Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Discover Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in southern California is the largest state park in the state and the second largest in the United States (after Adirondack State Park in New York). The park is located on the eastern side of San Diego County, with portions extending east into Imperial County and north into Riverside County. It is about a two-hour drive from San Diego, Riverside and Palm Springs. The park is named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish word borrego, or bighorn sheep. The park consists of 500 mi (800 km) of dirt roads, and miles and miles of hiking trails. Additionally, the park features views, washes, cacti, wildflowers, and palm groves. Animal lovers will also enjoy the wildlife scene in the park—everything from chuckwallas and iguanas to roadrunners and red diamond rattlesnakes have been spotted here.
What to Experience in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Taste of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park...
Make sure you drink lots of water. High winds and a hot sun can prove dangerous. The small town of Borrego Springs, surrounded by the massive state park, has lodging ranging from small motels to upscale resorts. Camp sites are available for $20 per night in most locations or you can camp for free in the primitive camping areas and really get in touch with nature! However, make sure you bring your own fire-ring (or something like it- a metal garbage can lid works great) as it's illegal to make fire upon the ground. It causes great damage to the eco-system. Pack everything (including ashes from the fire) out with you. Leave the place like you found it, or do a good deed and scout out old trash left by others that can be dangerous to the natural habitat. There's plenty of room to get lost so make sure you have a map, water, and tell people ahead of time so they know to worry if you don't show up when you're supposed to. Watch out for rattle snakes and scorpions... but most of all, the sun. Drink lots of water.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Anza-Borrego Desert State Park into what it is today.
A number of species typical of the Sonoran and Colorado deserts can be seen in the park, as well as a few endangered ones, like the Desert Bighorn sheep or the Californian palm tree (Washingtonia filifera). Winter lasts from November to the beginning of April, with temperatures often in the 70s and 80s F during daytime. The higher chance of rainfall during that season makes it possible to see the desert in bloom. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a well known trail that extends along the West coast of the United States, from Mexico to Canada. It passes through California, Oregon, and Washington State. Make sure you drink lots of water. High winds and a hot sun can prove dangerous. The small town of Borrego Springs, surrounded by the massive state park, has lodging ranging from small motels to upscale resorts. Camp sites are available for $20 per night in most locations or you can camp for free in the primitive camping areas and really get in touch with nature! However, make sure you bring your own fire-ring (or something like it- a metal garbage can lid works great) as it's illegal to make fire upon the ground. It causes great damage to the eco-system. Pack everything (including ashes from the fire) out with you. Leave the place like you found it, or do a good deed and scout out old trash left by others that can be dangerous to the natural habitat....
Climate
Winter lasts from November to the beginning of April, with temperatures often in the 70s and 80s F during daytime. The higher chance of rainfall during that season makes it possible to see the desert in bloom. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a well known trail that extends along the West coast of the United States, from Mexico to Canada. It passes through California, Oregon, and Washington State. Make sure you drink lots of water. High winds and a hot sun can prove dangerous. The small town of Borrego Springs, surrounded by the massive state park, has lodging ranging from small motels to upscale resorts. Camp sites are available for $20 per night in most locations or you can camp for free in the primitive camping areas and really get in touch with nature! However, make sure you bring your own fire-ring (or something like it- a metal garbage can lid works great) as it's illegal to make fire upon the ground. It causes great damage to the eco-system.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a well known trail that extends along the West coast of the United States, from Mexico to Canada. It passes through California, Oregon, and Washington State. Make sure you drink lots of water. High winds and a hot sun can prove dangerous. The small town of Borrego Springs, surrounded by the massive state park, has lodging ranging from small motels to upscale resorts. Camp sites are available for $20 per night in most locations or you can camp for free in the primitive camping areas and really get in touch with nature! However, make sure you bring your own fire-ring (or something like it- a metal garbage can lid works great) as it's illegal to make fire upon the ground. It causes great damage to the eco-system. Pack everything (including ashes from the fire) out with you. Leave the place like you found it, or do a good deed and scout out old trash left by others that can be dangerous to the natural habitat....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Make sure you drink lots of water. High winds and a hot sun can prove dangerous. The small town of Borrego Springs, surrounded by the massive state park, has lodging ranging from small motels to upscale resorts. Camp sites are available for $20 per night in most locations or you can camp for free in the primitive camping areas and really get in touch with nature! However, make sure you bring your own fire-ring (or something like it- a metal garbage can lid works great) as it's illegal to make fire upon the ground. It causes great damage to the eco-system. Pack everything (including ashes from the fire) out with you. Leave the place like you found it, or do a good deed and scout out old trash left by others that can be dangerous to the natural habitat. There's plenty of room to get lost so make sure you have a map, water, and tell people ahead of time so they know to worry if you don't show up when you're supposed to. Watch out for rattle snakes and scorpions...
Where to Stay
The small town of Borrego Springs, surrounded by the massive state park, has lodging ranging from small motels to upscale resorts. Camp sites are available for $20 per night in most locations or you can camp for free in the primitive camping areas and really get in touch with nature! However, make sure you bring your own fire-ring (or something like it- a metal garbage can lid works great) as it's illegal to make fire upon the ground. It causes great damage to the eco-system. Pack everything (including ashes from the fire) out with you. Leave the place like you found it, or do a good deed and scout out old trash left by others that can be dangerous to the natural habitat. There's plenty of room to get lost so make sure you have a map, water, and tell people ahead of time so they know to worry if you don't show up when you're supposed to. Watch out for rattle snakes and scorpions... but most of all, the sun. Drink lots of water.
Money & Budget
Make sure you drink lots of water. High winds and a hot sun can prove dangerous. The small town of Borrego Springs, surrounded by the massive state park, has lodging ranging from small motels to upscale resorts. Camp sites are available for $20 per night in most locations or you can camp for free in the primitive camping areas and really get in touch with nature! However, make sure you bring your own fire-ring (or something like it- a metal garbage can lid works great) as it's illegal to make fire upon the ground. It causes great damage to the eco-system. Pack everything (including ashes from the fire) out with you. Leave the place like you found it, or do a good deed and scout out old trash left by others that can be dangerous to the natural habitat.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Watch out for rattle snakes and scorpions... but most of all, the sun. Drink lots of water.