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 • December 12, 2024

Borrego Springs Faces Power Outages with Community Support

Borrego Springs Extended Power Outages

Beginning Monday evening, December 9, 2024, Borrego Springs experienced widespread power outages as SDG&E initiated public safety shutoffs due to high fire risk. The outages, impacting all circuits in the area, lasted until approximately 2:30 PM on Wednesday, December 11. With temperatures dropping sharply at night, community members leaned on key resources to navigate the challenges.

Mirage Gas, Dollar General, XL Gas, and the Borrego Springs Library operated on generators—some provided by SDG&E—ensuring essential services were available. The library, designated as an official Community Resource Center, became a vital refuge, offering warm seating, spacious accommodations, Wi-Fi, free ice, water, blankets, charging stations, and meal kits.

Community Resource Center workers were friendly and helpful, encouraging residents to share information so others could access resources. Security was provided for both the library interior and the parking lot, ensuring a safe environment for all. Residents using library services were asked to sign in with their name, address, and contact information.

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While Verizon and other phone services remained operational, AT&T users were without service until Wednesday morning, adding another layer of difficulty for some residents. The outages disrupted local events, and some visitors chose to leave early due to the conditions. Despite the challenges, the resilience of the community and the availability of these resources helped Borrego Springs weather this period of uncertainty.

The initial messaging from SDG&E warned residents to prepare for potential outages lasting until 5:30 PM on Friday, December 13, emphasizing the need for extended readiness.

If you feel you lacked access to support or connection during this time, please let us know so we can pass along feedback and help improve future emergency responses through community outreach.

Please feel free to share your experience with us, whether you’d like it posted publicly or kept private. Let us know how we can help pass along your feedback.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

‘Wolves and Wine’ gala on Oct. 17 to celebrate California Wolf Center’s work, expansion

By East County News Services • September 4, 2026

Source: East County News Services

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.

Update: Borrego Springs Welcome Sign

By Jim Dion, Borrego Village Association • September 2, 2026

New sign by artist John Richen is planned for installation soon!

Frugal Coyote Thrift Store Is Open for the Season

By Andrea McKenna • September 1, 2026

As a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, the store's proceeds benefit the Borrego Springs Children's Center, making every purchase impactful and meaningful.

OpiCure Ascent to Freedom ride: Uniting community to honor recovery

By OpiCure Foundation • August 31, 2026

The Ascent to Freedom celebration is OpiCure Foundation's inaugural cycling event, uniting riders and community in Borrego Springs, California. It will be held on November 21, to honor recovery and the power of the bicycle to heal. The event is a significant milestone in the Foundation’s journey, as brothers and founders Cullen and Griffin Easter welcome members of the community to La Casa del Zorro for a day of riding, reflection and conviviality, and to strengthen the message and work of OpiCure. A community spirit will be at the forefront of an event dedicated to raising awareness through on-site information and advice around recovery, activities including a pickleball tournament, and a ride for those who wish to participate. The ride will be led by the Easter brothers and will take in the stunning scenery of Borrego Springs – it will cater to all levels of ability, with the aim to highlight the empowering joy that riding can bring to anyone willing to jump on a bicycle. Cullen Easter: “Please join us for the inaugural Ascent to Freedom Celebration. This day has been a long time in the making, and we’re incredibly excited to begin what we hope becomes a yearly tradition. It’s a day for community, a day for adventure on the bicycle, and a day to celebrate recovery and the freedom that can come from simply moving forward. “Borrego Springs and the desert feel like the perfect place to begin this journey—open roads, big skies, and a landscape that invites you to get outside, connect, and experience something together. Whether you come to ride, learn, support someone you love, or simply spend the day with us, you are welcome. We can’t wait to see you out there.” Griffin Easter: “OpiCure Foundation’s Ascent to Freedom Ride will be a day in the desert with friends and family you won’t want to miss. A beautifully curated ride with desert vistas, unique lifesize art metalwork, post ride lunch and even a pickleball tournament, there’s something for everyone. We’re so proud to host this inaugural event and celebrate both recovery as well as the freedom a bicycle provides. Mark this ride on your calendar, November 21st. I can’t wait to see everyone there.” Further details will be announced in due course, with a full program confirmed closer to the event date of November 21. The official ride website can be found at opicureride.com OpiCure Foundation was established by the Easter brothers to utilize the bicycle as a tool to assist those struggling with opioid addiction in their recovery process. Through bringing awareness to opioid abuse, redefining best practices for addiction recovery and devoting resources to affect positive change, it is in partnership with the cycling community that we can make a difference. Cullen Easter is an Emergency Department-registered nurse with a Bachelors in Nursing, who has first-hand professional experience in addiction recovery. He is also a proud father, professional cyclist, and leads the mission. Griffin Easter is Director of the team's elite competitive racing program, and competes at the world’s top gravel events across four continents, bringing the OpiCure name to recognition on an international stage.

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