Anza Borrego Desert State Park

California's largest state park, Anza-Borrego sits on 600,000 acres of slot canyons and badlands. It's a snowbird's paradise, home to four scenic golf courses, beautiful desert trails and awesome off-road adventures.

Fall through spring is the best time to visit Borrego Springs, which is the park's town center. This is when temperatures dip from summer highs of 120 down to a comfortable 70 to 80 degrees.

When you arrive, check out the visitors center, which is located just above town. This is a great place to learn about the native flora and fauna, take in a geology lesson, or enjoy a short stroll to the desert pupfish pond. These endangered fish can live in water three times as salty as the ocean and up to 120 degrees in heat! The Visitors Center is open from 9-5 daily (November through April) and on weekends from May through October.

Borrego Palm Canyon is one of the area's most popular hikes, clocking in at 3 miles round-trip. Allow roughly 2 hours for the journey, which begins at the Visitor Center and ends at a natural palm oasis. If you're lucky, you may spot some of the desert's native bighorn sheep. On the hike to Alma Wash, you can check out the rare elephant trees, which were discovered here in 1937.

Cycling is a great way to see the Anza Borrego desert, and many bike rentals are available in town. One of the best bike rides for beginners is along Borrego Springs and Henderson Roads, where you can view the famous Sky Art of artist Ricardo Breceda. More than 130 sculptures line the highway of Galleta Meadows Estates, which is owned by Avery label creator, Dennis Avery. Many of the metal sculptures resemble animals that once roamed the Anza-Borrego Desert, ranging from saber-toothed tigers to Mammoths and sloths. A metal sculpture of Juan Bautista de Anza sits outside the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce.

If you have a four-wheel drive, head out to popular locations like Ocotillo Wells, Blair Valley, Split Mountain and Sheep Canyon. Dry camping is free throughout the park, or you can book a traditional campsite for a fee in the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground through ReserveAmerica.

The Springs at Borrego RV Resort offers individual hot mineral springs. Photo by Veronica Hill / CaliforniaTravelExpert.com

For a more pampering experience, stay in one of the hotels or RV resorts in Borrego Springs. Palm Canyon Resort gets rave reviews, but my personal pick is the Springs at Borrego RV Resort, where you can enjoy a round of golf beneath the Santa Rosa mountains, enjoy some catch-and-release fishing on the golf course, or go swimming in their 85-degree pool and hot mineral springs. A small onsite store sells a variety of nice California wines, and the guest services center offers everything from massages and Tai Chi to birdwatching and family campfire programs. During our undercover visit, we found everything to be immaculate, and the staff was extremely helpful and friendly.

The desert's remote location makes it an ideal spot for stargazing. In fact, Borrego Springs hosts dozens of astronomy events throughout the year, and was California's first International Dark Sky community. For a great introductory lesson to desert astronomy, check out the Visitors Center's 1-hour "Stargazing with Binoculars" talk.

Additional interpretive programs include hikes to the Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves, paleontology lectures in the Discovery Lab, botanical lectures about local wildlflowers and ocotillo plants, and sunset/moonlight hikes. There is a fee for some programs, so be sure to call (760) 767-4205 for details.

What to pack for a desert hike
When traveling through the desert, be prepared. Make sure you have plenty of drinking water, chapstick, sunscreen, and a map. Wear light-colored clothing, hats and sunglasses, and be sure to tell friends and family where you are going. It's also a good idea to carry along a pair of tweezers for removing cactus prickles.

Resources:
Download the Anza Borrego Desert State Park Map or Campground Map.
Read the state park magazine.
Wildflower Watch: (760) 767-4684
Web: Visit them online

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