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 • August 4, 2026

The 2026 Borrego Days Festival Parade Theme Is “Reach for the Stars”

60th Borrego Days Festival Set for October 17–18, 2026

The Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce has announced “Reach for the Stars” as the parade theme for the 2026 Borrego Days Desert Festival.

The theme reflects several parts of Borrego Springs’ identity, including local youth working toward their futures, the well-known people who have visited the community and the dark night skies for which the area is internationally recognized.

The 2026 celebration marks the 60th Borrego Days Desert Festival. For decades, Borrego Days has brought residents and visitors together for a parade, community awards, live entertainment, vendors, food, children’s activities and other events at Christmas Circle Community Park.

The festival will take place October 17–18, 2026. The parade is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, October 17, along Palm Canyon Drive, ending near Christmas Circle.

Parade applications will be available beginning soon. Vendor and sponsor applications are currently available through the Borrego Days website.

The two-day festival is organized by the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce and is free to attend.