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 Trail 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:
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 |
200'? |
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.
Primitive Camping
|
The only park in the whole state that allows open camping throughout the huge 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
|