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.

Ram Media Foundation • June 11, 2026

Growing Borrego Springs Together | RAM Media Foundation

Borrego Springs has a story worth sharing.

RAM Media Foundation was created to strengthen community through media. As a nonprofit foundation, its mission is to foster connection, creativity, public engagement, and access to local information through projects that serve Borrego Springs and the surrounding desert region.

Ram Media Foundation currently supports three main media initiatives:

KRAM-FM 90.5 Borrego Springs — Radio

KRAM-FM is Borrego Springs’ local radio station, created to support community connection through radio, storytelling, music, interviews, and public programming.

Through KPBS Public Media, the name “Borrego Springs” is heard throughout San Diego County every day, reaching hundreds of thousands of listeners and helping introduce the community to a much wider audience.

This regional exposure brings outside awareness to Borrego Springs while KRAM remains rooted in serving the local community.

BorregoSun.com — News, Community Storytelling, and Youth Media
BorregoSun.com focuses on regional news, local history, events, and community storytelling. It carries forward a name and legacy that has served Borrego Springs for generations while creating new ways to share the stories that matter today.

BorregoSun.com also supports the Borrego Sun Youth Intern Program, which provides opportunities for local students to gain experience in journalism, photography, digital media, storytelling, and community reporting while helping share the next generation’s perspective on Borrego Springs.

GoToBorregoSprings.com — Visitor and Community Guide
GoToBorregoSprings.com highlights local events, businesses, recreation, arts, dining, lodging, and outdoor experiences throughout Borrego Springs and the surrounding desert region.

This initiative is rooted in community immersion — showing up at local events, connecting with businesses and organizations, sharing photos and updates, listening to residents, and helping visitors discover what makes Borrego Springs unique year-round.

Each platform has a different purpose, but together they help Borrego Springs be seen, heard, and connected.

Why does that matter?

Because awareness creates opportunity.

When more people hear about Borrego Springs, read about it online, or discover it through social media, they learn about our businesses, events, nonprofits, schools, artists, athletes, volunteers, and attractions.

Growing Reach

During the past month alone, Borrego Springs content under Ram Media Foundation initiatives generated:

150,000 social media views
Social media reach up 28 percent
More than 4,500 active website users
Website traffic up more than 23 percent

That visibility helps local businesses, nonprofits, community events, and organizations reach more people. It helps showcase the accomplishments of students, artists, athletes, volunteers, and community leaders. Most importantly, it helps keep Borrego Springs connected to the larger region.

RAM Media Foundation also values, supports, and encourages other local media voices and community spaces, including the Borrego News, Mike and Monica Rue’s online radio station The Ram, and social media groups such as Borrego Springs 92004 and Borrego Out and About. Each platform brings something valuable to the community, helping people share updates, stay connected, and tell the story of Borrego Springs.

Borrego Springs has many stories worth telling. The more people who help share them, the farther those stories can travel.

This has long been a place where creativity, curiosity, and community come together. We are proud to help tell those stories and share them with the world.

Our Ask

Visit BorregoSun.com daily. We are committed to free constant updates and ongoing coverage of local news, events, businesses, schools, sports, nonprofits, and community activities.

Help us share your stories by sending in announcements, photos, ideas, and updates from your organization, business, school, club, or neighborhood. Send it in. We'll send it out.

Consider becoming a sponsor. Sponsorship helps support community journalism, youth media opportunities, storytelling, and outreach.

Let's talk about how we can help amplify your content, message, cause, concern, event, organization, or act of kindness.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Pegleg Pointers: A 1998 Look at the Pegleg Smith Liars Contest | Historic Borrego Sun

By Phil Brigandi • September 13, 2026

This column first ran ahead of the 50th annual Pegleg Smith Liars Contest in April 1998. Phil Brigandi, a longtime desert historian and four-time contest winner, died in 2019.

Borrego Springs and the Famous San Diego Chicken!

By Gabriel Wisdom, Ram Media Foundation • September 12, 2026

Borrego’s Bill Lawrence joined a sold-out San Diego History Center event celebrating Ted Giannoulas, The Famous San Diego Chicken, and the mascot’s remarkable 50-year legacy.

Christian Center to Host Harvest Festival Oct. 31

By Andrea McKenna • September 12, 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

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.

Borrego Springs Sees Lowest Groundwater Pumping Since 2021

By Andrea McKenna • September 10, 2026

Borrego Springs sees its lowest groundwater pumping since 2021, highlighting conservation efforts. Stay updated on local water management.

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.