How big is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

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

How much does it cost to enter Anza-Borrego?

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

When is wildflower season at Anza-Borrego?

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

Is Anza-Borrego a Dark Sky Park?

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

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

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

Is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park open at night?

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

Shandel Sutherland • December 18, 2025

Borrego Palm Canyon: Student Field Hike

Photos: Sicco Rood | Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center

Learning the Desert Firsthand

Students from Borrego Springs High School are gaining real-world experience in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park through a certified interpretation and internship program. This post covers a recent field hike in Borrego Palm Canyon, highlights what students learned on the trail, and explains how the program prepares teens for professional interpretive guide and host certifications while connecting them more deeply to the desert they call home.

Students on the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail

Two seniors and four juniors from the Borrego Springs High School Interpretation Course and Internship Program recently took part in a guided hike up Borrego Palm Canyon. The hike was led by Stacy Valdez and Sicco Rood as part of the students’ coursework.

For several students, this was their first time hiking Borrego Palm Canyon, making the experience especially memorable. One long-standing goal for the group was to see desert bighorn sheep—a highlight that became reality near the end of the hike on the Alternate Trail.

Part of a Certified Interpretive Program

The hike is one component of a for-credit interpretive guide and host certification program offered through the National Association for Interpretation (NAI). The course provides students with professional-level training in environmental education, public engagement, and desert stewardship.

The program is led by local resident Stacy Valdez and coordinated with the Borrego Springs Unified School District, giving students structured, hands-on learning tied directly to their local landscape.

Community Support Behind the Program

This ongoing program is sponsored by the Borrego Village Association and has been made possible since 2019 through grants and support from:

San Diego County Board of Supervisors

Borrego Springs Rotary Foundation

Borrego Springs Education Foundation

Borrego Valley Endowment Fund (BVEF)

Private donors

Their continued support allows Borrego Springs students to access professional training opportunities without leaving their community.

Preparing the Next Generation of Desert Interpreters

Through field experiences like the Borrego Palm Canyon hike, students gain practical knowledge, confidence, and certification pathways that support future work in parks, education, and visitor services. The program also strengthens connections between young residents and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, reinforcing stewardship and local expertise.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

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Equitable Building Decarbonization Program

By California Energy Commission • September 23, 2026

The goals of the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program are to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in homes and advance energy equity. The Direct Install Program provides decarbonization retrofits to low- and moderate-income households. The Statewide Incentive Program incentivizes the increased adoption of low-carbon technologies. In addition to reducing GHG emissions, the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program will strive to encourage resiliency to extreme heat, improve indoor air quality, improve energy affordability, provide electric grid support, and increase payment of prevailing wage to the implementing workforce. Programs include: EBD Statewide Direct Install Program The Equitable Building Decarbonization Statewide Direct Install Program provides and installs energy-efficient upgrades to low-income households. EBD Tribal Direct Install Program The program will serve residential buildings owned or managed by a California Native American tribes, tribal organizations, or tribal members. EBD Statewide Incentive Program Loan loss reserve and interest rate buy downs to reduce the cost of loans for home energy retrofits that improve efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. Learn More: www.energy.ca.gov Contact: Equitable Building Decarbonization Program equitablebuildingdecarb@energy.ca.gov