How big is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

More than 600,000 acres, or roughly 1,000 square miles. It is the largest state park in California and the third largest in the United States, spanning parts of San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties.

How much does it cost to enter Anza-Borrego?

Day use is $10 per vehicle, collected at the Visitor Center, developed campgrounds and several popular trailheads including The Slot and Hellhole Canyon. The park has no entrance gates and much of it can be accessed without a fee.

When is wildflower season at Anza-Borrego?

Annual wildflowers can appear from January through mid-April, with peak bloom most often between late February and early April. Timing varies year to year based on rainfall and temperature.

Is Anza-Borrego a Dark Sky Park?

Yes. The park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018 at Silver tier. Borrego Springs, the town at its center, has been an International Dark Sky Community since 2009, the first in California.

Do I need four-wheel drive at Anza-Borrego?

Not for the paved roads, the Visitor Center or the main campgrounds. The vast majority of the park's roughly 500 miles of dirt roads do require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park open at night?

Yes, the park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The Visitor Center is open daily 9am to 5pm October through May, and weekends and holidays only June through September.

Jake Hinton • October 22, 2025

Akrofest 2025 in Borrego Springs

Get Ready for Three Days of Aerobatic Excitement!

hree Days of Aerobatic Excitement Begin October 23

Akrofest 2025 kicks off Thursday, October 23, at Borrego Valley Airport, bringing three days of incredible aerobatic flying, community, and desert hospitality. With 48 pilots registered, this year’s event promises one of the most exciting displays yet in Borrego’s world-renowned aerobatic box.

Whether you’re competing, volunteering, or just want to drop by and say hello, everyone is invited to experience the precision, skill, and energy that make Akrofest a Borrego Springs tradition.

Event Details

Dates: October 23–25, 2025
Location: Borrego Valley Airport, 1820 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, CA 92004

What’s Happening

Watch top pilots perform world-class aerobatic routines
Meet competitors and volunteers from IAC Chapters 36 & 49
Enjoy refreshments and open-air viewing areas
Family-friendly atmosphere celebrating aviation and community

“Whether you’re competing, volunteering, or just want to drop in and say hello, I hope you’ll join us!”
— Bryan Jones, IAC Chapter 36 San Diego Hammerheads

For full event details and updates, visit IAC Chapter 36 online or follow the San Diego Hammerheads on social media.

#borregosprings #airplane #pentax #pentaxk5 #sigma70200 #iac #acrofest #akrofest #aerobatics

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Old Borego Open House Celebrates the Valley’s Historic Heart

By Martha Deichler • September 4, 2026

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

NWS monitoring possible tropical cyclone that could affect San Diego County

By City News Service • September 2, 2026

The National Weather Service is monitoring Tropical Storm Marie, which developed near Baja California and could bring a chance of showers to San Diego County over Labor Day weekend.