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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Rating Details »
200 Palm Canyon Dr
(between Hoberg Rd & Montezuma Valley Rd)
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
(760) 767-4205
(between Hoberg Rd & Montezuma Valley Rd)
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
(760) 767-4205
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
28 reviews for Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Springtime is the perfect time to visit this gem. More specifically, a day after a night of rain because once the starved red ocotillos and other plants get a taste of rain in the Spring, they start sprouting a beautiful and colorful array of flowers.
The park is huge but we visited the northern portion by the city of Borrego Springs. Directly next to the visitor's center and RV parking lot, there's a trailhead for the Palm Canyon Trail. If you're nearby, this is a must-do hike. It's not that long, but you'll see some cool plants, a varied landscape and you might catch a glimpse of Big Horn Sheep on the ridgetops along the way. It's an out-and-back trail and the money at the end is a great grove of palm trees.
I'll get to all of the major destinations of Anza-Borrego someday, but so far, the beauty and solitude of it warrants five stars.
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People freak out with the 5 stars when reviewing Nature on yelp like they've just had some kind of biblical experience or maybe it's because they haven't broken that EAT.WORK.SLEEP cycle since 2002.
Well, if you're that yelper looking for either one, the desert is a good place to start. Peace. Tranquility. Silence. Maybe even harness your inner Chi.
Ever seen desert wild flowers?
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
They are rare because they have such a short life span before getting dried to death by the desert's wrath. But if you come in March you are just in time to see them (unless it's an El Nino year which will buy you a little more time).
Just outside the nature/visitor center scattered with readily available and helpful park rangers is a mini botanical tour. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
My dad and I did the Palm Canyon Trail, which was a round trip total of 6 miles with the majority of the trail spent scrambling on rocks and switch backs via jumping stones across a small creek. The destination is pretty badass: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Yes, these are the ABORIGINAL PALM TREES of California - not those tall long skinny things imported from the tropics.
The place is worth a visit, and the drive out here is FUN, especially if you're coming from San Diego and enjoy adventurous roads.
PS. Here's a hot tip: Bring chap stick!
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"Sometimes, when I drive across the desert in the middle of the night, with no other cars around, I start imagining: What if there were no civilization out there? No cities, no factories, no people? And then I think: No people or factories? Then who made this car? And this highway? And I get so confused I have to stick my head out the window into the driving rain---unless there's lightning, because I could get struck on the head by a bolt."
~Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy
The Anza Borrego Desert is a completely hostile, totally alien landscape of huge boulders, diverse flora and amazing fauna a mere two hours from San Diego. It is the largest state park in California at a whopping 630,000 acres- roughly the size of the state of Rhode Island. Within those hundreds of thousands of acres lie many interesting places to discover and learn. Slot canyons, badlands, palm oases, boulder-strewn mountains and rocks and caves galore.
The desert for me is one of the most serene and lonely places I have ever visited. It is mile after mile of extraordinarily beautiful desolation. It's so inhospitable and yet there's so much life all around you. All at once you feel powerful and insignificant.
Anza Borrego is incredibly cool because you can camp almost anywhere for free. Simply pull one car length off the paved highway anywhere in the park and find yourself a patch of ground to call your own. You can't have open fires, but you can burn in your own metal container. The solitude that you feel camping in the desert is one that I cannot pass in a simple review. It must be experienced.
One of the most beautiful places in the park is Little Blair Valley and the sites near Ghost Mountain. There is so much to see in this area, a mere five miles off the highway.
Astrid and I climbed the steep mile of rocky switchbacks to the top of Ghost Mountain and the adobe ruins of Yaquitepec or House of the Sun, an experiment in outdoor living by writer Marshal South and his family back in the 1930s. He, his wife and their three children lived on this mountain top for 14 years to help avoid the Great Depression and work on their spiritual development. The site is in ruins, but you can see the ingenious ways they stored water, cooked and otherwise made desert life livable. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
We also explored the pictographs at a ritual site in the same valley. The Kumeyaay Indians used this site to mark the passing of a girl into womanhood. The tribal shaman would administer a tobacco concoction at the village that would create hallucinations and then race to the rocks here in the valley to oversee the ritual painting of pictographs on the rock. The markings on the rocks in this valley are anywhere from 200 to 1000 years old. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I'm completely in love with Anza Borrego desert. I'm coming back as soon as I possibly can. There's so much more to see and do!
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This desert is beautiful.
If you're lucky enough to go when the wildflowers are blooming, you're in for a treat.
If you do nothing else, hike to the Palm Oasis. You can actually see the terrain change as you get further into the little valley and get closer to the water. First you're walking among rocks and boulders, and the next thing you know you can hear the stream and everything gets green and lush and cools off. Amazing.
It's a drive, but worth it.
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is Mother Nature's prodigy child.
He's beautiful in light/dark; rain or shine. He gives you the peace and serenity he needs, and he even challenges you at the times you're lookin for a challenge.
I've hiked a number of trails, made our own, camped under the stars and in a wet tent under thunderstorms. This is a great destination for San Diegans looking to get out and enjoy some deserted nature.
Also a wonderful opportunity for photography buffs to work their magic, and pet owners to give their pups a great weekend!
Local amenities aren't too scarce, but just in case, bring lots of water; food; gas for your vehicle; and maps! I've never used a cell phone out here, but I wouldn't be surprised if coverage was shotty.
When I visit the family, I'll update with some more tips on landscape features, etc. But until then... take a weekend trip out! And while you're there, find the wind caves near Ocitillo Wells!
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This place is one of the most wonderful resources for relaxation in San Diego.
The park stretches from near the summit of Mt Laguna to the eastern edges of the county, and from the 8 in Ocotillo in the south to Riverside County in the north.
It is enormous.
The landscapes are intense, the uses many.
Off Roaders, Campers, Hikers, Climbers, Runners, Cyclists ... this is a place for you.
Slot Canyons.
Badlands.
Mountain Peaks.
Rocky ledges, and crevices.
Sandstone and Mud Caves!
So so so so much.
Take the time to venture out there before it is summer. It is worth it. Humbling, and exceptional.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/3/2008
Visited Split Mountain today.
It is one of the most beautiful places I have been in San Diego.
Simply… Read more »
I was extremely skeptical of the idea of a desert wildflower scavenger hunt. Mainly because I am not down with heat. Thankfully, genius Mother Nature dictates that things bloom in the spring and not the summer. The weather was mild and at times even cool.
Apparently the time to go is now (mid March to early April) if you are a flower enthusiast. The terrain overall looked severe to my untrained eye - though that must be what made the little explosions of color breathtaking and worth the three hour drive -- because in the lush, sprinklered landscaping of the Temecula shopping center we hit on the way back, the deep purple pansies made very little impression on me. These wild desert flowers, however, were bloomin' fantastic:
Beavertail Cactus - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Barrel Cactus - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Ocotillo - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Blue Phacelia - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Creosote Bush - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Chuparosa - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Desert Lupine - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Bigelow Monkey Flower - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Just a small taste of what you'll see when go. There are literally fields of flowers, but I liked the lone hidden blooms the best. Ghost Flowers, Desert Lillies... I learned more flower names in four hours than I'd learned in the previous twenty nine years. The Visitor's Center sells flower guides for $1, and volunteers provide advice on the best spots to look. We liked Little Surprise Canyon the best - it gave the impression of a decent climbing hike, but was really pretty gentle, and had an excellent variety of plants. Also back at the Visitor's Center is a small pond of prehistoric fish and tadpoles, which in a few weeks might be baby frogs! I'm a sucker for amphibians. We saw some birds and lizards while exploring, and a coyote on the drive back.
Super educational for adults and kids. Though it goes without saying, bring sunblock and tons of water because even with a cool breeze, you'll be parched.
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I was there in late spring last year. Was hot, but bearably so.
The thing that is compelling about this place aside from grandeur of nature, is just the feeling that you are in another world.
Aside from the resorts, the little towns in the area have a 'time standing still' feeling, almost twilight zone-ish. Old fashioned general stores and diners, with grizzled, interesting people around who seem from another era themselves.
How refreshing to experience this coming from a more rushed and pressured place!
There's a sense of incredible quiet. I love it and want to go back just writing about it.
If you hike, take as much water as you can carry, the amount recommended or more, and be careful.
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An excellent place for so many reasons.
- A vast and varied terrain for all types of hiking and off-roading
- Very private and remote camping spots with amazing vistas
-5 Star resorts to dine and unwind.
-Fascinating rock formations
-Beautiful spring wildflowers
-A rich history
-Sunset at Fontes Point is simply sublime
From the Diablo drop-offs to the mysterious Pumpkin Patch, this place is just simply grand.
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I ended up coming this way unexpectedly on the way back from San Diego. We had no idea that there were badlands in the area. This is definitely a spot I'd like to spend more time in. The scenery is absolutely awe inspiring. Next time we'll take a Roadside Geology guide along and plan to spend at least a day!
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We were there on Christmas Eve and hiked up to the Palms Oasis on Christmas Day. It's an easy hike, and there was SO much water this year. Wow!
We tried to get out to Split Mountain and Fish Creek Wash on 12/24, but the recent rains made the sand in the wash wayyyy too soft, and even 4-wheelers were getting stuck. Thus, we stayed at the Borrego Springs campground by the Visitor's Center. That's okay, because we ended up seeing the oasis. Next time, hoping to get up to the dinasaur tracks.
The Visitor's Center was staffed on Christmas Day.
Anza Borrego desert is beautiful.
We have lived in southern California for over 20 years and just went there for the first time in March 2009. You should go in the early spring when the temp is comfortable and the wildflowers are blooming, you're be in for a treat. Don't forget your camera I just about wore mine out while there for 2 days something to see around every bend it is truly a magical place.
So i think the other reviewers captured the essence and beauty of this place.
A couple of married friends of mine decided to go for a hike with two of their dogs and extended the invitation to me to come along. Instead of checking the weather, i put on some shorts and grabbed my fleece and thought to myself.."how cold could it be?"
well it was freakin cold...real cold...so cold in fact when the dogs took a dump and my buddy scooped the poop in the little plastic bag...i wondered to myself if the dog poop could warm my hands...this place was like tundra cold...little patches of permafrost with an occasional polar bear wandering across in the distance....
***UPDATE***
Ive been informed that this was not an anzo-borrego but it was Laguna Mountain..which is like 45 min closer...but still fickin freezing...
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Where else can you wake up at the beach, drive through the mountains and be in the desert in two hours? (okay, maybe LA. But there's traffic.)
Anza-Borrego is a really easy to find, easy to hike, interesting park. I'm not much for intense hiking trails so the mostly-flat space here is perfect. There's a hike about 3 miles that takes you along a rocky trail to a waterfall. Depending on the time of year, this is either a spectacular break from the heat or a beautiful, gushing cascade of water. April/May are definitely the best times of the year for spotting wildflowers and big horn sheep. Don't miss the visitors center.
I've been to some of the other areas of the park... mostly flat and sparse desert. It's kind of amazing how you can get a backcountry permit, park just about anywhere and build your campfire. It's peaceful, lots of stars... but not worth the effort if you're just driving around for the day.
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Visited the palm oasis and slot canyon during our stay here, also enjoyed the visitor center too....I say go here in the winter!!!!
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This is a great place for winter camping. For folks from San Diego, this is a quick 2 hour drive. But definitely worthwhile driving to from Bay Area as well.
For some lovely photos of bow will campsite and surrounding hikes, visit :
http://locomotoring.ne...
I love going to some place new to me. This was my first trip to Anza-Borrego Desert SP and I can't wait to go back. It's hella far from the SF Bay Area around 8-9 hrs drive more or less.
We spent 2 days at Anza-Borrego SP. I saw tons of wildflowers on Sat 3/15/08. The peak was March 8, but we still got to see many of them in certain areas of the park. Anza-Borrego is the Largest State Park in Calif.
The Visitor Center is worth checking out, it's even underground. They were selling a Wildflower Guide for $1 that I got.
We didn't hike much this trip. We saw slot canyon, Box Canyon, a mud cave, Pictograph on a large boulder and Great views of a dry waterfall & valley below.
I want to go back to do the Borrego Palm Canyon hike (3 mi) to see a waterfall & maybe Bighorn Sheep in the Spring; Ghost Mtn hike, and other trails.
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I love the desert because it's like dessert!
We're so lucky to have a state park so close to us.
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I will give almost any park 5 stars, because that's the kind of guy I am. But this park is particularly deserving. My buddy and I did the 3 hour drive here from Long Beach for a day trip, which allowed for only a 6-7 mile hike (Borrego Palm trail, near the visitors' center). Still, we saw tons of wildlife, including endangered desert big horn sheep, jackrabbits, roadrunners, as well as cool critters like sun spiders.
The museum at the visitors' center is far better than I had expected, and is worth spending a few minutes.
The docents are extremely friendly and helpful.
You can join paleontologists on fossil collecting trips here--that's going to be my next trip out here!
Although Joshua Tree is much more popular, this was less crowded. You won't see the more lush mojave vegetation of Joshua Tree, but the park is no less impressive.
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I love this place great hiking, jeeping and camping. I am a avid hiker/jeeper and this is a dream place for both.The park headquarters has a great paleontology dept in the back that I got the chance to explore. The only thing that sucks is the have a ban on Geocaching. I Think that geocaching should be allowed and we the people own the parks, We should have a voice.
Three places you absolutely have to visit here: Font's Pass, Calcite Mines, and Split Mountain.
Email me when you do.
ah, sixth grade camp.
when i was eleven or twelve years old, my classmates, some parents and i drove to anza borrego and set up tents. we claimed spaces in tents for our sleeping bags, next to our bffs. we put our food away, so animals couldn't get to it. we checked out what counted for a bathroom. and then, we began scampering around in the desert.
my parents were not then and are not now, campers. even if they had been, i'm almost certain i would have bucked the trend. as much as i like the outdoors and would even consider sleeping in them, perhaps, if it were a beach, the idea of tents, my food in danger of being eaten by something NOT ME, and minimal bathroom accomodations just doesn't appeal to me. i like to sleep in a bed. i like to pee in a pot. and I LIKE TO SHOWER. fancy that. hiking is fine, cabins are wonderful, but roughin' it in the desert isn't exactly my idea of a vacation.
however, i do have fond memories of sixth grade camp. i got to know all sorts of wildlife i'd never seen before, even in the desert that is san diego. i ate s'mores cooked over a campfire for the first time ever. raccoons got into someone's tent for their food and hilarity ensued.
i also have some not-so-fond memories of sixth grade camp. i was forced to play spin the bottle and ended up having to kiss danny. my best friend gracie got a raging nosebleed that soaked several towels and lasted over an hour. i played in some leechy water and had to pluck them off of my twelve year old self.
it's hot in the anza borrego desert, but i'd do it all over again if i could. even, maybe, the leeches.
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you either love or hate the desert. can't say i always thought the desert was a beautiful place to visit but i do now. maybe it comes with age.
anza borrego has so many different views. the rock formations and a place called the wind caves. wild flowers in the spring, something like 500 miles of offroad trails to bike, hike or drive. there is a spring holding water year round most years. you can go to places in the park and not see another person all day. it can be the quietest place one might ever go. you might get lucky ( i haven't ) and see a peninsular bighorn sheep. though i have seen plenty of other animals.
then night time comes and it is a whole other experience. i have never seen so many stars in my life. the coyotes start their howls and sound like they are right behind you. so that is the time to break out the tequila to calm your nerves.
it can be unbearably hot in the summer but get in the canyons where there is shade and it can be almost bearable. though you should visit from fall to spring.
now that i live in northern california i am starting to miss the southern cal deserts and baja.
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Go for the wildflowers and stay for the waterfalls and Big Horn Sheep!
I have only gone here once and I thank my lucky stars I made it back! It is a wonderful drive and beautiful place...however, make sure you listen to others before you go! Take plenty of water, wear sunscreen, wear a hat, wear sensible shoes, take a snack, check the weather and just be smart about it. I wore the right shoes and clothes, but I wished I had a hat and I didn't bring nearly enough water. I started seeing spots about half-way to the oasis and when we got there I plopped down and rested for a good hour and a half. I was smart enough to pack a lunch. I took something light and healthy and we sat in the shade to eat.
There are so many photo opportunities here with the bugs and creatures. I thought it was an awesome place! I bought a little guide to the creatures of the desert and spotted a few things in the book. That was fun! Just make sure to go before the hot summer months and maybe look up what you should bring and if there are dangers as far as wild animals and snakes to look out for. It's worth the long drive and hikes to see this nice landscape!
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I backpack quite often and was very surprised of the state parks ability to let me backpack, camp, and light a campfire anywhere and everywhere in the desert. Generally speaking, national parks as well as state parks limit your ability to backpack, camp, and light a campfire. After quickly going to the visitor center to speak with a ranger he informed me of this wonderful ability. With that said I grabbed a map and picked a very desirable yet less occupied area campers frequent. Borrego is stunning. I can't imagine what it looks like during the spring months with the blooming of different plants. Joshua Tree was an amazing backpacking adventure but with all honestly Borrego surpasses my experience with Joshua Tree. The flexibility of camping and backpacking wherever and whenever is dope. Personally speaking, I had a very magical and intense experience on my backpacking adventure. I thought the sky was darker in Big Sur, but Borrego proved me wrong. This time of year (end of summer) isn't the most desirable time due to weather factors. Hot temperatures during the daytime and cold and windy conditions during nightfall. Nonetheless, if you want to get away from people and be in your own little world I suggest coming to Borrego for the day and/or overnight.
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The largest state park in the contiguous United States, it is well worth a visit, particularly in spring. The wildflowers are incredible. We passed through fields awash in desert sunflowers and sand verbena, saw blooming agave plants, cactuses aflame with electric pink flowers, canyons full of lupines and desert lilies and poppies, baby birds tucked in a nest in the crook of a very prickly cactus, and a desert floor covered in giant blooming red ocotillos, hundreds of years old. The views coming down from the mountains, particularly at sunset, are gorgeous. Anza-Borrego offers as much or as little wildness as you can take or have time for. In the center of the park is the town of Borrego Springs, a tiny town with one good sandwich shop and a lot of mini resorts and motels. Spring is the high season, so expect high prices and crowds. Except out on the trails that is, where there is more than enough room for everyone.
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go visit fish creek. you won't be sorry.
