Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is an enormous desert preserve situated at the edges of San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial Counties.
The park’s 585,930 acres contain a spectrum of fascinating landscapes, including badlands, slot canyons, oases, and enchanting spring wildflower blooms that make it well worth the three-hour drive from Los Angeles.
Here’s what to know before you visit.
Things to do in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
As the largest state park in California, Anza-Borrego contains an enormous amount of worthwhile sights that keep visitors coming back all year round. With 500 miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas, and 110 miles of hiking trails, there’s enough to see here for a lifetime of visits. Here’s a simple guide to some of the most popular activities.
Hiking and nature destinations
- Font’s Point – Referred to as the “Grand Canyon of California,” Font’s Point offers fantastic panoramic views of the Borrego Badlands.
- Borrego Palm Canyon Trail – This 3.5-mile trail leading to a lush palm oasis is perfect for spotting bighorn sheep.
- The Slot Canyon – This narrow, winding canyon has stunning rock formations and tight passages.
- The Badlands – A landscape of eroded rock formations with fossils and ample hiking opportunities.
- Visitor Center – A great starting point to learn about the park’s history and Indigenous heritage.
Borrego Springs
Borrego Springs is the only town in California—and perhaps in the whole United States—that is completely surrounded by a state park. It’s an interesting little resort town reminiscent of 1950s Palm Springs, offering a mix of local culture, art, and family-friendly activities.
It’s also worth visiting for the Galleta Meadows sculpture collection, a series of over 130 large-scale metal artworks created by artist Ricardo Breceda between 2008 and 2012.
Stargazing
Borrego Springs is an International Dark Sky Community, and both the town itself and the surrounding park areas offer crystal-clear stargazing in one of the darkest spots in Southern California. On moonless nights, you might see the Milky Way, meteor showers, star clusters, and even passing satellites.
Wildflowers
Each spring, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park makes headlines for its vibrant wildflower super blooms, which turn the desert floor into a brilliant mosaic of yellows, oranges, and purples.
Visiting the park
Desert temps are especially scorching in the summer, so the best time to visit Anza-Borrego Desert State Park or Borrego Springs is between October and April. The park has no entrance fee, and there are campgrounds available for those wanting to stay overnight.
It takes just under 3 hours to reach the park by car from Los Angeles with no traffic.