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 • April 10, 2024

Sen. Jones’ Bill on Predator Placement Clears Committee

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Today, the Senate Public Safety Committee unanimously approved Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones’s (R-San Diego) bipartisan Senate Bill 1074, called the “Sexually Violent Predator Accountability, Fairness, and Enforcement Act” (SAFE Act). Click here for SB 1074 the factsheet and here for more information about the bill and SVP issue.

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A Unified Front Against Sexual Violence

In an unprecedented display of bipartisan solidarity, the California Senate Public Safety Committee has given its unanimous nod to a pivotal piece of legislation aimed at fortifying community defenses against sexually violent predators. On April 9, 2024, the "Sexually Violent Predator Accountability, Fairness, and Enforcement Act" (SAFE Act), championed by Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego), sailed through the committee stage, marking a significant milestone in the state's legislative efforts to protect its residents.

Crafted with the intent to overhaul the current processes governing the placement of sexually violent predators (SVPs), the SAFE Act seeks to ensure such individuals are not surreptitiously placed into family-oriented neighborhoods, thereby safeguarding the sanctity and safety of community living spaces. Highlighting the act's essence, Senator Jones articulated, "The SAFE Act is designed to protect our neighborhoods and families from dangerous sexually violent predators, perpetrators of some of the most horrendous and violent sex crimes.”

Among the locales under the legislative spotlight is Borrego Springs, a serene community that epitomizes the essence of California's diverse and vibrant living environments. The SAFE Act's provisions are particularly relevant here, ensuring that areas like Borrego Springs remain sanctuaries of peace and safety, untouched by the potential threats posed by the inappropriate placement of SVPs.

Central to the SAFE Act are measures that elevate public safety as the primary criterion in the placement decisions of SVPs, alongside requiring the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) to actively participate in and approve placement locations before any contractual agreements are finalized. This legislative push comes in response to growing concerns over the discreet integration of SVPs into unsuspecting communities, sparking widespread alarm and calls for reform.

The act's progression, underscored by a unanimous 4-0 committee vote, is buttressed by an extensive coalition of bipartisan support, reflecting a collective legislative commitment to community welfare. Echoing the sentiments of support, Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (D-Jackson) affirmed, “As a state legislator dedicated to the safety and well-being of my district and California as a whole, I stand firmly in support of SB 1074. This bill not only prioritizes public safety as the paramount concern in deciding the placement of Sexually Violent Predators – it also ensures accountability by mandating the Department of State Hospitals' approval before any placement occurs.”

As the SAFE Act navigates its journey through the legislative corridors, its implications for communities like Borrego Springs and beyond are profound, heralding a new era of transparency, accountability, and safety in the management of sexually violent predators within the Golden State.

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.

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