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 • May 30, 2024

Press Release: Qcells Completes Ocotillo Wells Solar Project

San Diego County's Largest Solar and Battery Storage Project Now Online

Qcells has completed the Ocotillo Wells Solar project in Borrego Springs, California, combining 50 MW of solar power with 200 MWh of battery energy storage. This project is now the largest utility-scale renewable energy installation in San Diego County.

Qcells Brings San Diego County's Largest Utility-Scale Solar Project Online

Press Release

IRVINE, Calif., May 29, 2024 -PRNewswire-PRWeb --Qcells is thrilled to announce the completion and start of commercial operation for the Ocotillo Wells Solar project. The project is located in Borrego Springs, California, and combines solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) with a 50 megawatt (MW) solar and 200 MWh battery storage capacity.

The Ocotillo Wells Solar project is a testament to Qcells' expertise in providing turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services to utility-scale solar and energy storage projects. In addition to the EPC team designing and constructing the solar and energy storage, the project also boasts over 113,000 of its modules. By combining solar (PV) power generation and advanced battery storage capabilities, this innovative design ensures the grid has a reliable and sustainable energy supply.

We're excited to accomplish the Ocotillo Wells Solar project. Completing this project reflects our dedication to providing energy solutions supporting American energy. We are honored to contribute to the energy landscape and execute another clean energy project that aids America's energy transition.

Utility-scale solar projects create hundreds of direct and thousands of indirect jobs in logistics, supply chain, manufacturing, and construction. During peak construction, this project created nearly 250 jobs. The project impacts the local economy and highlights Qcells USA's role as a job creator within the communities it serves.

This project is a milestone for Qcells and is vital in driving the clean energy transition throughout the United States.

Renewable energy from the project will be purchased by Meta, one of the world's largest renewable energy buyers. Since 2020, Meta's global operations have been supported by 100% renewable energy and have reached net zero emissions. The company also has an ambitious goal to reach net zero emissions across its value chain in 2030.

The successful construction and commissioning of the Ocotillo Wells Solar project is a milestone for Qcells and a success for the county by securing a sustainable and resilient grid.

Mr. IP Kim, President of Qcells USA, expressed his pride in the project's success, stating, "We are excited to accomplish the construction of the Ocotillo Wells Solar project. Getting to the finish line on a project like this reflects our dedication to providing energy solutions that support the growth of American energy. We are honored to contribute to the energy landscape and execute another clean energy project that aids America's energy transition."

Qcells is revolutionizing the energy sector with its integrated approach, offering turnkey solutions for solar and energy storage development, EPC services, and module sales.

About Qcells USA

Qcells USA provides complete utility-scale turnkey solutions through the entire project lifecycle from modules, solar and energy storage project development, and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) services to the US utility-scale market.

With a track record that includes 8.4 GW of sustainably produced module manufacturing capabilities in Georgia and nearly 2 GW of developed, constructed, and operating projects, Qcells USA is a dependable partner throughout the entire project lifecycle.

Qcells USA is a flagship company of Hanwha Group, a FORTUNE Global 500 firm and a Top 7 business enterprise in South Korea.

For more information, visit www.QcellsUSA.com and on LinkedIn.

Safe-Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and Qcells' operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, QCELLS does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:

Qcells USA Corp., Media Representative

E-mail: nick.centera@qcells.com

Phone: 619-750-5712

Twitter, LinkedIn

SOURCE Qcells USA Corp.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Restoring The Salton Sea: Progress, Promise, And Pressure

By NBC Palm Springs • September 25, 2026

There are so many tales of the Salton Sea, it's hard to know what's really the truth.

Shop the Rack, Support the Community: Frugal Coyote Launches Nonprofit of the Month

By Anna Abatzoglou Executive Director, Borrego Valley Endowment Fund • September 24, 2026

Frugal Coyote is giving shoppers a new way to support Borrego Springs with its Nonprofit of the Month program.

Equitable Building Decarbonization Program

By California Energy Commission • September 23, 2026

The goals of the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program are to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in homes and advance energy equity. The Direct Install Program provides decarbonization retrofits to low- and moderate-income households. The Statewide Incentive Program incentivizes the increased adoption of low-carbon technologies. In addition to reducing GHG emissions, the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program will strive to encourage resiliency to extreme heat, improve indoor air quality, improve energy affordability, provide electric grid support, and increase payment of prevailing wage to the implementing workforce. Programs include: EBD Statewide Direct Install Program The Equitable Building Decarbonization Statewide Direct Install Program provides and installs energy-efficient upgrades to low-income households. EBD Tribal Direct Install Program The program will serve residential buildings owned or managed by a California Native American tribes, tribal organizations, or tribal members. EBD Statewide Incentive Program Loan loss reserve and interest rate buy downs to reduce the cost of loans for home energy retrofits that improve efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. Learn More: www.energy.ca.gov Contact: Equitable Building Decarbonization Program equitablebuildingdecarb@energy.ca.gov