"Anza Borrego" Top 5 Page for this destination Anza-Borrego Desert State Park by Echo_29

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Travel Guide: 37 reviews and 102 photos

Borrego Badlands - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Austere Enchantment

Anza Borrego can seem monochromatic and sparse but wander down one of the many deep canyons in the Badlands and every twist will open up new sculpted vistas.

This California state park does not have a developed paved road network like many of the national desert parks. Most of the sights can only be seen on dirt roads and in dry washes. A 4 x 4 vehicle is highly reccomended. With the heavy rains in the winter of 2004-2005 there are landslides blocking canyons and rough conditions that only a skilled off road driver with a built-up truck can make. Ask at the visitors center about the current road conditions before attempting to explore the park.

Mud Hills and Deep Canyon Washes

Smoke Trees and Mud Hills

Wandering through the Anza Borrego Desert you can see a landscape made up of alluvial fans, plateaus, stark mountain ranges and the badlands. It is subtler than Joshua Tree National Park but look closely and you will become smitten with the harsh beauty.

Geology Unfolds

Canyon sin Nombre

Erosion in the Badlands exposes layers of different stratas in the steep walls of the canyons.

Pros and Cons

Pros:A desert Unlike the Others
Cons:Need a 4 x 4 to fully explore the region
In a nutshell:Desolation close to Urban Living

Last visit to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Feb 2005
Intro Updated Feb 12, 2005
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Reviews (23)

Encelia Blooms & Ocotillos - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Visit During Wildflower Season Things to Do (10)

Look at our travelogue for wildflower examples. It is worth a trip out to Anza Borrego to see the park covered in... more travel advice

Anza Borrego Sunrise - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Get Up Early for the Sunrise 2 Things to Do (10)

If there are high clouds out, the bounced light can be spectacular. more travel advice

Sunrise at Borrego Springs - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Get Up Early for the Sunrise Things to Do (10)

The sunsets are rich in color and so are the sunrises. Different mountains light up with orange and pink light to the... more travel advice

Deep Water Crossing - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Coyote Creek Water Crossings Transportation (4)

When you drive up Coyote Canyon take care in checking out how deep the final water crossing is. It varies during the... more travel advice

Travelogues (1)

Written Feb 12, 2005

7 photos

Wildflower Season

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Comments (3)

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tiger9090a Feb 7, 2006 at 9:39 AM

Great page! Your photo of the sunrise at Borrego Springs is stunning!
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Yubert Feb 12, 2005 at 2:29 PM

Great transportation tips. I like the desert and must come back and check out the rest of the pics & tips!
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karenincalifornia Feb 12, 2005 at 10:43 AM

What a beautiful place! I see you have a fine appreciation of the deserts. Thanks for sending me the link to your flower photos. They were stunning! You are a very good photographer.