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.

Jim Dion, Borrego Village Association • September 2, 2026

Update: Borrego Springs Welcome Sign

New sign by artist John Richen is planned for installation soon!

Hello Welcome Sign Supporters,

It has been since May that we issued our last update on the WELCOME SIGN Project.

Understandably, summer in Borrego Springs has slowed our pace. However, especially in light of how consistently triple-digit hot—and not to mention humid—the summer has been, we are inspired to have progress to report!

Our thanks go to John Richen, Rick Anson, and Jack Sims, who are continuing to move this project forward and make it happen.

Rick Anson - Owner, Anson Construction Company

As you may remember from our update in May, John Richen has finished fabricating the sign itself. Our next steps are to pour the concrete base at the site and erect the frame.

In the meantime, Jack has been working with Rick in his shop welding the sample boulder frame. Please see the attached photo. The next step will be to add layers of mesh, after which concrete finishers will apply the cement. They will then begin sampling stains so the boulders resemble those we see throughout our beautiful desert landscape.

Once the sample is completed and the desired look is achieved, they will repeat the process to fabricate the remaining boulders that will frame the sign. A drawing of the finished design is also attached.

I have a feeling that, with what these talented volunteers are creating, we are not getting just a “Welcome Sign”—we are getting a Borrego Springs-style work of art!

Because this has been an entirely volunteer fabrication effort, we greatly appreciate seeing progress continue through the challenging summer months. We may—or may not—hit our target date of having the finished sign ready for Borrego Days. If it is not completed by October 17th, we certainly expect it to be finished in 2026.

We sincerely appreciate your support and patience as we continue to inch forward.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the Welcome Sign Committee anytime through Jim Dion at BorregoVillage@gmail.com.

Best Regards,

Welcome Sign Committee

Jim Dion
Bruce Durbin
Nancy McRae
Alicia Wyeslacki

Previous update

Borrego Springs Welcome Sign Moves Forward

By Andrea McKenna • May 18, 2026

New sign by artist John Richen is planned for installation before Borrego Days weekend

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Frugal Coyote Thrift Store Is Open for the Season

By Andrea McKenna • September 1, 2026

As a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, the store's proceeds benefit the Borrego Springs Children's Center, making every purchase impactful and meaningful.

OpiCure Ascent to Freedom ride: Uniting community to honor recovery

By OpiCure Foundation • August 31, 2026

The Ascent to Freedom celebration is OpiCure Foundation's inaugural cycling event, uniting riders and community in Borrego Springs, California. It will be held on November 21, to honor recovery and the power of the bicycle to heal. The event is a significant milestone in the Foundation’s journey, as brothers and founders Cullen and Griffin Easter welcome members of the community to La Casa del Zorro for a day of riding, reflection and conviviality, and to strengthen the message and work of OpiCure. A community spirit will be at the forefront of an event dedicated to raising awareness through on-site information and advice around recovery, activities including a pickleball tournament, and a ride for those who wish to participate. The ride will be led by the Easter brothers and will take in the stunning scenery of Borrego Springs – it will cater to all levels of ability, with the aim to highlight the empowering joy that riding can bring to anyone willing to jump on a bicycle. Cullen Easter: “Please join us for the inaugural Ascent to Freedom Celebration. This day has been a long time in the making, and we’re incredibly excited to begin what we hope becomes a yearly tradition. It’s a day for community, a day for adventure on the bicycle, and a day to celebrate recovery and the freedom that can come from simply moving forward. “Borrego Springs and the desert feel like the perfect place to begin this journey—open roads, big skies, and a landscape that invites you to get outside, connect, and experience something together. Whether you come to ride, learn, support someone you love, or simply spend the day with us, you are welcome. We can’t wait to see you out there.” Griffin Easter: “OpiCure Foundation’s Ascent to Freedom Ride will be a day in the desert with friends and family you won’t want to miss. A beautifully curated ride with desert vistas, unique lifesize art metalwork, post ride lunch and even a pickleball tournament, there’s something for everyone. We’re so proud to host this inaugural event and celebrate both recovery as well as the freedom a bicycle provides. Mark this ride on your calendar, November 21st. I can’t wait to see everyone there.” Further details will be announced in due course, with a full program confirmed closer to the event date of November 21. The official ride website can be found at opicureride.com OpiCure Foundation was established by the Easter brothers to utilize the bicycle as a tool to assist those struggling with opioid addiction in their recovery process. Through bringing awareness to opioid abuse, redefining best practices for addiction recovery and devoting resources to affect positive change, it is in partnership with the cycling community that we can make a difference. Cullen Easter is an Emergency Department-registered nurse with a Bachelors in Nursing, who has first-hand professional experience in addiction recovery. He is also a proud father, professional cyclist, and leads the mission. Griffin Easter is Director of the team's elite competitive racing program, and competes at the world’s top gravel events across four continents, bringing the OpiCure name to recognition on an international stage.