Welcome to Anza Borrego Desert

600,000 acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in the contiguous United States and voted the #1 state park in California by National Geographic. This area was first traversed by Spanish explorer Juan Batiste de Anza in 1774. Another 100 years would pass before the first settlers would come to stay and inhabit this area. For more info (760) 337-4400.

Visitors can traverse canyons full of desert palms, ancient pictographs, majestic cactus and early spring wildflowers.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park
200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, CA 92004; 760-767-5311;

Borrego Springs
Borrego Springs is certainly one of the most scenic desert resort areas of California. The desert valleys are bordered by 9,000 foot mountain peaks. Some have said that Borrego Springs is what Palm Springs was 50 years ago - peaceful, quiet, relaxing. There are no stoplights in Borrego.

St Barnabas Labyrinth
This episcopal parish church, built in 1986, includes an outdoor labyrinth and retreat center for the benefit of those in search of peace and tranquility.

Carrizo Badlands
Fossil Beds, Desert Trails, Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves, Open Camping area.


Tour Cleveland National Forest

Southern most of protected forest lands in California includes 430,000 acres of San Diego, Orange and Riverside divided into three distinct areas. Comprises of conifer woodlands and chaparral.

Palomar Mountain State Park
Palomar Mountain State Park features spectacular views of the Pacific, camping, picnicking, hiking, and fishing (trout) in Doane Pond. Coniferous forests cover much of the 1,862 acres, in contrast to the dry lowlands surrounding the mountain. This is one of the few Southern California areas with a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere.

Carrizo Badlands
Fossil Beds, Desert Trails, Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves, Open Camping area.

Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recr Area - East Borrego
42,000 acres of desert terrain, from below sea level to 400 foot elevations. It is a motorcycle, four-wheel drive, all-terrain vehicle, and dune buggy use area. The wash-and-ridge terrain includes a butte with dunes and a sand bowl, a blow-sand dune, springs and a camp on a former homestead site.

The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti, ocotillo and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see greater roadrunner, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer, desert iguanas, chuckwallas and the red diamond rattlesnake.

Borrego Desert Park is habitat of the peninsular bighorn sheep, often called the Desert Bighorn. This creature is very shy and is rarely seen.

Spring Wildflowers
It is best to come in the springs, especially after a wet winter. Best wildflower fields are found in Coyote Canyon and Henderson Canyon, east of Borrego Springs. Remember - desert park plants are protected by law and cannot be dug up.

Higher Elevation Wildflowers: - Desert Apricot, Checker Fiddleneck, Indian Paintbrush, and Fringe Amaranth

Lower Elevation Wildflowers: - Dune Evening Primrose, Desert Chicory, and Desert Sand-Verbena.

The Borrego Desert Nature Center
Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association [ABDNHA] features Special exhibits describe desert wildflowers, indian rock art and mythology.

Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trails
Near Borrego Desert Nature Center

• Hellhole Canyon - 3 mile hiking trail starts from just south of visitor center that goes up a desert wash past a small waterfall and grotto of maidenhair ferns and hummingbirds buzzing the ocotillo (best in Springtime).
• Tubb Canyon - Unmarked trailhead starts on Hwy S-22 at MM-11, southwest of Visitor Center. Easy 1.5 mile hike. Natural spring is a big draw for wildlife including bighorn sheep and a lot of jackrabbits.
• Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail - 3 mile loop past native palm grove with pond.
• Panoramic Overlook Trail - 1 mile loop starts near campground site #71.
• Visitor Center Trail - Easy 1.2 mile loop
• Maidenhair Falls Trail - 6 mile hiking trail starts at Hellhole Canyon parking area.
• California Trail - 12 mile trail from Hellhole Canyon to Culp Valley Campground
• Pena Spring Trail - 6 mile hike from Culp Valley Campground to an artesian spring
• Lookout Point Trail - 6 mile hike from Culp Valley climb to Hellhole Canyon scenic overlook

Coyote Canyon Nature Trails
Entrance to the Borrego Badlands:

• Alcoholic Pass - challenging hike starts from Coyote Canyon road
• Truckhaven Rocks - 1.5 mile loop starts at milepost 35.5 on route S-22
• Caleite Mine - challenging hike starts on route S-22 at milepost 38.0
• Butterfield Overland Stagecoach Road
• Carrizo Badlands - laden with fossils dating over 540 million years
• Font's Point
• Split Mountain
• Seventeen Palms Oasis
• Visitors Center

Desert Campgrounds

In addition to the campgrounds listed below - backcountry camping is permitted in most open areas of the park. There is a small backcountry camping fee.

Rules include no ground fires. There are several locations with facilities.

Tamarisk Grove Campground

• Cactus Loop - 1 mile scenic trail starts at campground
• Yaqui Well - 1.6 mile nature trail starts at campground
• Borrego Palm Canyon - 122 sites / near visitors center
• Tamarisk Grove - 27 sites
• Horse Camp - 10 sites for campers with horses only.
• Yaqui Well
• Fish Creek