Hey you! Make sure to check the schedule for guided tours to to Anza Borrego State Park each season ( okay, well maybe not summer). SoCal SUV camping trips with Total Escape Adventures (Anza Borrego: October thru April usually)

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Fees

Annual passes: $35 pass - good for day-use & camping within state parks Passes may be purchased at the visitors center near the town of Borrego Springs or through the mail by check, or money order. Mail to - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park 200 Palm Canyon Drive Borrego Springs, CA 92004 attn: District Administrative Chief Carrizo Rail Road

Helpful Phone Numbers:

Park Info 760/767-4684

Admin. Offices 760/767-5311

Camping - Reserv. 303/297-2757

Wildflower Info 760/767-4684

Backpacking

Allows open camping throughout its 600,000 acres. Fees for camping anywhere in the park, $5.00 per night.

• permits are required for overnight backcountry camping
• no ground fires allowed in park
• check with the ranger for all back country camping restrictions

Trail head parking spots located at:

camp  sites  elev.  veg  toilet  water  contact  fee Blair Valley disp  2000 ? ocotillo yucca none  none Anza Borrego SP 760/767-5311  yes

[great High desert backpacking area] Hwy. 78 to S-2 south for 5 mi., area is to left of road

Pacific Crest TrFail Association

BackRoads

One of the best areas in southern California for back road exploration. Get that SUV dusty, why don't ya?
Easy accessibilty & geographically desireable almost all year long. But make sure to check them high temps before you head out in mid summer. Average Weather Temps Chart

This 600,000 acre park has hundreds of miles of dirt roads. Most are accessible with 2WD high clearance vehicles. Soft sand in washes are common, so keep you speed up & do not come to a sudden stop in these areas. Small boulders on the road are not unhead of. There may be some rocky obstacles along the way, so take plenty of precautions & drive at a moderate speed. Racing around fast (over 25mph) , tears up the trails, damages the plants, disrupts the wildlife & may eventually lead to road closures. A great back country map of this region is Tom Harrison San Diego BackCountry Map which can be found at most stores that carry a good selction of wilderness maps.

There are a few spots known to the 4WD enthusiasts. They may require advanced driving skills and/or more than a stock 4x4:

• Diablo Dropoff
• Pinyon Mtn. Squeeze
• StageCoach Wash
• Cotote Cyn. - upper & lower
• Hills of the Moon
• Truckhaven Hills
• Culp Valley
• Borrego Wash Dropoff
• Jasper Trail
• there may be even more...go out & discover!

 

 

Campgrounds
To make a reservation at Anza Borrego's main campground, in Borrego Springs click this link:

BORREGO PALM CANYON CAMPGROUND

Listed below are some of the smaller campgrounds, that do not accept reservations.

camp  sites  elev.  veg  toilet  water  contact  fee Fish Creek 8 500 ? brush pit  none Anza Borrego SP 760/767-5311  $ 5

[ narrow gorge & wind caves close by] Hwy.78 Ocotillo Wells , Go 12 mi. south on Split Mtn. Rd. to campground.

Camp with horses at an equestrian camp located at the mouth of Coyote Canyon.
Vern Whitaker Horse Camp: 10 sites ($16 with one horse)
Reservations for these may be made by calling Reserve America toll-free at (800) 444-7275.

 

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Primitive Camping

The only parks in the state that allows open camping throughout the 600,00 acre park. There are 9 designated primitive camp areas plus 1 horse camp. No tables, toilets or parking stalls. Plenty of dirt roads to explore. Most regular passenger cas can get to these sites. But many roads will require an SUV or even 4X4. Check our backcountry roads section. A backcountry road map is advisable. Call Ranger at 760/767-5311

No ground fires allowed. Better bring a metal container.

an old washing machine tub works see portable camp fire pits

Just a few rules:

• pull your car one full car length off the road
• no off road driving ( that means stay on the dirt road machismo)
• no ground fires (bring a large metal container, firepit & wood for the fire, carry your ashes out)
  

All these are primitive camping (all directions from Borrego Springs)

• Arroyo Salado - 16 mi. east on County Rd. S22
• Culp Valley - 10 mi. southwest on County Rd. S22
• Canon Sin Nombre - off County Rd. S2, entrance near Badlands Overlook
• Coyote Canyon - north off visitor center, rugged backcountry roads past the "Gardens"
• Blair Valley - Hwy. 78 to S-2 south for 5 mi., area is to left of road
• Yaqui Well - 5 mi. south on County Rd. S3 & right on Yaqui Pass Rd. & go 6 mi.to the camping area on right.
• Yaqui Pass - 5 mi. south on County Rd. S3 & right on Yaqui Pass Rd. & go 4 mi.to the camping area on left side.

Hiking

Blair Valley - Hwy. 78 to S-2 south for 5 mi., area is to left of road. Many hiking options available here. Peaks, pictographs, old ruins, etc. Indian Pictographs (Truck / SUV recommended) 3 mi. RT / easy From Julian, go East on Hwy. 78 Turn Right at S-2, Great Overland Stagecoach Route of 1849 Approx. 5 mi. turn left on dirt road into Little Blair Valley (just after Anza Borrego SP sign on right) At junction bear right & continue down Crossing the valley Left at next major intersection, look for small signage on post This road will deadend into the parking area. Hike 1.5 mi. to the ancient indian pictographs (located on a large rock on the right side of the trail) Canon Sin Nombre - off County Rd. S2, entrance near Badlands Overlook; plenty to see around here with tons of cool geological formations & skinny slot canyons.

Slot Canyons Canon Sin Nombre

Stargazing This park is one of the best areas to Stargaze in all of Southern California. Clear skies, low moisture & limited city lights make this an ideal location. The further south you go the more ElCentro light polution you will experience, so try to stay in the mid-park region. See the Stargazing Page! Areas that are popular for telescopes & stargazers: Blair Valley Mtn. Palm Spring / Canebrake Palm Spring Nolina Wash Old Kane Springs Rd

Photo Credit © Jan Alexander

Wildflowers

wildflower hotline 760/767-4684

Desert Garden 4x4 recommended past 3rd wash/ creek crossing

Hellhole Canyon Park in lot off Montezuma Valley Road, 1.3 miles from Visitor Center.
Stay to the right when trail forks to enter Hellhole Canyon. 2.8 miles to Maidenhair Falls

Indian Gorge

Lizard Canyon Off Highway 78, approx. Entrance1 mile west of S-3.

Pictograph Trail in Blair Valley (see 'hiking' above).

Plum Canyon South off Highway 78. (Dirt road begins behind call box across from Grapevine Canyon sign.)

Yaqui Well Nature Trail Trail features cactus as well as flowers.

SAN DIEGO'S AMAZING ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK
WILD FLOWERS BLOOM IN THE SPRING

2001 / content provided by http://www.sandiego.org

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, one of the richest and seemingly boundless living museums in the country, provides visitors with outdoor beauty, wildlife and desert flora on 600,000 acres within the borders of San Diego County. One of the largest state parks in the United States, Anza-Borrego provides a breathtaking refuge for more than one million people each year and is located just two hours from San Diego via California's State Highway 78 and Interstate 8. A sense of timeless discovery permeates the air in this 600,000-acre expanse, with fossils and rocks dating back 540 million years. One of the most popular times to visit the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is when the arrival of spring is most apparent. As the dry, rugged landscape is transformed by winter rains, a kaleidoscope of colorful wildflowers splash bold colors across the desert dunes, creating a spectacular floral display. The annual desert wildflowers come in a variety of species from tiny flowers, mere sparkling bits of color no larger than the head of a pin, to the majestic ocotillo, with fiery spines of scarlet that pierce the skyline. The desert resort community of Borrego Springs is located in the northern section of the park off State Highway 78 in Borrego Valley. Guests can mix luxury with the wilderness by staying at one of the three resort hotels offering relaxation, pools and spas, tennis courts, golf and comfortable suites with generous amenities. Also in the region are two bed-and-breakfast inns, four motels and several vacation rental condominiums and houses. Golfing at one of Borrego Springsí five championship golf courses is one of the highlights in the area. Lined with palm trees and cacti and offering panoramic scenic views, Borrego Springs golf courses challenge golfers at every level, from beginners to professionals. For more information, contact the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce at (760) 767-5555. For detailed information and maps of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, guests can visit the State Park Visitor Center, one mile west of Borrego Springs on Palm Canyon Drive, or call (760) 767-4205. An informative 15-minute slide show and exhibit rooms introduce guests to this unique desert environment. Books on wildflowers, animal life and history are also available. Two developed campgrounds are also available in the park. Borrego Palm Canyon, with 117 sites, is located 2.5 miles west of Borrego Springs. Full hookups, amphitheatre, nature trail and public telephones. Tamarisk Grove, with 27 sites, is located at County Road S-3 and State Highway 78. Both campgrounds offer restrooms with showers, shade ramadas and campfire programs; both developed campsites are very popular, and reservations are usually necessary.

Dispersed camping is also allowed in the open along many trail routes. As some areas are rugged, the use of cars might be limited; it is wise for guests to consult the Visitor Center for advice on the best areas. As a general rule for primitive camping, guests are advised not to take their vehicle more than a car length off any dirt roads. This precaution also preserves the landscape and the native plants. From Borrego Springs or nearby campgrounds, guests can choose among many picturesque side trips. More than 500 miles of travel routes follow the scenic hills, eroded into fascinating shapes by wind and rain. Borrego Palm Canyon is one of the favorite sites for valley visitors, with its growth of almost 1,000 desert palms, watered by a stream trickling down the narrow canyon. Bighorn sheep are sometimes seen on the boulders and high cliffs. Self-guided car tours take the desert visitor along a 40-mile round-trip through the Borrego Springs area. The tour includes a spectacular view of the Borrego Badlands from Font's Point. Another self-guided tour follows the historic Southern Emigrant Trail. Dirt roads crisscross the Borrego Badlands, where deep canyons and rugged mountains rise from sea level to more than 6,000 feet. Many of the same trails traveled today were originally opened by early explorers, such as de Anza, Fages, Arguello and, later, Kit Carson and the gold seekers of 1849. SUV & sometimes 4-wheel drive vehicles are needed for many of the popular desert trips in this rugged area. Many points of interest, however, may be visited via car or on sightseeing hikes. The walking trails are accessible to virtually any visitor, but guests should check the board listings at the Visitor Center for various road conditions. Fortunately, well-located signs point out many historical attractions of this area and several state monuments. In addition, side roads leading from the highway are well marked to show other possible excursion sites. Desert plants are as varied as the terrain. More than 600 species of flora are found within the park, including cacti, palms, century plants and many shrubs. Another great way to view the Anza-Borrego Desert is with a bicycle. There are more than 500 miles of roads in the park open to bicycles with routes up rocky hills, through deep sand, along scenic streams and down steep hills. Both primitive jeep roads and paved roads are open to bicycles, but bikes are excluded from all hiking trails unless they are specifically designated as bike trails. The vast Anza-Borrego Desert presents a uniquely diverse vacation or getaway offered by no other area in San Diego County. To hikers and campers seeking adventure, the desert is a wonderland of exploration. To visitors who need to get away from it all, Anza-Borrego's serenity can be a welcome experience.

Hey you! Make sure to check the schedule for guided tours to to Anza Borrego State Park each season ( okay, well maybe not summer). SoCal SUV camping trips Total Escape Adventures (October- April usually)

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Please try again later.

BORREGO PALM CANYON
CAMPGROUND RESERVATIONS

Anza Borrego
State Park
Official Site

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