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.

Borrego Springs Local • September 15, 2023

Senate Bill 259: Enhancing Legislative Report Transparency in California

In what is being called a move towards transparency and public accountability, State Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta, announced the signing of Senate Bill 259 into law.

Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta, represents California’s 32nd Senate District, which includes the cities and communities of Aguanga, Anza, Borrego Springs, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Chino Hills, Corona, Desert Edge, Desert Hot Springs, El Sobrante, French Valley, Good Hope, Hemet, Homeland, Idyllwild, Julian, La Cresta, Lake Elsinore, Lake Mathews, Lakeland Village, Menifee, Mead Valley, Meadowbrook, Murrieta, Norco, Palm Springs, Sage, Sky Valley, Riverside, Temecula, Temescal Valley, Thousand Palms, Valle Vista, Whitewater, Wildomar, Winchester, Woodcrest and Yorba Linda.

This legislation, effective September 1, 2023, mandates that state agencies in California must now post all reports submitted to the legislature on their respective websites.

This includes reports required by statute and those submitted by request, ensuring that crucial information guiding legislative decisions is accessible to the public.

Current Reporting Practices

Under the previous framework, only reports mandated by law needed to be posted on the agencies’ websites. Reports submitted upon request, whether by lawmakers or committee staff, did not have the same transparency requirement. Though often influential in guiding lawmakers’ decisions, these reports remained largely inaccessible to the general public.

State Sen. Seyarto, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the importance of aligning public access with lawmakers’ access to information. “The public should be able to view and read the same materials that legislators have available when making decisions and weighing impacts of legislation on our communities,” Sen. Seyarto said. “This bill removes the inconsistency to public access and promotes accountability and transparency throughout the legislative process without undue burdens on agencies that submit important reports.”

Key Provisions of Senate Bill 259

1. Expanding Reporting Requirements: SB 259 expands the reporting requirement to cover not only reports mandated by law but also those requested by the legislature or identified in the Legislative Analyst’s Supplemental Report of the Budget Act.

2. Accessibility: State agencies are now required to post these reports on their websites, making them easily accessible to the public.

3. Legislative Counsel’s Role: The Legislative Counsel, responsible for making legislative information available to the public electronically, will also provide a link to the list of state and local agency reports submitted to legislative committees or members of either house of the Legislature.

Bipartisan Support and Smooth Passage

Prior to becoming law, Senate Bill 259 received unanimous support in both the Senate and the Assembly, showcasing its bipartisan appeal. The bill’s journey through the legislative process was marked by an absence of opposition, highlighting the widespread recognition of the importance of transparency in government.

The Impact on California

This legislation marks a significant step towards increased transparency in California’s state government. By ensuring that reports guiding legislative decisions are readily available to the public, it empowers citizens to stay informed and engaged in the legislative process. It also fosters accountability among state agencies, promoting responsible governance.

261-Acre Habitat Restoration Proposed for Bauer Ranch

By Andrea McKenna • August 6, 2026

Former agricultural land near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park could be restored with native wildflowers and desert vegetation A proposal would restore approximately 261 acres of former agricultural land at Bauer Ranch into native desert habitat as part of a potential California Proposition 4 climate grant project. Bauer Ranch is a Borrego Water District property located adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park , within the Borrego Palm Canyon and Clark Lake area north of central Borrego Springs. The project documents identify the site as fallowed agricultural land that is no longer in production because of groundwater-use reductions. The project is titled “From Fallowed Fields to Wildflowers: A Desert Revival & Restoration Initiative.” The Anza-Borrego Foundation would serve as the lead applicant, while the Borrego Water District was asked to consider participating as the landowner and co-applicant. California State Parks is anticipated to become the long-term owner and steward of the restored habitat if the proposal moves forward. Restoring former farmland Agricultural production on the property was discontinued as part of efforts to reduce groundwater pumping in the Borrego Springs Subbasin. According to the proposal, the former fields would be restored with native wildflowers and other desert vegetation to improve ecological function and long-term landscape resilience. The project documents explain that large areas of exposed, fallowed farmland can contribute to dust, higher surface temperatures and degraded soil conditions. Restoring native vegetation could help stabilize the soil, reduce dust and improve habitat near the state park. Proposed project goals The proposal identifies four main goals: Restore approximately 261 acres of fallowed farmland to native desert habitat. Increase vegetation to reduce exposed soil, dust and extreme-heat impacts. Evaluate opportunities to support groundwater recharge through soil improvements and land recontouring. Include Tribal consultation, community education and long-term stewardship in the planning process. The restoration could include soil work, land recontouring, native seed development, habitat establishment and long-term monitoring. Hydrologic, biological and cultural studies would also be completed during the planning process. Proposition 4 funding Funding would be sought through California’s Proposition 4 Extreme Heat Grant Program , which supports projects intended to reduce extreme-heat impacts and improve community resilience. The Anza-Borrego Foundation approached the Borrego Water District about the grant opportunity. Helix Environmental Planners was selected to assist with developing and submitting the application and to explain the responsibilities and possible costs associated with the Water District serving as a co-applicant. Potential model for other fallowed land The proposal describes Bauer Ranch as a possible model for restoring former agricultural land throughout the Borrego Valley and other groundwater-limited desert regions. Project documents estimate that approximately 9,000 acres of agricultural land in the Borrego Valley could be fallowed by 2040 as groundwater pumping is reduced. If successful, the Bauer Ranch project could demonstrate how those lands might be managed to reduce dust, restore habitat and improve climate resilience. The Bauer Ranch project remains a proposal . The Borrego Water District was asked to receive an overview and consider whether it should participate as a co-applicant in the grant process. The project documents do not establish that restoration work has been approved or funded. Source: Borrego Water District July 14, 2026 Board Package