Anza Borrego Camping, Hiking, and Longboarding

An Anza Borrego camping trip is a great way to experience the southern California desert. Anza Borrego State Park offers great desert hiking opportunities, beautiful scenery, and a number of hills to longboard. Some of the best Anza Borrego hiking takes you from deep inside narrow meandering desert canyons to the top of vast scenic overlooks and wild palm oases. The state park is an amazing place and an Anza Borrego camping trip is an experience you will not forget!

Anza Borrego is the largest State Park in California, encompassing over 600,000 acres. Camping in Anza Borrego will treat you to endless hiking opportunities, a stunningly gorgeous night sky, and a peaceful feeling of solitude.

Click the links below to jump to specific information for planning your Anza Borrego camping trip:

• Anza Borrego Camping
• Under the Stars
• Hiking in Anza Borrego
• Anza Borrego Map
• Anza Borrego Weather
• Wildlife in Anza Borrego
• Anza Borrego Wildflowers
• Plants in Anza Borrego
• Longboarding in Anza Borrego
• Exploring the Park on Wheels
• Anza Borrego Visitor Center
• Borrego Springs
• Anza Borrego Hotels
• Anza Borrego Sculptures
• If Travelling Through the Area

Anza Borrego Camping

There are many ways to enjoy Anza Borrego camping. The state park provides a number of developed campgrounds, several primitive campgrounds, and a dispersed camping option. Depending on your camping style, Anza Borrego camping can provide you with amenities or allow you to find yourself back country camping in the middle of nowhere.

All of the developed campgrounds you’ll find while camping in Anza Borrego have picnic tables, fire rings, and drinking water. However, if you choose one of the less developed camping options, you will not find these features. Also, when it comes to amenities, the only notable differences between the eight primitive campgrounds is that Sheep Canyon Campground has picnic tables and shade ramadas and that Fish Creek Campground does have fire rings.

An important thing to note, all campfires in Anza Borrego State Park must be in a metal container. No ground fires are permitted.

Developed Campgrounds:

• Borrego Palm Canyon (122 sites)
  • Fee: $25 for non hookups; $35 for hookups
  • Toilets/Shower: Flush/Yes
  • Nearby: Visitor Center, Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail
• Tamarisk Grove (27 sites)
  • Fee: $25
  • Toilets/Shower: Flush/Yes
  • Nearby: Yaqui Well Nature Trail, Cactus Loop Trail
• Bow Willow (16 sites)
  • Fee: $15
  • Toilet/Shower: Vault/No
  • Nearby: Palm Bowl, Pygmy Grove
• Vern Whitaker Horse Camp (10 sites)
  • Fee: $30
  • Toilet/Shower: Flush/Yes
  • Nearby: Galleta Meadows, Alcoholic Pass

Primitive Campgrounds:

Camping in the Anza Borrego primitive campgrounds is an excellent camping option for individuals who can leave the amenities behind and immerse themselves in the desert camping experience. In short, primitive campgrounds are basically designated camping areas with vault toilets. Luckily, the primitive campgrounds are spread all throughout the park allowing for new hikes and experiences to enjoy at each one.

All of these primitive campgrounds are free and are available on a first come, first served basis with a calendar year limit of 30 days. A couple things to note; Mountain Palm Springs and Bow Will Primitive Campgrounds are not suitable for RV or passenger cars due to sand and Yaqui Pass Primitive Campground has no toilet.

• Culp Valley
  • Near: California Riding and Hiking Trail, Pena Springs
• Sheep Canyon
  • Near: Sheep Canyon Trail, Coyote Canyon
• Arroyo Salado
  • Near: Palm Slot, Calcite Mine, Pumpkin Patch
• Yaqui Pass
  • Near: Yaqui Ridge Peak, Tamarisk Grove, Lizard Wash
• Yaqui Well
  • Near: Tamarisk Grove, Cactus Loop, Yaqui Well Nature Trail
• Fish Creek
  • Near: Wind Caves Hike, Elephant Knees Interpretive Trail
• Blair Valley
  • Near: Pictograph Trail, Ghost Mountain, Smuggler’s Canyon
• Mt. Palm Springs
  • Near: Mary’s Grove, Pygmy Grove, Bow Willow Campground

Dispersed Camping:

Another wonderful option for an Anza Borrego camping experience is dispersed camping. This is a great free option for campers that can leave all of the amenities behind. This option in particular really gives you the freedom to find your perfect spot! Dispersed camping in Anza Borrego allows one to choose a campsite all throughout the park as long as the following rules are observed:

• All vehicles must stay on established roads. (dirt, sandy wash, paved)
• Vehicles must be parked no more than one vehicle length off the road.
• Camp at least 100 feet away from water sources.
• No ground fires; all fires must be in a metal container.
• Bring your own firewood as gathering is not allowed.
• Pack it in, pack it out.

And of course, make sure you are prepared for your Anza Borrego camping adventure! There are multiple areas in the park where you can pick up drinking water but be sure to carry enough with you when you are at the primitive campgrounds, dispersed camping or out on a hike!

Also, keep in mind that the cell phone service throughout the park is spotty at best but prepare for your trip by assuming that you may have none. That being said, service is most likely near the town of Borrego Springs, not far from the Anza Borrego Visitor Center.

Under the Desert Stars

As you can see, Anza Borrego camping has been made easy with all of the different camping options in the park. Once you have worked out the camping details for the night, be sure to really look up at the desert night sky, let your eyes adjust and take it all in. The 600,000 acres of undeveloped desert really allows you to see a very special night sky. Anza Borrego State Park has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park and Borrego Springs has been designated as an International Dark Sky Community. Indeed a dark night sky is beautiful sight, and it’s also a treat to experience the desert when it is illuminated by the full moon.

If you want to get involved in stargazing programs, check out the Borrego Dark Sky Coalition website. There you can find information on multiple stargazing methods and hosts available in the Borrego Springs area. You can also click here for a PDF download that lists the Astronomical Programs in Borrego Springs throughout the year.

Hiking in Anza Borrego

Anza Borrego State Park is HUGE and the geology is incredible. Which means that the hiking is unique and exciting. With over 600,000 acres of protected land, the hiking opportunities are endless.

When we first started planning our Anza Borrego camping trip, we realized there was a lot to see. The state park brochure was a great place to start figuring out which hikes to check out but I found another source to be of a lot of help. Carla and Fred at borregohiking.com did a great job of breaking the park up into separate areas and then they gave a wealth of information for each area. They really know the park and provided more information than I could have asked for! To check out their website click here.

In addition to those two resources, once we arrived in the park we realized that the geology and terrain is so fascinating that trailheads and hiking recommendations were not really necessary. If you pick a pullout or a wash almost anywhere in the park and just start walking and let your curiosity guide you, you won’t be disappointed. Just remember to always carry a compass and be well aware of your surroundings.

Here is a list of 10 of our favorite hikes in the park!

Calcite Mine

• This hike leads to an area that was a mine and there is still plenty of calcite shards and pieces all around. There are also opportunities to explore canyons, dry falls and other cool geologic formations. If you decide to explore high enough you can also catch a view of the Salton Sea.
• The hike is 4 miles round trip for the mine but you can add on as much additional exploring as you’d like!
• Park on Highway S-22 near mile marker 38, walk up the jeep road or walk west and follow Palm Wash

Truck Haven

• This is a cool canyon hike with segments of high walls on either side of you and some segments where the canyon narrows a bit. It’s super fun to follow the canyon as it meanders and check out the awesome geology as you go.
• The hike can be made into a loop that is 6 miles round trip or you can see what captures your attention and check out any side exploring that strikes your curiosity.
• Park on Highway S-22 near mile marker 35.5

Quartz Vein Wash

• The hike starts by following Quartz Vein wash until it forks. If you take the left fork the trail goes up a rocky canyon, with some steep walls, some narrow sections, and plenty of obstacles and dry falls to make it memorable. Keep an eye out for Borregos!
• We stumbled upon this wash without knowing about it and really enjoyed the scrambling and the obstacles. We followed the wash and then the canyon for about 2 miles before turning back.
• Turn into the wash from Highway 78, just east of the marked Narrows Earth Interpretive Trail, about 4.8 miles from Tamarisk Grove.

Blow Sand Canyon (4×4 recommended)

• This hike has a tall sand dune, the wash has awesome rock walls, and there are numerous side canyons to follow as in as far as you’d like (or as far as they go) with cool obstacles, some narrow canyons and dry falls to check out too!
• We did not set out on this hike with intentions but rather went to explore the area. As we followed the main wash or canyon we took many side canyons and then when we felt satisfied we returned the way we came.
• From Highway 78 west, turn left on Buttes Pass Road, go right at the Y intersection, at Goat Trail crossing continue downhill, pass Hawk Canyon on left, once in the San Felipe Wash turn right, turn right onto first signed road and park along the trail.

Mudcaves

• Be very careful if you choose to explore these caves and do so at your own risk. On this hike you can expect to find numerous crumbly mud caves in larger mud mounds. Some of the mud erosion produced caves of varying sizes, arches, and tunnels. There are many to be found along the main wash and even more if you take the side canyons, some of which get really narrow.
• The distance of this hike depends on how much of the mud cave area you wish to see! We followed the main wash while also turning into side canyons as we went until we decided to call it a day.
• From Highway S-2 at mile 43 turn onto Palm Spring, turn left at Arroyo Tapiado crossing, park along dirt road

The Slot

• This hike takes you down into a fun narrow canyon with high walls on either side of you! It is a fun little hike with lots of opportunity for photos. It is also the hike in the park that we saw the most people.
• According to the visitor center, the Slot hike is 1.5 miles. We chose to continue following a wash and admired the tall walls and gorgeous desert features as it meandered this way and that before returning the way we came.
• From Highway 78 west, turn left on Buttes Pass Road, stay left at the Y intersection, drive 0.8 miles and park here

Windcaves

• This trail leads to unique hollowed out caves on big rock formations, a great view of the badlands down below, and sea floor fossils all around you!
• For this hike we actually followed a trail, a very beautiful one I must say! The hike is 5 miles round trip with lots of fun exploring to do once you reach the caves.
• Take Highway S-22 east, turn left onto a dirt road marked 093 near mile marker 57, follow the 093 and park at the trailhead

Maidenhair Falls

• This hike takes you up through a rocky canyon with beautiful clusters of palm trees and a waterfall at the end! The amount of water here is variable.
• This hike is 6 miles round trip. The trail can be slow going as the best route is not always obvious and there’s some rock scrambling as well.
• Turn right on Highway S-2 from the Visitor Center, go 2.2 miles to parking area on right

Sin Nombre Canyon

• Here you can find lots of canyons, some with tall walls and some narrow ones. There are a lot of side canyons to explore here too. There are also some really cool looking rocks.
• This hike can be done as a 12 mile loop but once again we just parked and explored the wash and the side canyons.
• Park at mile 51.3 Sin Nombre on Highway S-2

Indian Gorge to Torote Canyon

• This canyon is pretty wide and rocky with high walls and we saw Borregos here as well. When we took the Torote Canyon split, we saw our first Elephant Tree! From Indian Canyon you can also walk to the Mountain Palm Springs area and the palm groves that are there. They are beautiful.
• Roughly 1.5 to the Elephant Tree sign and you can definitely keep exploring from there.
• Take Highway S-2 toward the Mountain Palm Springs area, at mile 46 turn onto Indian Gorge, follow to the entrance of the canyon and park

As you can see, there is a lot of unique, fun and beautiful hiking to do in Anza Borrego. There’s a hike for everyone here, with good ranges of distance, trail structure and sights! Here’s more sights and things to do while checking out Anza Borrego:

Interpretive Trails

Be sure to walk the Interpretive trails on your Anza Borrego camping trip. Interpretive Trails are self guided trails that usually have a signs or numbers posted throughout the trail. Along with these numbers, there is usually a pamphlet or some sort of literature with information that correlate with the signed or numbered thing on the trail. This is a great way to learn and understand the desert as you’re experiencing it.

• Visitor Center Interpretive Trail: 0.25
• Narrows Earth Geologic Trail: 0.5 mile loop
• Cactus Loop Trail: 1.0 mile loop
• Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail: 3.0 miles round trip
• Elephant Tree Discovery Trail: 1.0 mile loop
• ‘Ehmuu-Morteros Trail: 0.6 mile roundtrip
• Yaqui Well Nature Trail: 1.6 miles roundtrip

Palm Grove Trails

While in the park, don’t miss seeing a natural Palm Oasis. There are several hikes in the park that lead to beautiful groves of tall palm trees. These big palm trees in the middle of the desert are a sign of water, whether it be a spring or a pool in the watershed system.

Here is a list of some of the palm groves that we set out to see on our Anza Borrego camping trip.

• Seventeen Palms: 4WD or hike 3.6 miles from Arroyo Salado Campground
• Hellhole Canyon/Maidenhair Falls: 6.0 miles roundtrip
• Five Palms: 4WD or hike 4.3 miles from Arroyo Salado Campground
• Palm Bowl: 2.0 miles roundtrip
• Southwest Grove: 2.0 miles roundtrip
• Pygmy Grove: 1.0 mile roundtrip

Overlooks

There are a number of beautiful scenic overlooks you can check out on your Anza Borrego camping trip.

These scenic overlooks are usually pretty short hikes that will take you to a breathtaking vista. For example, some of these hikes are about a mile long, and some are just steps from the parking area. Here is a list of some of the overlooks.

• Font’s Point: parking 200 feet from overlook
• Panoramic Overlook Hike: 1.0 mile roundtrip
• Carrizo Badlands Overlook: view from turnoff
• Bill Kenyon Overlook Trail: 1.0 mile loop

Anza Borrego Map

There are several entrances to Anza Borrego State Park. Getting to and from Anza Borrego will depend on where you’re coming from. If you are coming from the west (either LA or San Diego), Google will advise you to take Montezuma Valley Road. This is the same road that I mention later as being an extreme downhill longboard route. That being said, for those towing a trailer just note that the hill is about 10 miles long with an average 6.1% grade. According to the Anza Borrego State Park website, the maximum trailer length is 35 ft.

Here is a complete map of Anza Borrego State Park. This map comes from the official California Department of Parks and Recreation. You can click here to download the full size pdf of the park map and brochure.

Anza Borrego Weather

Anza Borrego weather is hard to beat, especially in the winter. The 600,000 acre park reaches almost to the Mexico border and being that far south really makes it a great place for people trying to find warmth in winter. There aren’t too many places in the states where camping would be comfortable in January! Although the nights can get chilly, it’s nothing that a cozy sleeping bag can’t fix. In the summer the temperatures are above the 90 and 100 degree marks. The desert sun will not let you forget it either!

Generally, the best time of the year to experience Anza Borrego weather and avoid the scorching temperatures would be between October and May. So then the busy season typically runs from November to March.

Check out the climate data below! The data is grouped not by the usual seasons but by months that have the most similar lows and highs.

December-February: 65/45

March-May: 82/58

June-September: 101/76

October-November: 80/58

As you can see, Anza Borrego weather allows for year round adventures but even more so when it’s cold to adventure elsewhere!

Wildlife in Anza Borrego

The word Borrego in the name Anza Borrego is referring to the endangered peninsular bighorn sheep that can be found within the state park. Because of this, the state park strives to protect the parks’ Borregos as well as protect their habitat. The two main threats that the Borregos are facing are loss of habitat as well as mountain lion predation.

The Borregos can often be found standing on the sides of rocky canyon walls and oftentimes near water sources. It is amazing to see these large animals standing on steep and rocky cliffs with ease! Even when they do lose their footing or a rock falls from under their feet, they just nonchalantly move their feet to another spot and go about their business. In the summer months especially, the Borregos can also be spotted near water sources. They are truly majestic looking animals and one feels lucky to spot them in their rugged habitat.

There is an annual bighorn sheep count done within the park. Last year, in 2018, that count was 225 Borregos.

In addition to the endangered, majestic Borregos, lots of other wildlife can be found in the state park. Here’s a list of some of the animals you might see.

• black tailed jack rabbits
• kangaroo rats
• roadrunners
• antelope squirrels
• desert cottontail rabbits
• mule deer
• mountain lions
• coyotes
• desert kit fox

Anza Borrego Wildflowers

The Anza Borrego wildflowers are yet another unique experience that this state park has to offer. The yearly display of wildflowers varies from year to year but they typically begin blooming in late February or early March.

The quantity of wildflowers, when exactly to see them and how long they’ll stick around all depend on many different factors. Some of these factors being the amount of winter rainfall, winter temperatures, hot dry wind, and caterpillars. Regardless of the yearly fluctuations, seeing life in the harsh conditions of the barren desert is a beautiful thing and an impressive sight.

The Anza Borrego State Park website does a nice job of keeping the public informed as the wildflowers begin blooming, peaking and when they are no longer in bloom. Also on the website you can find the best wildflower blooming locations, directions to these locations, and a summary of which types of wildflowers you can expect to see. The state park website also suggests joining the nonprofit Anza-Borrego Foundation email list for yearly wildflower updates.

Plants in Anza Borrego

In addition to the wildflowers, there are many other amazing plants that miraculously thrive and survive in the extreme desert conditions.

There are sixteen native cactus species in Anza Borrego State Park. Some of the cacti that you will probably see while camping in Anza Borrego include:

• Cholla (several variations)
• Hedgehog cactus
• Barrel cactus
• Fishhook cactus
• Beavertail cactus

It’s not just the cactus that can survive these desert conditions! Here’s a list of some other plants that can be seen in the park:

• Ocotillo
• Creosote
• California Fan Palms
• Mesquite
• Catclaw
• Desert Agave
• California Juniper
• Cottonwood
• Yucca

Longboarding in Anza Borrego

When preparing for your Anza Borrego camping adventure, be sure to bring your longboard along! Anza Borrego State Park is a beautiful place to hop on your longboard and cruise. The park provides plenty of open road with minimal amounts of traffic. The surface of the roads is not super smooth, but definitely not unbearable on a longboard.

When longboarding around Anza Borrego I would suggest using soft wheels to make the ride a bit smoother. Longboarding Anza Borrego is fun because there is a variety of different places to board, from flat desert roads and mellow downhills to some extreme downhill runs.

I was able to longboard around the park as well as longboard around Borrego Springs. Riding around the town of Borrego Springs was fun because there was smooth pavement and a slight downhill through town and through some of the surrounding neighborhoods. There was also a big parking lot by the library that was smooth and slightly downhill.

Arroyo Salado Hill

This is one of the first hills I was able to ride my longboard down in Anza Borrego. This run was a section of the S2 close to the Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground. This was a short and mellow downhill run that made you feel like you were truly in the middle of nowhere. Click here to see more information and pictures of this hill.

Yaqui Pass

Traveling south from Borrego Springs, you can take Yaqui Pass road uphill to Yaqui Pass. From here you can skate this road downhill in either direction from the pass. I longboarded Yaqui Pass road going north from the pass. This was a 16 mile downhill run through the vast Anza Borrego Desert. You can check out all the pictures and more details about this run here.

Anza Borrego also offers a number of hills suitable for very advanced longboarders. Going south from the Yaqui Pass is a much shorter, steeper, faster, and more dangerous run but for a very experienced rider this would be a very fun run.

Montezuma Valley Road

Montezuma Valley Road is a road coming east into Borrego Springs from Ranchita. Starting from the top, this 10+ mile downhill run will knock your socks off. Only someone who is VERY experienced should even think about longboarding down this hill. The elevation change for this hill is an astonishing 4000 feet! The hill has many switch backs and blind turns. I did not attempt this run, but the longboarder in me wanted to.

Check the labeled map below to see where these longboard runs are in the park!

Exploring the Park on Wheels

Longboarding in Anza Borrego is one way to explore the State Park on wheels but of course there are more options as well! Read on for a couple more methods of seeing this beautiful area.

Off Roading

Anza Borrego has miles of dirt roads and sandy washes, many of which require four wheel drive and some requiring high clearance. Exploration of the state park via established primitive roads and washes is the best way to see the park! But Anza Borrego State Park is closed to off road recreation and all vehicles must be highway legal.

If you are looking for areas in the park to use your 4×4 or even if you’re looking for places in the park that have suitable two wheel drive conditions, click here. This link takes you to a state park site that has park road conditions and is updated often.

There are also opportunities nearby for off-highway vehicle usage. There are large areas of BLM land to the south and the east of the state park boundaries where off -highway vehicles are welcome. Additionally, to the east of Borrego Springs is Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area.

Ocotillo Wells SVRA is operated by a division of the California State Parks. This area is open year round and has 85,000 acres open to off-highway exploration. There are no fees to use this area, as well as no fees for dispersed camping throughout this area. The camping limit for this area is 30 days per calendar year. Water is not available here so bring what you need with you. Ocotillo Wells has some free primitive camping areas that have vault toilets, shade ramadas, picnic tables, and fire rings. These locations include: Main Street, Quarry, and Holmes camp areas.

For more information or some suggested off-highway exploration routes check out the Ocotillo Wells SVRA website!

Biking

Anza Borrego is a bike friendly park. It has routes that are good for mountain biking, cycling, and fat tire biking. In general, bikes are not allowed on hiking trails unless they are specifically designated as bike trails. The routes and conditions in the park vary from paved roads to sandy roads and washes to rocky jeep trails, but you can bet that none of the routes lack in the scenery department!

For biking in the park, bikes are allowed wherever vehicles are allowed. Do not go off the designated roads or trails and obey all traffic laws.

Check out Desert USA’s suggestions for biking in Anza Borrego State Park by clicking here.

Anza Borrego Visitor Center

The Anza Borrego Visitor Center is very nice and informative. To begin with, around the Visitor Center there is a desert garden that gets you familiar with some of the plant species you can find throughout the park. Here, you will also have the opportunity to see a pupfish pond. Once inside of the visitor center you will find numerous exhibits that teach you more about the parks geology and history as well as rangers that can point you in the right direction and answer your questions.

The Anza Borrego Visitor Center is a nice place to stop for restroom facilities and drinking water. It is also a good idea to stop here to stock up on any information about the park that you might need.

Getting to the Anza Borrego Visitor Center:

The Visitor Center is two miles west of the town of Borrego Springs. If you follow Palm Canyon Road heading east, the visitor center is at the end. If you’re coming into the park on the S22, turn left at the T intersection and follow it until it ends at the Visitor Center parking lot.

Hours of Operation:

• October-May: open daily 9-5
• June-September: open weekends and holidays only

Anza Borrego State Park Fees:

According to the State Park website, there is a $10 per vehicle day use fee collected at the visitor center on weekends, Friday through Sunday, and on holidays. The Borrego Palm Canyon Trail, which is accessed via the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, also requires a $10 per vehicle day use fee to access it. Besides those fees and the developed campground fees, access to the majority of the park as well as all of the other camping options are free.

Park Events

When planning a trip to Anza Borrego State Park, check out what kind of seasonal programs and events are going on. For example, park volunteers and park specialists host interactive programs such as guided hikes, junior hikes, nature walks, campfire talks, night sky discussions and more. Check out Anza Borrego’s Park Events site to find out more about the upcoming events in the park.

Borrego Springs

Borrego Springs is a small town that is completely surrounded by Anza Borrego State Park. As you’re driving through town you’ll notice that there are no traffic lights though, there is a roundabout that is a local landmark and is called Christmas Circle. There is parking on the inside of the roundabout against the curbs and inside of the roundabout area is a little park. Here, you’ll find a grassy area with picnic tables, palm trees, restrooms and WIFI. It’s a nice area to stop and have a picnic while in town restocking on gas and supplies.

The town is a good place (if not the only place) to stock up on supplies while exploring the park. There are small markets, a couple gas stations, RV parks, hotels, golf courses, a library and restaurants here as well.

Some restaurants in the Borrego Springs:

• Carlee’s Place: serves burgers and bar bites, has a pool table
• El Borrego Restaurant: mexican food, has patio seating
• Kendall’s Cafe: american food
• Red Ocotillo: american diner, organic garden outside
• Kesling’s Kitchen: mediterranean, pizza, has outdoor seating

Anza Borrego Hotels

If camping isn’t your thing or maybe you just need to switch it up there are other options that cover a broad range of tastes, amenities, and prices. All of the options listed below have a pool and all are within 8 miles from the Borrego Springs city center.

For a desert resort experience, check out:

• La Casa del Zorro Resort: 760-767-0100
• Borrego Springs Resort and Spa: 760-767-5700

Or check out these hotels:

• The Palms at Indian Head: 760-767-7788
• Stanlunds Inn and Suites: 760-767-5501
  
• Borrego Valley Inn: 760-767-0311
• Oasis Inn Borrego: 760-767-5409

If you’re interested in an RV Resort:

• Palm Canyon Hotel and RV Resort: 760-767-5341
• The Springs at Borrego: 760-767-0004

Anza Borrego Sculptures

Over 130 fascinating giant metal sculptures are tucked in and around the Borrego Springs area. As you’re exploring the area you can find prehistoric animals sculptures, desert themed sculptures, historic sculptures. This collection of artwork is known as Galleta Meadows and is an absolute must see area attraction!

Galleta Meadows is made up of privately owned parcels of land which is free and accessible to the public year round. The landowner, Dennis Avery, commissioned artist Ricardo Breceda for the imaginative sculptures.

The sculptures are spread out nicely and it feels almost like a game as you walk, bike, or drive along and notice more and more of them. There is a free map of the sculptures names and locations that you can pick up at the Anza Borrego State Park Visitor Center.

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If Travelling Through the Area

As you can see, the desert is an interesting place. There are many unique things to see and interesting experiences to be had in the desert. Here is a list of some of the other unique places southern the California desert has to offer:

• Joshua Tree National Park
• Mojave National Preserve
• The Salton Sea
• Palm Springs
• And a bunch of skate parks!
  • Sidewinder Skate park in El Centro
  • Civic Center Skate Park in Palm Desert
  • Alliance Skate Park in Palm Springs
  • Venice Beach
  • Alondra Park in LA

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