Experience California’s Largest State Park This Winter

As cooler desert temperatures settle in, winter marks the beginning of peak season at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park—California’s largest and most biodiverse desert state park. Spanning 650,000 acres just 90 minutes east of San Diego, Anza-Borrego offers a rare chance to explore vast desert valleys, palm oases, winding slot canyons, and rugged, snow-topped mountain peaks—all within a day’s drive of much of Southern California.

From fall through spring, the desert comes alive with opportunity. Whether you’re hiking through a palm canyon, gazing at a star-filled sky, or learning from expert naturalists, winter is one of the most rewarding times to experience this extraordinary landscape.

As the official nonprofit partner to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, we offer guided hikes, tours, workshops, and educational programs that help visitors connect more deeply with the desert—and support its long-term protection. You can view all of the events below on our calendar here. 

“Every season we see visitors light up when they connect with the desert—whether it’s spotting their first bighorn sheep, seeing the Milky Way stretch overhead, or learning the story of a canyon,” says Samantha Young, Education Director at Anza-Borrego Foundation. “Through our hikes, workshops, and star programs, we help people see not just the beauty of Anza-Borrego, but their role in protecting it.”

Hit the Trails: Winter Hiking in Anza-Borrego

With more than 110 miles of hiking trails, winter is the perfect season to explore Anza-Borrego on foot.

Popular routes include:

• Borrego Palm Canyon Trail – A three-mile hike leading to a rare native California palm oasis, where endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep are sometimes spotted along the trail.

• The Slot – A narrow sandstone canyon known for its twisting passageways and striking geology.

For those looking to deepen their experience, our guided hikes offer interpretation, context, and access to lesser-known stories of the landscape.

Upcoming Guided Hikes:

• Interpretive Hike: Anza-Borrego’s Active Faults (Jan. 10, 2026)

• Intermediate Hike: Moly Mine / Sheep Tanks    (Jan. 11, 2026)

Explore the Backcountry by Vehicle

Anza-Borrego’s extensive 500-mile dirt-road network opens the door to some of the Park’s most dramatic scenery. Backcountry drives lead to destinations like:

• Font’s Point, famous for sunrise views over the Borrego Badlands

• Fish Creek, home to ancient fossil beds, towering rock formations, and sweeping desert vistas

Our guided driving tours add insight into the geology, history, and conservation significance of these remote areas.

Upcoming Guided Drives:

• Land Conservation Guided Driving Tour (Jan. 25, 2026)

• Fish Creek Geology Guided Driving Tour (Feb. 7, 2026)

Learn From the Wild: Educational Programs

From endangered Peninsular desert bighorn sheep to the tracks left behind by mountain lions, Anza-Borrego is full of stories waiting to be discovered. ABF’s educational workshops and field programs introduce participants to the desert’s wildlife, ecology, and ongoing research efforts.

Upcoming Programs Include:

• Animal Tracking Workshop (Feb. 21, 2026)

• Peninsular Bighorn Sheep: An Anza-Borrego Icon – Lecture & Field Trip (Mar. 20, 2026)

Experience World-Class Dark Skies

Designated an International Dark Sky Park, Anza-Borrego is one of the best places in Southern California to experience the night sky.

Popular self-guided viewing spots include:

• Clark Dry Lake

• Culp Valley Overlook

• Blair Valley

For those new to astronomy—or looking to learn more—our programs provide telescopes, expert guidance, and unforgettable stargazing experiences.

Upcoming Night Sky Programs:

• Anza-Borrego Under the Stars: Yaqui Pass (Jan. 16, 2026)

• Astronomy Workshop: Think You Know the Moon? (Jan. 23, 2026)

A Photographer’s Dream

The Park and surrounding Borrego Springs area are a magnet for photographers, offering endless inspiration—from wide desert panoramas to unexpected works of art.

Highlights include:

• Galleta Meadows sculptures, large-scale metal artworks scattered throughout Borrego Springs

• Font’s Point, ideal for sunrise and sunset photography

Our photography workshops provide hands-on instruction in some of the Park’s most photogenic locations.

Upcoming Photography Workshops:

• Three-Day Photography Retreat with Paulette Donnellon (Dec. 19–21, 2025)

• Birds in Focus: A Desert Photography Workshop (Jan. 7–8, 2026)

Plan Ahead: Visitor Tips & Safety

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable visit, keep these desert essentials in mind:

• Carry one gallon of water per person, per day

• Dress in layers—temperatures can change quickly

• Use 4×4 or AWD high-clearance vehicles for remote dirt roads

• Stay on designated roads and trails

• Expect limited cell service and carry a paper map

• Follow Leave No Trace principles

Dogs are welcome in campgrounds and on dirt roads but are not permitted on Park trails or flower fields.

Support the Park While You Explore

Before heading out, stop by one of our State Park Stores, located at the Visitor Center and in downtown Borrego Springs. You’ll find maps, field guides, desert-ready gear, and locally inspired gifts—and every purchase directly supports conservation, education, and outreach in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. You can also shop online here.