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 12, 2026

Futuristic Exoskeleton Tested at Font's Point | California Overland Desert Excursions

Photos and videos from the event were shared by California Overland Desert Excursions and participating content creators on social media.

Filmmakers, content creators, and technology developers gather at Font's Point to test a next-generation exoskeleton

On June 12, California Overland Desert Excursions collaborated with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, DNSYS and a team of filmmakers, photographers and outdoor content creators at Font's Point to film and test the DNSYS Boost Suit Z1, a wearable robotic exoskeleton designed to assist movement across challenging terrain.

The project brought together technology, gaming, outdoor recreation and visual storytelling in one of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park's most recognizable landscapes.

California Overland Desert Excursions described the day as "collaborating on something so revolutionary" while hosting the group at the overlook, where the rising morning heat, rugged badlands and sweeping desert views created a dramatic setting for the field test.

The DNSYS Boost Suit Z1 is inspired by equipment featured in the popular video game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Developed through a collaboration between Japanese game studio KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS and technology company DNSYS, the wearable device uses motorized assistance to help users walk farther, reduce strain and navigate uneven landscapes with less fatigue.

Font's Point, known for its views of the Borrego Badlands, offered a fitting backdrop for the futuristic device. The deeply carved terrain, dry washes and dramatic desert formations closely matched the kind of rugged environments associated with the game's world.

The outing included filming, photography and real-world testing of the exoskeleton in Anza-Borrego's desert conditions. California Overland Desert Excursions noted the area's barren, deeply cut landscape and the challenge of working in the heat of a rising morning sun.

While Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is best known for hiking, wildflowers, wildlife and dark skies, its distinctive scenery continues to attract filmmakers, photographers and companies seeking memorable locations for creative projects and technology demonstrations.

For Borrego Springs, the event highlights the area's growing visibility beyond traditional tourism. The same landscape long valued by hikers, artists and nature photographers is now drawing international companies interested in testing and showcasing emerging technology in a real desert environment.

---------------------

Explore Anza-Borrego with California Overland Desert Excursions

California Overland Desert Excursions has been guiding visitors through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for more than 20 years. The company currently offers follow-along tours, providing guests with expert local knowledge, safety support, recovery equipment and satellite communication while exploring the desert in their own 4-wheel-drive vehicle.

For more information:

California Overland Desert Excursions
CaliforniaOverland.com
Phone: (760) 767-1232
Email: info@californiaoverland.com

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.