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 4, 2026

Anza-Borrego Sunrise to Sunset: A Desert Documentary

Award-Winning Filmmakers Return With Anza Borrego Sunrise to Sunset Documentary

A local based documentary is inviting audiences to experience Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in an unconventional way—by slowing down, sitting still, and watching an entire day unfold.

Anza Borrego: Sunrise to Sunset is a 60-minute documentary directed and filmed by award-winning filmmaker Peter Wick. The film follows world traveler Robert Silk, who returns to the desert to spend the day sitting from sunrise to sunset while simply observing the landscape. Wick joins him for part of the experience, documenting the changing light, conversations, and quiet moments that define the day.

Described by its creators as a "video essay," the documentary blends nature, meditation, humor, and endurance while encouraging viewers to see the desert from a different perspective.

The film reunites the creative team behind the award-winning documentary Silk Finds What He's Looking For, with editor Marceline De Angelis returning alongside Wick and Silk.

Following an Award-Winning Documentary

Anza Borrego: Sunrise to Sunset serves as the follow-up to Silk Finds What He's Looking For, which documented Silk's first sunrise-to-sunset sit in Joshua Tree National Park on June 21, 2020.

During that original project, Silk remained seated for 14 hours and 27 minutes, observing the desert as the sun traveled across the sky. The documentary went on to stream on Apple TV and other platforms as part of the FlickFair Festival in 2022 and received recognition from several international film festivals.

Among its honors were:

Impact DOCS Award winner
Official Selection, Roma Cinema Doc
Semi-Finalist for Documentary Directing at Climax Fest in Madrid, Spain (2024)
Triple award winner at Alpine Film Fest in Bern, Switzerland (2024), including recognition for editor Marceline De Angelis

The "Sport" of Sitting

Since that first documentary, Silk has continued his unusual pursuit of what he jokingly calls the "sport of sitting."

He has completed all-day sits in locations including Qatar, Palo Duro Canyon in Texas, Antarctica, Wyoming, Nebraska, and western Colorado. His current personal record stands at 14 hours and 39 minutes, set in Bangs Canyon, Colorado.

The unusual project has attracted international attention, with stories appearing in The Telegraph (London), Atlas Obscura, La Repubblica (Italy), and Australia's public broadcasting network.

When asked why he continues these marathon sessions of simply sitting and observing, Silk offers a characteristically simple response:

"Does everything have to have a reason?"

About the Film

Produced by Azzurri Productions, Anza Borrego: Sunrise to Sunset has also received Fiscal Sponsorship from From the Heart Productions and was recognized as one of the organization's Hot Films in the Making. The documentary has also earned recognition from Documentaries Without Borders.

Film Details

Title: Anza Borrego: Sunrise to Sunset
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 60 minutes
Rating: 13+
Director: Peter Wick
Written & Produced by: Peter Wick and Robert Silk
Editor: Marceline De Angelis
Production: Azzurri Productions

The filmmakers are offering the documentary as a free online screening through the WRPN platform.

Watch the film and rate it!

>>> www.wrpn.tv

Learn More About Borrego Springs

New True Crime Book Explores Murders With Anza Desert Connection

By Andrea McKenna • September 17, 2026

Los Angeles in the 1950s drew young women with promises of work, independence, and a chance at something bigger. Harvey Glatman saw an opportunity of another kind.

Annual Trunk-or-Treat Returns to The Mall in Borrego Springs

By Andrea McKenna • September 17, 2026

Family event will feature games, a puppet show, hayride, food, go-kart races and an evening Youth Zone The Christian Center will host its annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 4 to 6 p.m., offering an afternoon of family-friendly activities for children and families in Borrego Springs. The festival will feature Bible-based games, a Gospel Castle, puppet show, hayride and go-kart races, along with free candy. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase, including hot dogs, chili dogs, nachos, Gatorade, soda and water. After the main festival activities conclude, the Christian Center’s Youth Zone will remain open from 6 to 8 p.m. for students in grades 6 through 12, with additional activities including go-kart races. The Christian Center is located at 675 Weather Vane Drive, Borrego Springs. For additional information, call 760-767-7447. Event Details: Saturday, Oct. 31, 4–6 p.m.; Youth Zone for grades 6–12 from 6–8 p.m.; Christian Center, 675 Weather Vane Drive, Borrego Springs. >> LEARN MORE