Borrego Springs, California Chamber of Commerce touts that the only stoplight is 50 miles away. The lifestyle is unique and the open space expansive. This is an area where it can be very hot in the summer so take plenty of water when you head out. See more California City Parks

Borrego Springs, CA - Anza Borrego State Park


Anza-Borrego Desert State Park comes alive with stunning flowers that bloom in the spring time.

The park spans 900 square miles and is comprised of over 650,000 acres. Hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, 12 wilderness areas and many species of wildlife such as golden eagles, mule deer and big horn sheep co-exist with visiting humans in this wonderland.

Located in eastern San Diego County, with portions extending east into Imperial County and north into Riverside County, it takes 2 hours to drive to Borrego Springs from San Diego, Riverside, and Palm Springs and approx. 3 hours to get there from Disneyland. Approach from the east or west via Highways S22 and 78. From the coast, these highways descend from the heights of the Peninsular range of mountains with spectacular views of the great bowl of the Colorado Desert. Highway S2 enters the park from the south off of Interstate 8.

Festivals in Borrego Springs include: Circle of Art in March, Peg Leg Liar's Contest at Peg Leg Smith Monument in April, Cinco de Mayo in May and Borrego Days Desert Festival, the last week in October. The festival includes a parade, the Miss Borrego Pageant, a carnival, live music, arts and crafts.

Peg Leg Smith Monument celebrates a Gold Rush character named Thomas Long Smith or Peg Leg Smith. Peg Leg Smith was a prospector and story teller unmatched by most who knew him during the early to mid-1800s.

Smith claimed he found pure gold nuggets in the Borrego Springs' hidden hills. Though his golden treasure was lost somewhere in the hills where he could not find it, today you can remember him by throwing rocks on a pile near the marker that commemorates this character. The stone monument and plaque says, Let those who seek Peg Leg's gold add ten rocks to this pile. You can find this monument on Pegleg Road exit to Henderson Canyon Road a few miles from the Borrego Springs Airport on Highway 22.

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