was the latter, and I spent a night camping at the park. This allowed me to see some additional sites the next morning, not to mention giving me a head start for Joshua Tree.

The following guide presents the attractions in the order that I visited them. But if you only have a day, I’d start with The Slot before focusing on the sites and hikes around Borrego Springs. If you also want to see the Wind Caves, anticipate having to leave out other hikes like the Palm Canyon Trail.

At the end of this guide to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s main landmarks, you can find comprehensive info on transport, where to stay in the park, and available tour options.

Park Entry Fees

At the time of writing, basic park entry costs $10 per vehicle. At some of the more remote sites like The Slot, you’ll encounter stations where you can place cash into an envelope, after which you place the receipt on your dashboard. Otherwise, you can wait until you reach Borrego Springs, where you’ll find machines that take card. 

Note, however, that if you plan on paying for a campsite at the park, do not bother paying anything until you choose your campsite. The reason is that park entry is included in the cost of a campsite. Not realizing this at the time, I paid for park entry only to realize that it was a waste!

As we’ll go over below , Anza-Borrego has campsites with amenities for a fee, while the park also allows free dispersed camping.

Compared with Utah or Arizona , California isn’t exactly known for its slot canyons. The Slot at Anza-Borrego, however, is a notable exception. And it’s also one of the State Park’s most popular hikes. 

As such, it would be wise to start your day here in the morning before it gets too crowded. To do so, rather than head straight to the Visitor Center in the main part of the park, continue down Highway 78 before heading north along Buttes Pass.

While Buttes Pass is unpaved, it’s a lot smoother than other dirt roads elsewhere in the park, and you should be fine in a regular sedan. But ideally, to see everything, you’ll be driving a 4×4 or AWD for this trip.

In my case, I arrived at the parking lot at 9:30 after leaving San Diego two hours prior. While there was a large group in the parking lot getting ready for a hike, I only saw a couple of other people on the hike itself. 

I did this hike in summer, however, which is low season due to the extreme heat. Apparently, things get much more crowded in the winter months, with the parking lot potentially filling up early.

As a loop trail, The Slot is about 2.2 miles, or 3.5 km long. But the actual slot canyon makes up less than half of the entire loop. While I did do the full loop which only took me an hour, you’re not missing much by doing this as an out-and-back hike.

Before your trip to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, be sure to download AllTrails app and subscribe so you can view the trail map (and all others in this guide) offline.

From the parking lot, look for the trail that takes you directly down into the slot canyon. Otherwise, you could also start the loop from the opposite direction, allowing you to climb down the steepest part of the hike.

Aside from light scrambling, the slot canyon itself is quite easy to traverse. Other than an interesting arch, however, it doesn’t have too many remarkable features. But I always find walking through slot canyons to be fun regardless.

As mentioned, the actual slot canyon is quite short. And before you know it, you’ll be walking along a wash in the open desert.

After walking on flat ground for a little bit, the trail will take you up a steep hill – easily the most tiring part of this hike. As mentioned, you can choose to do the loop in the opposite direction to walk down it instead.

In either case, the views from this upper portion of the hike are spectacular, and they remain so until you find yourself back at the parking lot.

After my trip to Anza-Borrego, I would go on to do the Painted Canyon and Ladder Canyon Loop hike near Mecca, California, situated in between Anza-Borrego and Joshua Tree. And I found that slot canyon to be much more exciting and challenging.

So if you have limited time at Anza-Borrego and will be traveling onward to Joshua Tree, I’d recommend that hike instead. But ideally, you’ll have time for both.

The Wind Caves

The Wind Caves are the most difficult landmark to reach of this entire guide. And while the entire site may be pretty small, it’s arguably the top highlight of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park as a whole.

Just be forewarned – you’ll definitely want a 4×4 or AWD with high clearance to make it here. This remote section of the park is not somewhere where you’d want to get stuck.

From The Slot, return to Highway 78 and continue heading east. Eventually, you’ll reach the small village of Ocotillo Wells, at which you’ll want to turn right onto Split Mountain Rd.

Keep heading south until you reach Fish Creek Wash, where you’ll again want to turn right. This unpaved wash can be very rocky at times, so be sure to drive carefully.

Including a stop at a store along the way, it took me roughly 90 minutes to reach the Wind Caves Trailhead from The Slot parking lot.

Once you do reach the Wind Caves trailhead (again, see AllTrails), the walk there is only about fifteen minutes. But as I was doing this hike in summer, the temperature was hovering over 100 °F (38 °C) by this point in the day and this was no easy journey.

It should go without saying, but be sure to bring plenty of water if you’re visiting in the warmer months.

Before long, the Wind Caves came into view in the distance. But what exactly are they?

They’re part of a sandstorm formation which, as the name suggests, has been eroded by wind. And over time, various Swiss cheese-like holes have formed in the rocks, with some becoming large enough to be considered caves.

While just a tiny section of the park, the area reminded me somewhat of Cappadocia and its numerous ‘Fairy Chimneys.’ 

I had a walk around, exploring the various caves and ‘alleyways’ in between the large rock formations. All in all, there were only a few caves that were easy to fit in, but it was a good way to escape the blistering sun.

Aside from the Wind Caves themselves, the views of the surrounding area were also incredible.

While probably my favorite part of Anza Borrego, the area just isn’t very big, and I only spent about twenty minutes in total (this was also partly due to the extreme heat). 

Considering what a major detour it is to get here, I was expecting there to be a bit more to explore.

The Cactus Loop Trail

Finished with The Slot and the Wind Caves, it’s finally time to start making your way to the main section of the park. Return to Highway 78 and then continue heading west.

While it’s possible to take Borrego Springs Rd. toward the center, depending on your schedule, you may want to head further west before turning right onto Yaqui Pass Rd (see map above). That’s where you’ll find the Cactus Loop Trail.

This is a short and easy trail, though not particularly remarkable. It features an abundance of cholla cacti, just like the ones you can find at nearby Joshua Tree. There are also some pretty nice views from atop the hill.

The various landmarks at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are much farther apart than one would normally expect, and If you feel like you’re at all running behind schedule, I’d consider this hike skippable.

But if you do visit, you can do the whole loop in thirty minutes or less .

Around Borrego Springs

Next, I headed north to Borrego Springs, a town of several thousand people situated in the heart of the park. It’s here that you’ll find gas stations, general stores, a few restaurants, and hotels.

And if you’re planning to camp, the main campsites are located in this general area, not to mention other major trails and landmarks of Anza-Borrego.

It’s also here that you’ll find the Visitor Center, where the staff will be happy to answer any of your questions about the park. After a quick visit, I drove south along Montezuma Valley Rd. to briefly check out the Montezuma Valley Road Lookout.

The overlook is indeed worth a visit for those who have the time. While not the most epic viewpoint of the park, it’s at least accessible via a paved road.

At the time of my visit, it was extremely windy, and by simply opening the car door, the brochure just given to me by the park staff immediately blew out over the edge!

Palm Canyon Trail

Originally, my plan for the remainder of the day was to set up camp at a designated campsite near the Palm Canyon Trail before hiking that very trail. But due to the crazy wind, it took ages to set up the tent and try to figure out how to weigh it down (tent stakes are useless in the desert).

Though I’d planned to finish the day with a visit to the Galleta Meadows around sunset, due to the late start, I barely ended up finishing the Palm Canyon before dark.

The Palm Canyon Trail, easily accessible from the Visitor Center area, is one of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s most popular hikes. The out-and-back hike is just about 2.5 miles, or 4 km roundtrip. And it culminates in a beautiful desert oasis.

Unfortunately, since I started this hike so late in the day, the lighting was far from ideal. By the time I made it to the grove, the nearby mountains were blocking the sun, and the lighting was far from ideal for photography.

With that in mind, sometime around midday may be best to do this hike.

While the palm grove was badly burned in a fire in 2020, aside from the blackened trunks of many of the trees, it’s no longer easy to tell.

Interestingly, according to the informational placard, these California fan palms are the only palms native to the Western US.

I saw some hikers hanging out in the grove area to watch the sunset, though I decided to head back to my campsite to cook dinner before dark. All in all, this trail took me around 90 minutes.

Back near the beginning of the trail, I was treated with a bighorn sheep sighting. While by no means a rare sight in the western half of the US, these animals are always exciting to see in person. Here, I happened to catch several walking along the top of a nearby cliff.

The Galleta Meadows Sculptures

Galleta Meadows, situated north of Borrego Springs, is arguably Anza-Borrego’s most well-known spot. But oddly enough, in a park with so many natural wonders, Galleta Meadows is famous for its manmade metal sculptures.

They’re all the work of artist Ricardo Breceda, and they were added to liven up this barren patch of land. Largely added in 2008, there are now at least 130 sculptures to seek out during your visit.

You’ll find some of the main highlights labeled on Google Maps. But the best way to explore the area is to just drive around, occasionally getting out to get a closer look.

For many visitors, these sculptures are one of the top highlights. And as much as I wanted to experience them at a leisurely pace, I was in a big rush and only got several pictures.

As mentioned, I’d planned to see these sculptures the previous evening, but the terrible wind complicated my plans. And so I had to squeeze a visit to Galleta Meadows into an already jam-packed itinerary.

Nevertheless, I managed to find some of the most popular highlights, such as the massive serpent, various elephants and the large scorpion.

It wasn’t until getting there that I realized how far apart many of the sculptures are and how big this area really is. If you have the time, you could probably spend a couple of hours seeking out all the sculptures and photographing them.

Font's Point

Finished with the sculptures, it was finally time to make my way east out of the park. While there are numerous landmarks in this general area (see more below), I only had time for Font’s Point, arguably Anza-Borrego’s most spectacular overlook.

To get there, head east along the Borrego Salton Sea Way. You should eventually see a sign for Fonts Point, at which point you want to turn right onto an unpaved wash.

It’s then a 4-mile drive to reach the viewpoint. While you’ll want to keep your eye out for some large rocks on the road, I didn’t find this wash to be nearly as bad as the journey to the Wind Caves.

In the end, the effort is well worth it. From the viewpoint, you can overlook a huge area of eroded badlands as far as the eye can see. Given all the cracks and crevices of the rocks, Fonts Point will surely appear different at different times of the day.

Some people like to come here early to catch the sunrise, though this would entail driving down the wash in the dark.

More Around Anza-Borrego

There are several additional hikes and landmarks around Anza-Borrego that I wasn’t able to visit due to time constraints. In the center (Borrego Springs) part of the park, for example, is a popular hike called Hellhole Canyon .

It’s an out-and-back hike that’s about 5 miles, or 8 km, roundtrip. But if its name is anything to go by, you might want to skip it in summer.

Along the Borrego Salton Sea Way, you’ll pass the trailhead for the Calcite Mine Slot Canyon . It’s said to take around an hour and 45 minutes and includes some difficult scrambles.

Also in the eastern part of the park is the Pumpkin Patch , an area that features numerous round rocks that do indeed resemble pumpkins. Looking at the map, it seems like quite a challenge to reach by vehicle.

Additional Info

From San Diego, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park can be reached in about two hours by car. The ride is quite interesting, as the route takes you through the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in the Laguna Mountain range. One moment, you’ll be enjoying views of forests and lakes and then you’ll suddenly find yourself in a vast, barren desert.

You’ll need to decide on your Anza-Borrego itinerary in advance before departure, as where you start the day will have a big impact on the particular route you take.

Coming from Joshua Tree, Borrego Springs is about 90 minutes from the Cottonwood Visitor Center in the southern part of the park. But you might want to set aside time to do the Painted Canyon & Ladder Canyon Loop situated in between the two parks.

As mentioned above, several major landmarks at Anza-Borrego can only be accessed with a 4×4 or AWD SUV, so consider arranging one in advance if you don’t own one.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a rare State Park to allow free dispersed camping, similar to how most Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land works. This means you can simply pitch your tent anywhere you see fit and spend the night there.

There are some rules, however, such as no campfires and no camping too close to a water source. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find a detailed list of rules on the official website, so you may want to call in advance or confirm at the Visitor Center.

While the idea of free camping sounded appealing to me at first, it wasn’t long before I considered the downsides: lack of toilets and running water, or even a table on which to cook.

So in the end, we camped at the Palm Canyon Campground near the Visitor Center and Palm Canyon Trail. It cost $33 per night, for which we got a little shelter, picnic table and access to toilets and showers.

The showers, however, cost an additional fee. For one dollar, you can buy two shower tokens, each of which gives you two minutes of water. At least the water was warm.

As mentioned above, the experience was marred by the extreme winds that day. The hard desert ground could not take normal tent stakes no matter how hard you tried to pound them in. And so we had no choice but to search for large rocks to place in the tent to weigh it down.

The intense wind persisted throughout the night, and I barely got any sleep. And I woke up to find that the tent had largely collapsed on me.

Most people worry about potential rain when camping, but out in the desert, wind is something you definitely have to consider. I’d later have a similar experience in Death Valley. But having learned my lesson at Anza-Borrego, I drove to the nearest town and booked a hotel.

Needless to say, you’ll have a much better experience if you’re sleeping in an RV rather than a tent. If you don’t have one, consider renting one .

I noticed that some of the campsites at Anza-Borrego had large stone walls on one side which would’ve helped a lot, though there were only several and they were all occupied. Most campsites, on the other hand, are completely open on all sides.

If camping is not your thing, there are actually quite a few hotels to choose from within Anza-Borrego. The most popular option seems to be the Borrego Valley Inn , located in the heart of Borrego Springs. A bit further south, La Casa del Zorro is another highly-rated option.

Other hotels in the area, meanwhile, include Borrego Springs Resort and Spa and Stanlunds Inn and Suites , both of which have positive reviews.

If traversing the vast Anza-Borrego Desert State Park sounds like too much of a hassle, or if you simply lack the proper vehicle, consider taking a tour from San Diego.

This full-day 4×4 tour will take you to many of the park’s hard-to-reach destinations, while this tour will take you around Anza-Borrego in addition to nearby sites like the Cleveland National Forest.

Anza-Borrego is home to some beautiful scenery and landmarks, as you can see pictured in the guide above. But it’s hard to get a true sense of what it’s like to explore the park from pictures alone.

Given the park’s total size, many of the main landmarks are very far apart from one another, with some only accessible via very rough road. So by the time you get to a particular landmark, your expectations are going to be pretty high, but I didn’t always feel like each landmark, hike or viewpoint delivered.

And considering all the other parks throughout the southern half of California alone, I don’t think Anza-Borrego can quite compete.

Whether or not you should visit the park largely comes down to your itinerary. If you’ll be traveling from San Diego to Joshua Tree and beyond and won’t have a problem setting aside a day for Anza-Borrego, then it makes for a great stop along the journey.

But if you have limited time and have to decide between Anza-Borrego and somewhere like Joshua Tree, Mojave National Preserve or Death Valley, I would place Anza-Borrego near the bottom of the list.

If you’re staying for a while in San Diego, then Anza-Borrego would make for a great day trip. But if you’re looking for a less intensive outdoor adventure, also look into the Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve.

There are countless accommodation options in San Diego, and choosing the best place to stay largely depends on your budget and which neighborhood you prefer. Here are some of the highest-rated options in some of the city’s most popular neighborhoods:

In the Old District, some of the most popular options for a reasonable price are the Cosmopolitan Hotel and the Old Town Inn .

If you’d prefer the downtown area, Chic Condo Steps from Petco Park has great reviews.

And if you’d like to stay right by the coast, consider The Inn at Sunset Cliffs .

If you happen to be crossing the border on foot from Tijuana and are looking for a hotel you can easily reach via public transport, consider the Mission Bay Inn .

That’s where I stayed upon my arrival in San Diego before renting a car the next morning. It was convenient being able to get on the tram from the border crossing, riding it to Clairemont Drive Station and then being able to walk to the hotel in a few minutes. Though I didn’t go, the hotel also happens to be near SeaWorld.

Borrego In 1 Day

Borrego Springs Itineraries Borrego Springs is a great 1-day trip from San Diego and Palm Springs. If you have 2-3 days, you can do so much more. The town and park have something for everyone. Beautiful hotels and resorts, where you can treat yourself to a nurturing massage, relax by the pool, or play golf on one of the excellent courses. Or camp and experience the desert in the most intimate way. Rent a cabin or a vintage airstream. Your itinerary will depend on the time of the year (you are in the desert after all) but for each season there is an exciting place to visit and explore.

Borrego in 1 DAY

Start at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center Before setting out to hike a portion of the 110 miles of trails within the park, or do anything else in this park, stop by the Visitor Center. Here you can get advice from rangers on which trails will suit your hiking style and pick up maps. Be sure to watch the informational video in the center to learn all about the land’s transformation over the millennia from ocean, to valleys filled with grazing animals, to the desert it is today.

Go on a hike and look for Bighorn Sheep Borrego Springs is named for its resident bighorn sheep (Borrego means sheep or lamb in Spanish.) So, of course, you will want to try to spot some Borrego during your stay! Your ranger can inform you where the latest sightings are. A regular hangout for these amazing sheep is around the Palm Canyon Trail, an easy 3-mile round trip hike that leads to a grove of palm trees, called the Palm Oasis.

Head back to the town center for lunch Borrego Springs has plenty of great places to eat that will fit any palate or budget. From savory fresh authentic Mexican to wood-fired gourmet style pizzas to good-old-fashioned Americana. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the town has a list of restaurants that will quench your thirst and still your hunger.

Walk in the Borrego Art Institute at Christmas Circle This gallery provides an endless variety of high-quality paintings, photographs, and sculptures. Desert motifs naturally are popular, but other subjects are shown as well. Admission is free. The staff is friendly and happy to answer questions about any of the work on display and the artists.

Stop by Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association desert store, which is one block west of downtown’s Christmas Circle. (ABDNHA “ABNA”) sponsors approximately 150 hikes, lectures, tours, special events, and educational programs each year. A place to ask questions, browse through numerous books about the park and history of the area. Maps and gift items related to the desert can be found here as well.

Erosion Road Self-Guided Auto Tour Enjoy these self-guided tour routes to visit the desert viewpoints. Erosion Road tour is an introduction to the geology of the Anza-Borrego Desert. It includes stops at the Coyote and Santa Rosa Mountains, Font’s Point, Clark Dry Lake, Font’s Point Wash and an overlook of the Borrego Badlands. Get your copy at: The State Park Visitors Center or at the Anza-Borrego Foundation or Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association.

Encounter dozens of art sculptures in Galleta Meadows Take your car and encounter dozens of large, free-standing metal sculptures of prehistoric animals such as mammoths, giant birds and saber-toothed cats, as well as leaping horses and imaginary creatures. The heavy-duty sculptures created by sculptor Ricardo Breceda weigh between 800 and 1,000 pounds each and were commissioned by the late millionaire Dennis Avery. Avery’s vision for Galleta Meadows was an open desert art museum for all to enjoy, free of charge. Get a map for self-touring or pick up a visitor’s guide downtown.

Contact Details

Borrego In 1 Day Borrego Springs , CA 92004 United States

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