Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: A SoCal stop worth making

Adding a desert into your vacation plan doesn’t always seem like a great idea but Anza-Borrego is an exception.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a prime example of this. In a state filled with epic and unique National Parks, Anza-Borrego is a state park that stands out thanks to its natural beauty. It’s a refreshing change from the cities and theme parks of SoCal.

The park was established in 1933 and encompasses close to 600,000 acres of land. Anza comes from Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza who traveled through the region in 1774. Borrego is the Spanish word for sheep and is a reference to the local bighorn sheep population.

Take the drive

Located two hours outside of San Diego, the drive to Anza-Borrego is half the fun. There are a few paths to and from the park, depending on where you’re headed. The road out to the adventure is in and of itself an adventure.

Nearby mountain ranges provide entirely different terrain and vegetation. The desert basin is surrounded by two ranges in particular. To the north, there are the Santa Rosa Mountains and the Vallecito Mountains to the south. There’s a lot to see in that surrounding area, too.

There are a variety of small towns, each offering its own charming features. That doesn’t take into account all the farms, many of which have roadside stalls selling their wares. Stopping for a refreshing glass of camel’s milk and a strip of rattlesnake jerky certainly puts an interesting spin on the day.

This is one of the most underappreciated scenic drives in California. And this is a state filled with absolutely gorgeous natural scenery. But the most fun part about the drive is how quickly that scenery changes.

Sculptures

One of the most striking and surprising features of Anza-Borrego is a series of statues alongside Borrego Springs Road. What started as artist Ricardo Breceda being commissioned to make a few sculptures for one person exploded into a massive installation.

Now, there are over 130 large sculptures made from reclaimed metal. From birds to dinosaurs to assorted mammals, this incredible assortment is a sight to behold. One incredibly impressive statue is of a serpent that measures over 350 feet in length.

Anza-Borrego

The first stop is the park’s visitor’s center. Keeping in mind that this is a desert, heat can be a big issue. The visitor’s center is actually partially underground as a form of natural air conditioning. Depending on nature and the time of year, there’s a lot of things to do in the park. The staff can help you figure out what’s the best, and safest, thing to do.

The Borrego Badlands is a picturesque feature. It’s sculpted, parched landscapes and vistas are gorgeous, and best viewed from Font’s Point. But it’s important to remember that there are more than a few spots to enjoy this park.

That being said, large portions of the park are difficult to access. There are rough roads that are best driven with 4X4s with a high clearance. The other option is hiking, keeping in mind that this is a desert and you should plan accordingly.

A night visit to the park is also incredibly satisfying. The closest community, Borrego Springs, was California’s first International Dark Sky Community. Light pollution is minimal at best in the park, offering some of the best stargazing around.

There’s also a surprisingly diverse range of wildlife to spot. In addition to the bighorn sheep, a variety of birds and mammals call the park home, including mountain lions. You’ll also spot several reptile species. Just watch out for red diamond rattlesnakes.