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.

Jake Hinton • July 17, 2025

Help Bring New Welcome Signs to Borrego Springs

A Community Effort to Reflect Our Shared Spirit

The Borrego Springs Welcome Sign Committee is leading a long-awaited effort to replace the aging “Welcome to Borrego Springs” signs with designs that better reflect the vibrant, diverse, and welcoming spirit of the community today.

Below is their message, shared with residents, local organizations and businesses, explaining how you can be part of this legacy project.

Let’s get the new Welcome Signs installed!

You are probably aware of the grass roots effort over the past two years to get new Welcome to Borrego Springs signage installed. The goal was to create signs that would convey Borregans’ pride in their community and welcome all who come to enjoy this incredible place. These signs would replace existing signs that date to the 1970’s and no longer reflect the unique vitality of this community.

Briefly, two surveys were made available in Spanish and English to full-time and seasonal residents and to visitors. Overwhelmingly the community felt that new welcome signs are needed. The survey feedback led to three designs, one for each of the three major routes into Borrego.

We are now raising money through grants and donations to build and install the signs. Signs are an investment, and built with the right design and materials, these new signs should last us well into the next 50 years.

We are asking for a minimum contribution of $750 from each of you. The Borrego Village Association, a 501c (6) non-profit organization, is leading the fundraising.

Contributions can be made by:

• Check, made out to Borrego Village Association and mailed to
BVA, PO Box 1133, Borrego Springs, CA 92004.

• PayPal, located on the BorregoVillageAssociation.org website

• Zelle to Borrego Village Association (borregovillage@gmail.com)

• Pledge – a new option using the form below

Download Pledge Form

All of the resorts and businesses in town are receiving an “ask” letter similar to this one. Please help us meet the community’s goal of building and installing new welcome signs.

Thank you,

The Welcome Sign Committee*
Jim Dion – Borrego Village Association
Nancy McRae – Borrego Valley Endowment Fund
Bruce Durbin – member of the Iipay tribe of Kumeyaay Indians
Alicia Wszelaki – Path 88 Productions and producer of the local documentary HawkWatch

* The grassroots Welcome Sign Committee is formed by Jim Dion of the Borrego Village Association, Nancy McRae of the Borrego Valley Endowment Fund, Bruce Durbin, a member of the Iipay tribe of Kumeyaay Indians and Alicia Wszelaki of Path 88 Productions and producer of the local documentary HawkWatch.

Let’s Make It Happen

Across Borrego Springs, local groups, businesses, and residents are each doing their part—updating their events, bringing fresh energy to programs, and creating new experiences for visitors, families, and the community at large.

The new welcome signs are just one piece of this broader effort. Designed to reflect Borrego’s unique character and desert beauty, they’ll offer a meaningful first impression for all who arrive.

If you want to hear about all the ways Borrego is stepping it up—from expanded calendars to creative collaborations—reach out. There’s a lot of good happening, and we’re excited to share it.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

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New tool makes applying for benefits faster and easier

By Cassie N. Saunders, County of San Diego Communications Office • August 28, 2026

A new BenefitsCal feature called Truv now helps CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal and County General Relief applicants save time, reduce paperwork and avoid mailing costs. The tool launched July 20, 2026, and verifies income and employment electronically during the e-application process. How Truv Works When applying through BenefitsCal, customers can securely sign in to their employer, payroll provider or financial institution. Truv uses secure, encrypted channels, and no information is shared outside the County of San Diego. If the employer participates in Truv, the system automatically pulls available income and employment information. Applicants can then review and confirm the information before submitting their application. “With Truv, it is easy for customers to opt in while applying through the online application tool BenefitsCal app,” said Alberto Banuelos, Interim Director of County Self Sufficiency Services. “It is a win-win, helping our customers save time and money and staff manage higher workloads.” Why It Matters Using Truv means customers don’t need to search for documents, manually enter income details or pay postage to mail paperwork. It also reduces the chance of manually entered errors. Application processing timelines vary: CalFresh reviews can take up to 30 days. Medi-Cal reviews can take up to 45 days. When income information is verified upfront, processing time can be shortened, helping eligible households get connected to critical resources faster. Self-Sufficiency Services supports more than 1.2 million San Diego County residents by providing access to essential public safety net programs. With customer-focused tools, multilingual help and community partnerships, Self‑Sufficiency Services works to make applying for benefits easier, faster and more accessible. Our mission is simple: to help people stay healthy, safe and on a path toward long‑term self‑sufficiency. Cassie N. Saunders is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact

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