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.

Elizabeth Rodriquez • September 20, 2026

“The Outliers” Opening Reception at The Gallery at The Palms

Celebrate self-taught visionary artists on Friday, October 2, from 5–8 p.m.

Join us for the opening reception of, And now there's this: The Outliers on Friday, October 2 at 5-8 pm.
This group show explores the gift of self-taught visionary outsider artists challenging traditional art hierarchies and determining difference differently. These artists and their artworks highlight personal voyages outside conventional modes of the creative practice.

- Elizabeth Rodriguez

The Gallery at The Palms at Indian Head
2220 Hoberg Road, Borrego Springs, CA 92004