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.

Shandel Sutherland • January 15, 2026

KRAM 90.5 Brings Public Radio to Borrego Springs

Great news! KRAM 90.5 FM is now live and broadcasting 24/7 in Borrego Valley!!

The Ram Media Foundation building at 730 Christmas Circle, now home of KRAM 90.5 FM in Borrego Springs.

Borrego Springs is gaining a new public radio presence.

KRAM 90.5 FM is now established at 730 Christmas Circle, marking the arrival of a locally based public radio station and community media space in the Borrego Valley. The station operates from the former Wells Fargo building, which has been repurposed for public broadcasting and related media uses.

KRAM 90.5 is an FCC-licensed station and an initiative of the Ram Media Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The project has been in development for approximately three years and broadcasts at 90.5 FM, making it accessible to listeners at home, in their cars, and through digital platforms.

The station carries programming from KPBS, creating a broadcast connection between Borrego Springs and San Diego County public media. KPBS reaches an estimated 250,000 weekly listeners countywide, and KRAM 90.5 is included in KPBS station identifications, giving Borrego Springs regular mention across regional airwaves.

Gabriel Wisdom, founder of the Ram Media Foundation, said the partnership reflects both local and regional priorities.

“By airing programming from KPBS on KRAM 90.5 FM, we’re linking Borrego Springs with trusted journalism, and a cultural connection that strengthens civic life in San Diego’s beautiful desert community,” Wisdom said.

Wisdom said the station’s call letters were selected to reflect the surrounding landscape.

“The call letters KRAM honor the area’s famous bighorns that roam freely in the foothills,” he said.

He added that the collaboration balances local identity with broader reach.

“The KRAM–KPBS alliance is grounded in local identity, while keeping San Diego’s close-knit desert population connected to the wider world.”

Anne-Sophie Gaudet, muralist, with Gabriel Wisdom beside the KRAM 90.5 FM sign in Borrego Springs.

Former Wells Fargo Becomes Home of KRAM 90.5

The building at 730 Christmas Circle has long been a recognizable landmark in Borrego Springs. Its transition from a commercial banking space into a radio station reflects a shift toward public service and community use.

Exterior updates include station signage and a large-scale mural by artist Anne-Sophie Gaudet, whose work is familiar throughout the Anza-Borrego region. The mural reflects the desert landscape and Borrego Springs’ dark-sky environment, featuring a bighorn sheep beneath a star-filled night sky.

Interior spaces support station operations, with additional uses planned as the project continues to develop. The layout allows flexibility for broadcasting functions and future community-oriented activity.

Who Is Gabriel Wisdom

Gabriel Wisdom is the founder of the Ram Media Foundation and the creator of KRAM 90.5 FM in Borrego Springs, a locally based public radio station connecting the community with regional and national public media.

His career includes nationally syndicated radio, public radio contributions, and television commentary. He began his broadcast career in the late 1960s as a DJ at KPRI-FM in San Diego and later worked at major stations including KGB-FM San Diego and KMET-FM Los Angeles during the formative years of FM rock radio. His early radio experience informed elements of the film Almost Famous, and he assisted filmmaker Cameron Crowe in recreating the KPRI studio used in the movie.

In addition to his media work, Wisdom is a professional portfolio manager with AMM Investment Management, providing investment services for individuals, retirement accounts, and organizations.

Wisdom is also a licensed pilot and, with his wife Diana, owns the Borrego Airport Pilot House on historic homesteaded land adjacent to Borrego Valley Airport. The property supports aviation-related gatherings and community events. The couple regularly spend time in Borrego Springs and maintain strong ties to the area.

Additional context on Wisdom’s role in the early FM radio era is available in the documentary KGB: The FM Radio Revolution, available on YouTube.

Related Initiatives

In addition to the KRAM 90.5 project, Wisdom is involved in creative work focused on the Southern California desert.

He recently released Salton Sea Tales, an eco-thriller novel set in the Salton Sea region that explores environmental risk, resource extraction, and survival in the California desert. Proceeds from the book support the Ram Media Foundation.

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.