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.

Andrea McKenna • May 13, 2026

Steve T. Hunter Releases New Album “Heartstrings Hotel”

Borrego Springs pianist Steve T. Hunter shares a new solo piano album inspired by love songs from classic films.

Borrego Springs pianist, arranger, and conductor Steve T. Hunter has released a new solo piano album titled Heartstrings Hotel, a collection of love songs from classic films arranged and performed by Hunter.

With a career that has included performances at the Kennedy Center and conducting productions such as CATS and TOMMY, Hunter brings decades of professional experience to a project shaped in part by the quiet creative setting of Borrego Springs.

The album is now available on Bandcamp and features 17 tracks inspired by cinema favorites including Cinema Paradiso, La La Land, The Notebook, Out of Africa, The Princess Bride, WALL-E, Shawshank Redemption, and more.

Listen here

Hunter describes the project as a deeply personal connection between music and film.

“I've always had a very real and immediate connection between music and film,” Hunter wrote in the album notes. “This is a collection of beautiful music that will soothe your soul in these troubled times.”

The project began with Hunter recording themes from Cinema Paradiso and il Postino, eventually growing into a full solo piano collection focused on cinematic love themes and orchestral film music adapted for piano.

The album was transcribed, arranged, performed, and recorded entirely by Hunter, with much of the work created in the sanctuary at St. Barnabas Church in Borrego Springs.

The artwork for Heartstrings Hotel was created by Andrea McKenna.

In Borrego Springs, Hunter has become known for his elegant live piano performances, holiday concerts, and community appearances. His performances blend music, storytelling, history, and humor, creating experiences that resonate with audiences of all ages.

Tracks on the album include:

Cinema Paradiso
Somewhere in Time
Out of Africa
Storybook Love from The Princess Bride
September Song
Pelagia’s Song from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
The Reunion from Artificial Intelligence
Heartstrings Hotel is available now on Bandcamp.

Learn More About Borrego Springs

La Casa del Zorro Offers Sunset Dinner Specials

By Andrea McKenna • September 26, 2026

Sunset Dinner Specials at La Casa del Zorro

Puttin’ on the Glitz Gala to Support Performing Arts in Borrego Springs

By BSPAC • September 26, 2026

Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center is seeking sponsors for its November 21 fundraiser

Community Resource Center and Borrego Valley Endowment Fund Sign Agreement

By Andrea McKenna • September 26, 2026

September 11 agreement sets the stage for future community initiatives and funding opportunities in 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