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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Categories: Active Life Parks Active Life Climbing Active Life Hiking Parks, Climbing, Hiking [Edit]
200 Palm Canyon Dr(between Hoberg Rd & Montezuma Valley Rd)
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
(760) 767-4205
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
60 reviews for Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
60 reviews in English
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Review from Moonridge Y.
Ontario, CA
1/17/2012
Truly a cool place. The visitor's center is neat, as it's built into the side of a hill! Lots of displays in there too. Rangers are helpful and knowledgeable.
I visited the pictographs at Blair Valley and I also was able to find the elusive Blue Sun pictographs out by Mortero Wash (southern part of AB).
Bring PLENTY of water wherever you decide to venture. -
Review from Tawny P.
Montclair, CA
11/23/2011
SO I couldn't find Mud Caves on YELP BUT....this was the closet Anza Borrego Desert I could find, so this will have to do. Well I went to the MUD CAVES!! located in Arroyo Tapiado area the MAJOR road to come here would be Imperial Hwy in Temecula and you will drive about an hour till you hit the road that leads you to the caves and another 30-45 minutes till your actually there!! Phew! So my adventure here was great!! I loved every second of it the caves were huge and some were so small i had to crawl thru a rabbit hole LOL!! I went in mid March for decent weather make sure to go in spring or just a day that is not cold or hot maybe in the 70's (degrees) would be good!
So I believe their is 9 caves but i only went into 5 and that alone took up the whole day. You crawl, hike, jump, and squirm your way through them hahaha like a warm lol!! Nothing like new adventures and not knowing what to see or come its the best thing ever!! Its super black and theirs absolutley NO LIGHT in some and that is why you MUST MUST MUST have a head lamp if you do not have a head lamp then I wouldn't bother going in if I were you, and if you do your really stupid your life can be at risk, because theirs ditches and i have no idea how far they go or where they go! so please do NOT go unless you are prepared, AND if you are claustrophobic caving is deffintly NOT for you! I had the time of my life caving its so fun!! I am officially addicted to caving!! -
Review from Jeff W.
Julian, CA
10/12/2011 9 photos
This is a review of The Palm Canyon Trail that extends from the Visitor Center parking area.
If you want a closer approach to the actual hike you will need to pay an entrance fee of $8and drive beyond The Visitor Center. Follow well marked signs.
I feel the price is well worth the cost. This is a 3 mile out and back hike to The Palm Oasis. It is fairly easy, but bring plenty of water and expect a fair amount of rock scrabbling. I enjoy hiking much further than the palms where more water is present. But this hike is not for the faint of heart. It is not a very well defined path but just merely a rock jumping event up the creek.
About 6 years ago an incredible 100 year old rain storm flooded the canyon and washed many palms down the canyon. Washed palms can be seen at the beginning of the hike. The creek runs most of the year.
Expect more water in early spring. I just hiked this a few days ago after a rain storm so I saw plenty of water.
This is one of my more enjoyable hikes I have tried. I lucked out and actually saw 2 Big Horn Sheep very close to the trail. -
Review from Mike M.
11/21/2011
One of the largest, maybe THE largest, state parks in the country. Great area for hiking and backpacking. Bring your own water or be sure to use a high quality filter. Easy to get to, close by town if you need supplies and great weather year round. OK, hot as hell in the summer.
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Review from Arie K.
Whittier, CA
8/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The largest state park in California, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a land of contrasts: mountains, valleys, mud hills, dunes, oases, cacti, flowers, and more, all contained this gem of a park.
Stop by the Visitor Center and get some recommendations for hikes appropriate for your interests and ability. Take the time of explore the park by foot. You won't be disappointed. The most popular hike is Palm Canyon, a nice morning or afternoon; bring water and a hat and be sure to watch for the native Big Horn Sheep on the hillside. Stop by Font's Point at sunrise or sunset. You can make the drive in a standard 2-wheel drive car.
Be sure to schedule a visit during the wildflower season (late February to March) for a sight you won't forget. -
Review from Kristin F.
San Diego, CA
5/4/2011 25 photos
A synopsis of Sunday's trip to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park...
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VISITOR CENTER:
Make it a point to stop by during a trip to Anza-Borrego. Located beneath a stone overlook, it's a visitor center and gift shop rolled into one. Here you'll find educational displays, lots of free literature, souvenirs, a donation box, and friendly rangers to bombard with questions.
I love sending postcards, and the Visitor Center offers really beautiful ones. Also saw some great books about hiking in the park and hiking in general.
Parking in the Visitor Center gravel lot is free, and I opted to park my car here.
PALM CANYON TRAIL:
The trailhead is clearly marked at the Palm Canyon Campground Parking Lot. Left my car in the Visitor Center parking lot for free rather than paying $8 to park in the campground lot, and then we walked the distance (1.2 miles one way) between the Visitor Center and the trailhead. Just take the marked .6 mile Campground Trail from the Visitor Center--it's a concrete path speckled with some nice educational plaques--and then when the concrete ends follow the markers through the sandy trail to the campground parking lot.
At the trailhead you'll find restrooms, drinking fountains, and a nice exhibit about the trail. When we arrived we were ecstatic when a Park Volunteer invited us to view Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, the park's namesake, through his telescope. Unfortunately, during our time at the park we never saw any of the endangered sheep with our naked eyes, though we paused often to scan the rocky ledges.
I knew we had missed the wildflowers by about a month but was disappointed to see that essentially no flowers remained.
Overall, the 3 mile round trip to the oasis and back isn't difficult, though there's a good bit of scrambling over rocks involved. The trail is marked with arrows, with logs and rocks, and with numbers 1 through 15--corresponding complimentary brochure available at the trailhead--but, even so, it's not difficult to lose the trail. That being said, it's also not difficult to find the trail again once you've lost it; climbing onto a large boulder to get a better view will usually do the trick. The destination of the pretty oasis and surrounding small waterfalls is well worth your efforts.
The vast majority of people who hike the Palm Canyon Trail head back after they reach the oasis, but a more ambiguous and strenuous trail does extend another 1.5 miles to South Fork and then beyond. Had every intention of continuing on the trail and had discussed the route with a Park Ranger at the Visitor Center, but my shoulders were too pink to continue. (Damn the antibiotic I'd been taking!) We headed back after eating lunch in the shaded oasis, taking the Alternative Route for a change in scenery.
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A really nice day in the desert. Apparently the annual wildflower bloom is a spectacular event that shouldn't be missed, so I plan to send a self-addressed stamped postcard to the Visitor Center to take advantage of the bloom "postcard notification" service. See you next spring, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park!Listed in: San Diego Area Hikes
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Review from Barney B.
Chicago, IL
3/29/2011
Man, I wish I could have spent more than a few hours here. I wasted the morning traipsing around the Salton Sea and wanted to get through the mountains to the ocean before nightfall.....
But, what I saw here was marvelous....even if I was a few weeks early for the flowers to appear.
I basically parked my car off a road and walked down a wash for a mile or so. I didn't see or hear any man nor machine during my 2-hour hike, and I was greatly impressed with the flora and the valleys and mountains. Just driving through the park along 78 was a great experience in itself. But you must get out and walk around, people.
I will be back to explore this beauty. 5 stars, sir. I guess if you're in the San Diego area and want to experience the desert, this is where you turn to.
I understand it's one of the few parks where you can camp all over the park instead of the main campgrounds. I will do that sometime soon and I can't wait to experience the park in full.
Yep. -
Review from waltzing m.
San Diego, CA
5/11/2011
A fantastic weekend spent in a beautiful area of the desert. The mountains are vast and this past weekend the weather was perfect. we enjoyed every minute.
Best part was taking the 3 mile round trip hike with our 3 year old daughter to the Palm Oasis - it is very doable and was easy enough for our little one - granted the weather was on our side - & that counts in these parts.
ps - we had fantastic breakfast at the Red Ocotillo - the service isn't quick but its sure worth the wait!
Also, the visitor center is really nice. They have a whole section dedicated to children and its very well done with all sorts of things for them to explore ~ such as animal pelts, fossils, native jewelry, plant identification, books, a dig site with buried bones all interactive. The senior volunteers really enjoy working there and are eager to have the kids touch and learn! A++
Can't wait to go back. -
Review from Paul L.
3/6/2011 7 photos
Anza-Borrego is one of my favorite places and this was my first visit of the year. Unfortunately, I picked the weekend when off-roaders converged on the scene for an annual event and they occupied every grain of sand east of Borrego Springs to the Salton Sea.
It made the focus of my visit, Fonts Point, a busy place, too, as the late afternoon sun emblazoned its color upon the sharp landscape beneath the cliff. With such a grand view, I easily tuned out the four-wheeling crowds and slumped comfortably in my lounge chair perched at the point's edge.Listed in: Natural Wonders
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Review from Joanna M.
12/12/2010 1 photo
One time I thought I was going to die a terrible and brutal death. I was in Spain, and my train from Barcelona to Bilbao had arrived late, so it was dark when I found a cab. I thought my hotel was just a few blocks away, so when the taxi driver hopped on the freeway headed to the beach, I began to panic. Sinister images quite like in Dexter flashed through my mind, then some regrets and happy thoughts. I thought of Anza-Borrego, so happy to have visited and hiked here, only regretful that I had not returned.
Well, obviously the cabbie knew the local terrain better than me, and I was promptly dropped off at the hotel. What luck! I could someday come back to this desert paradise, and shame on me that I have not yet done so!
I'll let you in on a secret if you promise not to tell. It's called elephant knees, and no, I am not implying that you need moisturizer. It's a mesa in the Mud Hills wash that has a spectacular view of the desert and oyster shell reefs that have been preserved for about 500 million years. The side of the mesa juts out to form almost perfectly spaced and identical 'knees' for lack of a precise geological term. When you see the cracked sand texture, the name elephant knees makes sense. Around the park there are also elephant trees, which are unique to the area, and if you can brave the desert in the summer, you're handsomely rewarded with their small and creamy white flowers.
You better bring enough water, and if you're going to sleep outside, which is a must, careful of the critters. Dehydration and nasty bites also make for an agonizing death, and there are few cabs in the area.Listed in: Parks and Rec
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Review from nancy R.
11/22/2010
Stayed at the Palm Canyon Camp Grounds just outside the city of Borrego Springs.
Pros:
1. Beautiful Visitor Center. They show a 15 minute video clip of the seasons of Borrego Springs. Great little artifacts and interactive exhibits for the little tikes. Wonderful view.
2. Camp ground just minutes away from awesome trail heads. For instance, Palm Canyon Oasis: 3 mile hike into the mountains. Spotted some Bighorn Sheep.
3. Great camp grounds with great facilities. There are primitive camp ground options as well.
4. Camped the 2nd weekend of November...weather was perfect.
5. Ocotillo Wells holds FREE astronomy presentations at night through December. There are others at the Palm Canyon Visitors Center but they run you up to 120 dollars.
6. Hitting up a Julian pie on the way back to Los Angeles.
Cons:
1. Gas up. Park is huge. Stayed there for 3 days and wanted to explore considering it was our first time. Expect to fill up a couple of times. -
Review from Brian K.
6/24/2010 6 photos
Desert and chaparral biomes need loving too; just because it's not a "lush redwood" forest doesn't mean you can't appreciate the beauty of Anza-Borrego.
June 20, 2010:
The Palm Canyon Trail to the Palm Oasis is relatively easy. Most hikers turn back after reaching the oasis but if you continue, that's where the true fun begins. After the oasis, the trail is not paved and decent hiking gear is recommend. You create your own trail. You're jumping on rocks, landing in mud, going through brush, etc. I felt like a little kid again =)
It was hot as hell (ranged from 98-102 degrees though it spikes more late summer). 9.4 miles with a moving time of about 2.5 hours (total time of 3.5 hours) and worth every second. This place is beautiful and desolate to the point that it's actually rewarding to be alone in the wilderness away from hideous tracks of homes, buildings, smog, etc.
If you head out in the summer, bring lots of water and wear protection (that is, sunscreen and protective clothing).
Special treat: Desert Bighorn Sheep. I was lucky enough to see one. I didn't see any blooming cacti since they bloomed already.
Anza-Borrego...this trip has made me a permanent fan. I will definitely be back.
Tip: Park at the campground. If you park in the visitor's lot, you waste 1.5 miles on the pointless "Nature Trail" (concrete trail). The ranger said that there is a parking fee of $5 but they weren't collecting it. ??? Who knows... -
Review from Arty V.
Solana Beach, CA
1/9/2011
Went for a hike up to the Palm Oasis. Good fun and there is a alternative route on the way back (or way there) to make it a circular walk (mostly). Some nice waterfalls and cold water to paddle in. Saw lots of animals and 30+ of the sheep. Looking at google earth, there are several more palm colonies further upstream which if I had known I might have tried to walk to to escape the worn and crowded first one.
Got told off by the state park wildlife lady for straying 20yrds off the trail and scaring the sheep. She was a bit short with us. We were doing our best. I challenge anyone to stay on the path all the way along; it isn't well marked in places.
For that you lose a star, so there.
Lost star number 2 was for not having any annual permits for sale in the visitors center, despite saying that you did in your literature. That's $8 down. I doubt you will refund me when I do manage to buy one? -
Review from Amy R.
8/29/2010 7 photos
I wish that I would've been a better sport when my husband and I visited. Stopped here as part of our honeymoon week. Had he known how I was going to act, maybe he would thought twice. Just Kidding. I was a handful and sadly ruined his good time. He's a good sport and I owe him one.
While this is a beautiful park and the largest state park in CA, I couldn't get past the fact that it was in the desert. I like the heat, the scenery, cacti, flowers etc, but was petrified of running into snakes.
My fear took over. The thought of snakes, the possibility of getting lost (think Brady Bunch episode when Bobby and Cindy got lost) and whatever else was lurking in the desert scared the crap out of me. I wanted to let J wander off on his own, but was too afraid he'd get lost and I didn't want to wait by myself.
I was happy to see a visitor center with working clean bathrooms. The scenery is beautiful, but give me a bank of turnstyles, people and a crowd anyday. I can't handle being that isolated in the middle of nowhere.
Make sure to fill up on gas (another fear of running out) because getting to this place or at least where we were is FAR up that nauseating windy steep road.
I myself can't constitute being a fan, but I know a lot of people love this place. So I have to rate it a 4. It's not the deserts fault. -
Review from John M.
San Diego, CA
6/8/2010 4 photos
This place is God's country! I love coming to this magnificent place all year round. This past spring was so beautiful with all of the rain that fell to the ground here in the Southern California area this past winter. Flowers everywhere! What's nice about being here in the spring is that my Jeep's engine likes the mild temps during our 4X4 excursions.
Another great time to be here is in the dead of summer to feel the intense heat that blankets the desert plain. Hang out until after the sun drops below the horizon on a night with a full moon overhead and watch the desert floor light up the night as you make your way across this stunning and eye-catching land.
Come one or come all because this park has plenty of room for everybody. Just be sure to have a good running vehicle and bring plenty of drinking water and food in case you end up staying longer then you had originally planned. -
Review from tina t.
6/28/2010
Hands down, my favorite place to hike. And I'm a geologist, so I know what I'm talkin' about.
Head clearing dry, hot air, big, beautiful boulders as big as a school bus, wild flowers and cactus, and the oasis with cool, crisp, clear water all shaded by massive palm trees.
Amazing!Listed in: Where I get my camp on., Best of the Best
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Review from Anthony S.
Berkeley, CA
2/17/2009 4 photos
"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!Listed in: Go Play Outside!
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Review from Matt P.
5/17/2011
Im so happy that I live in San Diego... We have beaches, mountains, and desert and so much more in our county. Anza-Borrego desert is one of the reasons why I wont move away. Ive recently become a desert-stomping fan and I love this place!
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Review from Mick G.
Updated - 1/6/2009 3 photos
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.Listed in: Wonderful Places to Run or…
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 »
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Review from Anna A.
3/16/2009 3 photos
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! -
Review from Alan B.
Irvine, CA
3/25/2010
This review is for the Palm Canyon Trail.
Distance, 3 miles round trip from parking lot at the head of trail (difficult to get a spot if going on weekend or peak season), about 4 miles from visitor center round-trip.
Time: plan on roughly 1 hour per mile if you stop to take a few pics, rest for quick water breaks and spend about 20-30 minutes at the palm oasis/end.
Directions: a lot of ppl get lost looking for the trail head.
Driving to trailhead; follow directions to the palm canyon campgrounds and park in the small parking lot that's not for the specific camp sites. The trail head is next to that lot...look for the sign. Again, it's packed on weekends an peak season.
Walking to trailhead; from visitor center building, head back towards the visitor center parking and make a right at the cement pathway right before the bathrooms. There's a sign that says something like...to central trailheads, I think. Go down the path, walk past the palm canyon RV and tent campsites, cross a couple cement roads (one which is the parking lot to trailhead) and you'll see a sign for palm canyon trail.
On trail: follow the numbered marker sticks. Starts off easy on sandy dirt then you start walking on rocks and climbing over rocks. When I say climbing I mean taking huge steps or using your hands to grab on another rock or person to get a foothold and heave yourself over. There's some elevation while walking but mostly it's walking up and down rock steps.
Parents definitely need to watch their kids and help them climb over or down some rocks because it could be quite steep and dangerous.
The scenery is beautiful. It kinda gets redundant in the beginning but picks up halfway and end when you get to the steam and "waterfall". By the way, don't expect much of a waterfall... I only call it that because it is water and it is falling, otherwise it's like pouring water out of a really big pitcher ;-p the palm oasis looks more interesting to me.
Flowers: just okay. I went March 20, the peak blooming weekend according to the website. This trail had the same frigging 5 flowers over and over, haha. You'll see yellow, orange, purple and red bushes of flowers throughout the trail. Also, the tall octotillo... Other then those, there isn't much, a flowery cacti rarely and maybe a single purple flower here are there. Don't get me wrong, the flowers are nice, but the trail is cool more for the overall scenery then the repetitive flower bushes.
Animals we saw: bees, ants (ant-hills), beetles, couple jackrabbits, 1 bighorn sheep high and far on a mountain, 1 lizard, and heard frogs (some ppl saw a lot). -
Review from Pedro B.
Broward, FL
3/15/2011
Great park! It was my first time on the dessert and we had a lot of fun! You've got to love California where within a 1 hour and 40 minutes drive from Del Mar, you can see so many different environments, and get to be in the middle of the desert once there!
A few things about the park, on high season MAKE a reservation (we went last minute, literally go the last site one on Friday, and had to move sites on Saturday after almost getting a fine waiting for a cancellation).
If you never been the first thing you should do, is go to the visitor center! You can get ALL the info you need about the trails and the best places to go! We only went on Sunday and could have enjoyed even more if we had all the information on Saturday... But there's always a next time!
I guess the "main" trail is Palm Oasis, and it is beautiful, but if you are in shape and feel like doing some work, don't stop where everyone does at the oasis... Keep on going and you will get rewarded for your efforts!
Now to the obvious, its a dessert, it gets HOT, bring lots of water for the hikes!
The canyon's are just as cool, if not better than the Oasis, ask on the visitor center for one up to par with on how much you are willing/experience for the hike.
The park facilities are above average to average for a state park! If you tenting try not to be on the first loop (near entrance) as the sites are smaller and closer to each other...
Enjoy it and only leave your footprints behind! (We found and carried back a lot of crap/trash people left behind on the trails... Don't be that person!) -
Review from Baby Mr. T.
San Diego, CA
7/9/2007
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. -
Review from Jae L.
San Diego, CA
12/30/2007
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... -
Review from T L.
Los Angeles, CA
3/30/2011 1 photo
This gem of a state park has Free Camping almost everywhere! Manpanion and I went in late March, when the desert wildflowers were blooming everywhere - super-model gorgeous! We camped in Arroyo Salada, which is lovely, if a bit windy, as well as a night near the Clark dry lake bed, which is amazing. The dry lake bed is a jigsaw of brownie-like pieces; an amazing place for a picnic or to shoot some rock'n'roll pictures. Similar to Black Rock Desert pre-Burning Man. I almost didn't want to review Anza because the lack of people is what makes this great camping and preferable over Joshua Tree. Bring your own water and pack everything out. There is great free camping for 2-wheel drive as well as 4 wheel. Visitor center is teeming with people in springtime. Get out of there and the rest of the park is fairly empty. Steer clear of Ocotillo Wells unless you are into ATVs.
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Review from Joel S.
12/11/2009
Those of us living in southern California are fortunate indeed. Just a 2.5 hour drive from Mission Beach and you're camping under the plethora of stars - clean desert air. Deep breaths now.
Plenty of options for camp sites(tent or RV), no advance reservations were required. There's a pretty informative ranger talk about the formations, even more interesting with a little imbibing before.
As far as camping goes, the facilities were better than most. New bathrooms, showers, and outdoor sinks for early morning teeth brushing should satisfy most of your city dwellers seeking amenities whilst camping. Didn't get to test the water pressure or temperature because, sometimes it's good to rough it.
Guess we looked kind of rowdy, ranger warned us that they booted a large group the previous night for noise violations past quiet time. Things seemed pretty quiet at night, so that's good for those seeking a good nights rest.
The easiest hike is a short 45min hike amongst huge rocks to climb and jump onto and off of. And then *poof* your're transported to a mini Oasis of water, green, palm trees, we even spotted a big horned goat.
Depending where you're coming from, recommend driving by Julian on the way back. Was my first time and I was genuinely impressed with the apple pie. Deliciousness.
I've heard the winter rain determines the spring desert flowers. Looking forward to many return trips. See you there. We'll roast some smoresListed in: SoCal Outdoors
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Review from Ann L.
Updated - 3/28/2010
Second time to Anza-Borrego Desert SP where we did some hiking and sightseeing. It's the largest State Park in Calif.
Sun 3/21/10 we went to the Visitor Center and got some information. We did the popular Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail 3mi RT. It's a long hike in the sun. Starting from the visitor center you go left thru 2 campgrounds, then dirt trail, lots of gently climbing, then end up at a native palm grove and a small waterfall. That was nice.
Mon 3/22: Pygmy Grove to see 50 short palm trees, then SW Grove; Mary's Bowl Grove - more palm trees. Also saw Pictograph Trail - pictograph on a large boulder and then dry waterfall w/ views of Vallecito Valley (did that hike before).
Tues 3/23-Yaqui Well Nature Trail; Narrows Earth Trail; Elephant Tree Discovery Trail- Elephant Tree isn't all that great - looks nothing like an elephant. Wind Caves Trail - neat.Listed in: places to hike, cool places that not many have…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/19/2008
I love going to some place new to me. This was my first trip to Anza-Borrego Desert SP and I can't… Read more »
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Review from Darren S.
9/30/2009 2 photos
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. -
Review from Andrew C.
Manhattan, NY
3/3/2009
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! -
Review from jess a.
4/21/2009
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. -
Review from Raphael M.
Long Beach, CA
12/31/2006
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. -
Review from Nora S.
4/19/2010
I have to give at least 4 stars for the gorgeous desert scenery especially during the spring when the flowers are blooming. It was gorgeous. We went on Saturday and it was a warm but still not too hot. A lovely day for a hike. We did the Palm Oasis hike, roughly 3 miles round trip. It's actually a pretty rocky, rough hike in places if you have kids and depending on which trail you take. If you like bouldering, this is an awesome area! This year, the creek was in full swing and very nice. For the amazing desert scenery, desert bloom and pleasant hike, I would give this 5 stars. But it is super crowded as it always is. Minus 1 star.
By the way if you're expecting a large multicolored field of flowers, go to the Carlsbad Flower Fields. This is a desert, and the flowers here are 10x superior to anything planted. I wouldn't want it any other way.
The drive here is gorgeous too. Blue Ceonothus and yellow flowers covering the hillside. I love Spring in San Diego county! -
Review from Elizabeth C.
Los Angeles, CA
2/1/2010 12 photos
Instead of going on about how you HAVE to come here (in the spring, early in the day, mind you), instead of focusing on the biodiversity and amazing flora and fauna and beautiful EVERYTHING--I'm going to complain about the one thing there is to complain about in the desert:
Cholla.
Watch out for the cholla. It's a cactus (see my pictures, it's worth identifying beforehand so you know to avoid it), anywhere from one to three, sometimes four feet in height, covered in tiny barbs that WILL stick to you. They even drop off these tiny little cactus balls that can penetrate the bottom of your shoes, so you have to be aware of them all the time. Constant Vigilance!
So go, have fun, be amazed by the beauty and wonder of nature, and watch the fuck out for cholla. -
Review from Daniel G.
Washington, DC
5/16/2010 3 photos
I want March 26, 2010, and the wild flowers / cactus were in full bloom. Really, really beautiful. Did two hikes into the canyons - one to a waterfall and the other to a palm groove. Also drove around to different locations to see the wildflowers - and bought possibly the best oranges I have ever had at a local groove. Great place to visit. Wish I had hiked and camped for a few days - but I only had one.
Definitely come when the flowers are blooming. -
Review from Matt G.
San Diego, CA
2/15/2010
This review is for the Palm Canyon Campground located near the visitors center in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. We have done the hike in Palm Canyon Oasis numerous times but we finally decided to try the campground out over Halloween weekend and we had a blast.
There are two great things about this campground - the Palm Canyon hike and Big Horn Sheep. If you go in spring, there is usually a lot of water in the Oasis, making for a beautiful hike among the rocky outcroppings surrounding the campsite. Even if you go in the fall or winter, it's a great hike through the canyons along the dry river bed. When we were there in October, it was the middle of the Big Horn migration period and they literally migrate right through the campsite! They came within 50 yards of our site and we were able to get very close to them and get some amazing pictures. Something you won't see anywhere else.
The campsites themselves are very large (we fit three tents and two cars without an issue) and come with fire pits, a covered picnic table and access to running water and bathrooms with pay showers. The bathrooms are pretty nasty (as you'd expect at a campsite), but it was worth the $1.25 I paid for 10 minutes of hot water for a shower.
It was very quiet when we went, but I'm not sure if it's always like this, or just because it was Halloween. Regardless, we will definitely come back and camp here again. -
Review from Eric H.
San Diego, CA
4/29/2010
It's hard to review Anza Borrego.
I was born and raised in Northen California and have been camping in the lush wilderness of the Sierras and coastal redwoods. Camping and hiking in Anza Borrego in comparison is totally different but almost equally awesome.
You have to find enjoyment in being hot and surrounded by your friends dirt, rocks, and dry shrubbery. However, with a lack of visible life surrounding you, one can really enjoy yourself and the company around you.
What to see and when to go
Go when the weather is optimal: Winter, early Spring and late Fall.
Take a hike to an oasis.
Take advantage of this being one of the only state parks that allow you to camp wherever you want with your car.
Visit during spring to see the peak of colors and life here. -
Review from Barb G.
Cardiff by the Sea, CA
1/8/2009
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. -
Review from Jay A.
Mission Viejo, CA
1/6/2009
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. -
Review from Chi W.
El Cerrito, CA
2/4/2008
I love the desert because it's like dessert!
We're so lucky to have a state park so close to us.Listed in: Get rid of your food baby
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Review from Sandy P.
Seal Beach, CA
3/16/2009 8 photos
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.Listed in: And now for something…
