Enjoying the Anza Borrego Desert
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Welcome to my favorite desert
Hi everyone! I decided to create this lens because this is one of my favorite areas that I travel to on a regular basis.
This is a great area about 80 miles from San Diego or about 50 miles or so from the Coachella Valley. A very large state park encompasses most of the area. I will try to put as much info that a new visitor would need to know when they visit this park. I will also include info for desert areas surrounding the park as well as for Borrego Springs, the town in the center of the park.
Visiting the Desert:
When visiting the desert, please keep the following in mind:
For one, please check in with local officials in regards to the conditions of the area you plan to visit.
Also, be sure to carry plenty of water and food to last you beyond the time period you plan to stay.
And, please be considerate of other visitors and residents. Pick up your trash, don't camp or trespass on private property, and keep noise levels to a minimum.
Just as a side note, there are WiFi services available now in the park. But, you have to be within 150 feet of the Ranger's office. WiFi may also be available at the Borrego Springs library located on the west side of the mall on Palm Canyon Drive.
Update:
It's been a while since I've been to the Anza-Borrego due to changes in my employment status and the rising cost of gas. Hopefully, I will be able to make it out there this year (2012) to see the wildflowers. In the meantime, enjoy my lens.
Anza-Borrego Links
- Park info and Links
- This is the California State Parks website for the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
- Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association
- This is the natural history association for the area. They also have links to other related information. I also like their store on Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs.
- Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce
- This is a site related to what to do in and around Borrego Springs, CA. It may also include activities within the park.
- The Anza - Borrego Foundation & Institute
- The Anza-Borrego Foundation is a non-profit organization supporting California State Parks by
acquiring land for the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park® through donation or purchase from willing sellers.
Important Phone Numbers
Numbers for park and desert info
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Info:
200 Palm Canyon Drive
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
(760) 767-5311
You can also call this number for sheep sightings. - Wildflower Hotline (Recorded): (760) 767-4684
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Campground reservations for Tamarisk Grove and Borrego Palm Canyon Campground:
(800) 444-7275 (Reserve America) -
Borrego Springs Chamber and Visitor's Center:
786 Palm Canyon Drive
Borrego Springs, CA 92004-0420
(800)559-5524
(760)767-5555
(760)767-5976 (fax)
'Tis the Season
Observations and Tips on the Current Season
It's winter! And, this year there seems to be a good amount of rain all over the desert and county. Let's hope for a good wildflower season. Wildflower season officially starts in March, but sometimes you can see flowers as early as late January or February all the way through May depending on rainfall, humidity, and temperature. My Last Trip
Description of my last trip to the area.
In June, as the weather was starting to heat up, I did a little birding around Ranchita all the way down into the center of town in Borrego Springs. In town, there were plenty of common birds you see at a lot of other places such as grackles, sparrows and doves as well as flycatchers and hummingbirds.I went up to Culp Valley to get a view of some really desert birds. Believe it or not, there are a lot of birds that hang around in the desert all year round without the help of artificial water sources. I found black-throated sparrows, cactus wrens and roadrunners very active in the middle of the day. I think I might have heard a quail moving around, too.
Tips for birding in the Anza-Borrego desert in the summer months: A good place to look for "natural" desert birds this time of year are in the higher elevations. Look for areas of lots of vegetation and springs within a mile or two. You'll find more birds around areas with a lot of their food and water they can easily access. Places like Culp Valley, Hellhole Canyon and Palm Canyon/Visitor's Center are excellent places to start. Avoid places with no vegetation like the Badlands or areas around the S-22. Coyote Canyon, usually a great birding spot for both desert and water birds, is closed from June 15 to September 15th to allow animals access to the water.
Be sure to bring plenty of cool, cool water if you plan to hike and only hike during the cooler hours of the day. You won't see a lot of birds in one place and may have to be patient and search around.

Wild Horse Sculptures by Breceda
Featured Photo!
Culp Valley in June

I took this in early June 2010
Books on the Anza-Borrego Desert
These are some of my favorites.
Darlene's Adventure Blog
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This is where you can write your comments and let me know what you think. It is also a place where you can make suggestions and ask questions.
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naheedahsan
Feb 17, 2012 @ 2:12 pm | delete
- good lens, thanks for sharing
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sukkran
Feb 14, 2012 @ 10:17 pm | delete
- visiting desert is quite an experience. thanks for sharing
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CruiseReady
Feb 10, 2012 @ 12:55 pm | delete
- It surely is an interesting looking area .... not at all like what we see here on the Florida coast!
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COUNTRYLUTHIER
Feb 4, 2012 @ 2:53 pm | delete
- The wild horse sculptures are off the chain. Very inviting lense. THanks for sharing.
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JoshK47
Jan 31, 2012 @ 2:46 pm | delete
- Looks like a beautiful place to visit. Thanks for sharing!
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by desertdarlene
Hi everyone! I am from Southern California, but was originally from Detroit where I spent a lot of my childhood. I like to travel around the desert ar... more »
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