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 • June 25, 2026

Did You Know Ken Kramer Featured Borrego Springs?

The Emmy Award-winning host called the sculptures "the most remarkable metal sculptures to be found anywhere in the world."

If you've ever admired the giant metal sculptures scattered across Galleta Meadows, you may remember that Ken Kramer's About San Diego featured them in a 2018 episode titled "Episode 71 - Metal Monsters in Borrego Springs."

Kramer introduced viewers to what he called "the most remarkable metal sculptures to be found anywhere in the world," describing how they seem to stand naturally in the desert landscape, "unaffected by blowing sand and scorching heat."

The episode tells the story of the late Dennis Avery, who envisioned filling his Borrego Springs property with public art celebrating prehistoric creatures and whimsical desert creations. To bring that vision to life, Avery found sculptor Ricardo Breceda, whose imagination and craftsmanship transformed the desert into one of Southern California's most recognizable outdoor art experiences.

Traveling to Breceda's workshop, Kramer discovered not only the artist behind Borrego's sculptures but also the joy that drives his work. Breceda explained, "The best pay for an artist is when people like what you do, when people enjoy what you do." He summed up his philosophy simply: "I make people smile. I make people happy."

Kramer also reflected on what makes the sculptures so special, calling them "an inspiration to think large, think fearlessly," before leaving viewers with Breceda's own advice: "Focus on something, make it happen. Do it. Just do it. And most of all... have fun."

Earlier this year, the Emmy Award-winning series celebrated its 100th episode on Feb. 19, 2026, marking nearly half a century of uncovering little-known stories that help viewers see San Diego County in a new way.

Ricardo Breceda's sculptures on display at the San Diego County Administration Center's Waterfront Park during the 2025 traveling public art exhibit.

The story of Breceda's work in Borrego Springs continues to grow. In October 2025, Borrego Community Builders led a public art installation featuring Ricardo Breceda sculptures that traveled throughout San Diego County, with stops at the San Diego County Waterfront Park, Logan Heights, the Gaslamp Quarter, and the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. The traveling exhibit concluded at the Borrego Days Parade, bringing the sculptures home to Borrego Springs.

"Battle of the Desert," commissioned by Rams Hill and installed in December 2025, is the newest public Ricardo Breceda sculpture installation in Borrego Springs.

Just a few months later, in December 2025, Borrego Community Builders celebrated the installation of two new Ricardo Breceda sculptures commissioned by Rams Hill. Titled "Battle of the Desert," the impressive new works became the newest public Breceda installation in Borrego Springs, adding another chapter to the community's growing collection of world-renowned metal sculptures.

Today, the collection has grown to more than 130 sculptures and remains one of Borrego Springs' most photographed attractions, drawing visitors from around the world.

Watching Ken Kramer's episode today is a reminder of how one visionary landowner, one gifted artist, and one remarkable storyteller helped introduce Borrego Springs to audiences across San Diego County.

And it leaves us wondering: Will Ken Kramer return to Borrego Springs to discover the next chapter of our desert story?

-----------

Learn More About Borrego Springs

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