Here is some general information that you will find useful when travelling
in the Anza Borrego Desert. Click here or hit your back button to return to the main Anza Borrego Desert page.
With over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the
largest state park in the contiguous United States. 500 miles
of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and miles of hiking trails
provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience
the wonders of the Colorado Desert. The park is named after
Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish name
borrego, or bighorn sheep. The park features washes, wildflowers,
palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have
the chance to see roadrunner, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule
deer and bighorn sheep as well as iguanas, chuckwallas and the
red diamond rattlesnake. Listening devices for the hearing
impaired are available in the visitor center.
California State Parks provides some of the best camping in
California. Each park offers a different experience including
walk-in environmental sites, full RV hook-ups, cabins, and even
floating campsites. Many campgrounds fill-up seven months ahead
so plan in advance. First-come first-served sites are available
at some parks. Call the park for information on first-come
first-served availability prior to arrival.
Contact Anza Borrego State Park at 760-767-5311.
You may check in any time after 2 pm on your reservation start
date. When you arrive, present your reservation voucher or
confirmation number and a form of photo identification.
If you arranged for a discount when you made your reservation,
proof of eligibility must be shown at this time.
Campsite assignments are made upon your arrival. If you reserve
2 sites, the park staff will try to assign adjacent campsites,
subject to availability.
Dogs must be kept on leashes no longer than 6' and in a tent or
enclosed vehicle at night. Except for guide dogs, pets are not
allowed in park buildings, on trails, or on most beaches.
Check out by noon on your departure date. Please leave the
campsite in good condition. The camper who follows you will
appreciate it.
Family Camping
Family campsites accommodate up to 8 people. They are developed
campsites with amenities that vary from park to park, and may
include fire pits or fire rings, picnic tables, showers, a water
supply, and a cleared area for your tent.
Each campground has a limit on the consecutive number of nights
a camper may stay. Once this consecutive night limit has been
reached, the campground must be vacated, and no one in the party
may return to camp in the same park for 48 hours.
A parent or guardian must accompany youths under 18 years of age.
The Supervising Ranger may approve the stay of a youth that
presents written consent from the parent or guardian that states
the dates of the authorized stay and the park name.
Fees include entry for 1 vehicle and 1 legally towed vehicle or
trailer.
A maximum of 2 licensed vehicles/autos, travel, boat, and utility
trailers-may be parked at most campsites.
Campers may stay in the same park up to 30 nights in a calendar
year.
Group Camping
Group campsites accommodate groups as small as 9 or as large as 100,
depending on the park. At some campgrounds, group sites can be
combined for larger groups. Your reservation agent can help you
with names and locations of these campgrounds.
Youth groups (under 18 years of age) must be accompanied by at least
1 adult for every 15 youths.
Stays are limited to 7 nights.
Environmental Camping
Environmental campsites are located in relatively undisturbed natural
settings. Each site has a table, a clearing for your tent, and a
primitive toilet nearby. Environmental campsite fees and hike-in
distances vary between parks.
Plan ahead to arrive at your campsite before dark.
