Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a large state park in southern California that protects desert landscapes in the Colorado Desert region. The park covers roughly six hundred thousand acres and is the largest state park in California.

Highlight features include badlands and eroded clay formations, the palm oasis at Borrego Palm Canyon, extensive hiking trails and numerous dirt roads for high-clearance vehicles. Seasonal wildflower displays can attract large numbers of visitors after wet winters, and the park offers opportunities for birding, stargazing and desert geology study.

The park takes its name from Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish word borrego for bighorn sheep, a species native to the area. It lies east of the coastal mountain ranges, with the nearest population center and service town at Borrego Springs within park boundaries.

• Size: Designated as California's largest state park, covering roughly six hundred thousand acres of desert terrain.
• Wildflower season: Wildflower blooms can transform large areas of the park in late winter to spring following sufficient winter rainfall; timing and intensity vary year to year.

What to See #

• Borrego Palm Canyon: Borrego Palm Canyon contains a desert palm oasis and hiking trails that lead to a stand of native California fan palms within the park.
• Font's Point: Font's Point offers a prominent viewpoint over the park's badlands with expansive views across eroded clay badlands and valley floors.
• Visitor Center: The park's Visitor Center in Borrego Springs provides maps, trail information and exhibits on local natural history and cultural heritage.