By Randy Kalp | SDUN Travel Writer
With the onset of May gray, now is the time to head east to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in Borrego Springs.
From now until late May, desert wildflowers are in bloom, splashing bold colors against baked soil in the state park’s canyons. Anza Borrego’s annual spring wildflower displays range from micro to macro—tiny petals of deep blue on the Indigo Bush to massive blooming Barrel cacti. The park is also prolific with Chuparosa, Desert Lavender, Creosote Bush and Apricot Mallow, as well as many other varieties indigenous desert flowers.
With more than 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California’s largest state park. It features 12 wilderness areas, 500 miles of dirt roads and an abundance of hiking trails, including a section of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. Just 85 miles from San Diego, Anza-Borrego is less than one tank of gas (round trip) away. It also has the distinction of being the only state park in California to allow free camping in any section of the park, except designated campgrounds, which cost $25 per night.
If you choose to stay at a designated campsite, the Borrego Palm Canyon campground, at the base of the Borrego Palm Canyon trial, is perfect for RVs, tents or car campers. And because of its relationship to the hiking trail, the campground is ideal for wildflower enthusiasts.
Borrego Palm Canyon trail is one of the easiest ways to reach the canyon wildflowers. Ascending into a v-shaped gorge, the trail is a fairly easy three-mile (round trip) hike that follows a seasonal stream to one of largest palm oases in California. Just above the oasis is a grotto alongside which cold water plummets from a gushing waterfall—a refreshing juxtaposition to miles of arid earth beyond. In addition to wildflowers, Anza-Borrego is also home to a variety of wildlife. Some of the state park’s most notable animals include golden eagles, roadrunners and the red diamond rattle snake, as well as the elusive “Borrego,” or bighorn sheep, which frequent the Borrego Palm Canyon.
First-time visitors to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park will benefit by stopping by the Visitors Center, which is about a mile from the Borrego Palm Canyon campground. Current information about the wildflowers and interactive guided tours is available, and park rangers provide information about camping in the park, including tips and suggestions for setting up a free camp spot. Starting May 1, the Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Monday, but closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
