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.

Andrea McKenna • August 31, 2026

Borrego Art Institute Offers Figure Drawing Class Sept. 3

A relaxed, all-levels studio session welcomes artists as Borrego’s fall season begins to pick up.

As seasonal residents begin making their way back to Borrego Springs, the Borrego Art Institute is offering a chance to get creative with a Figure Drawing class on Thursday, Sept. 3, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Held in the BAI Gallery at 665 Palm Canyon Drive, the two-hour session gives artists an opportunity to practice drawing the human form with guidance available throughout the class. The live model will be clothed, and participants may work in any medium.

All skill levels are welcome. Students should bring their own supplies, although a few materials will be available if needed.

The class is free for BAI members and $20 for non-members, with a maximum of 10 students. Advance registration is requested.

Borrego Art Institute

Thursday, Sept. 3 | 1–3 p.m.

665 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs