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.

East County News Services • June 13, 2026

County Animal Services treating horses from Julian rescue, relying on Spirit Fund

Two horses standing in a fenced paddock, one brown horse in the foreground and one behind it

Photo courtesy County of San Diego

East County News Services

June 12, 2026 (Bonita) — The San Diego County Department of Animal Services is currently caring for several horses at its Bonita shelter, following a massive rescue operation at Villa Chardonnay Horses With Wings Inc. in Julian last month where hundreds of animals were discovered living without proper care.

The scale of the May seizure was significant enough to require assistance from animal welfare organizations across the country. As part of the ongoing triage and recovery efforts, two of the six horses that were being housed at the Bonita facility were transported to the Humane Society of Ventura County on Wednesday, June 10 for additional, specialized care.

None of the horses rescued are available for adoption at this point.

To support the complex medical needs of the severe neglect cases, Animal Services is utilizing the Spirit Medical Fund, a donation-based account specifically reserved for animals arriving at county shelters requiring intensive medical intervention or facing extraordinary circumstances.

“Thank you to everyone who has helped these animals get the care they need and deserve,” Dr. Brie Sarvis, director and chief veterinarian for County Animal Services, told county officials. “Help from the community has been vital during this process.”

The Spirit Fund was established in 2008 after an abused puppy — later named Spirit — was found at the United States-Mexico border. The puppy’s high-profile rescue generated a wave of public generosity, prompting the county to create a permanent financial resource for animals in crisis.

According to the department, 100 percent of every dollar donated to the Spirit Fund goes directly to animal care, with zero administrative deductions.

Community donations have been critical in offsetting the costs of the Julian rescue recovery.

Tax-deductible contributions to the Spirit Fund (Tax ID: 95-6000934) can be made online or mailed via check payable to the Department of Animal Services. Checks should include “Donation for Spirit Fund” in the memo line and be mailed to 5821 Sweetwater Road, Bonita, CA 91902.

Additionally, the Bonita shelter is accepting physical donations through its Amazon Wish List to provide enrichment items for the animals currently in its care.

For updates regarding the broader ongoing rescue effort, the public can visit the San Diego Humane Society’s Julian Rescue page.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Borrego Village Campus: Up to 60 Affordable Homes Proposed on Donated Land

By Andrea McKenna • September 11, 2026

Wellsprings Community Foundation would put housing for seniors and workers, a fire station, and a clinic on 22 donated acres in the center of town

Bargain Barn storefront sign on a white building with star decorations against a dark blue sky.

The Borrego Springs Bargain Barn: Season Update

By American Legion Post 853 Communications • September 10, 2026

Borrego Springs Thrifting for a Cause: Support Veterans at Bargain Barn.

Rotary Sets Feb. 6 for Annual Fundraiser: A Roaring Twenties Speakeasy

By Andrea McKenna • September 10, 2026

Borrego Springs Rotary will bring the Roaring Twenties to La Casa del Zorro for its annual community fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027. Each February, the greater Rotary family gathers for one of its most important fundraisers of the year, raising funds to support programs and projects that benefit the Borrego Springs community. Last year’s Mardi Gras celebration drew 110 supporters for an evening of food, fun, raffles and auctions. Their generosity helped Rotary fund 30 student scholarships, send local students to leadership development programs, provide a Christmas toy for every child in Borrego Springs, and award 18 community grants. This season, Rotary is trading Mardi Gras for the glamour of the Roaring Twenties. The 2027 Rotary Annual Fundraiser Dinner will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, at La Casa del Zorro, with a Roaring Twenties Speakeasy theme, complete with Prohibition-era cocktails and period-inspired cuisine. Guests are encouraged to “throw on your glad rags” and join Rotary for what organizers promise will be a festive evening — all in support of programs that directly benefit the community. Save the date: Saturday, Feb. 6, 2027. Additional details, including ticket information, will be announced as the event approaches.