Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Wildflowers
Desert Sunflowers on Henderson Canyon Road, Jan. 22, 2023
A spring bloom of annual flowers took place in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, January through mid-April 2023. The Park experienced a significant springtime bloom, which increased visitation significantly. As its nonprofit partner, Anza-Borrego Foundation worked closely with the Park and provided up-to-date information on the best bloom locations and other tips to help protect the wildflowers and allow visitors to enjoy their visit.
We look forward to the next wildflower bloom!
Help us keep up the good work by making a tax-deductible donation.
Wildflower Hotline: For weekly updates, call the Park’s Wildflower Hotline at 760-767-4684.
Recent Updates:
April 18, 2023
The recent heat has taken a toll on the desert wildflowers and there are only small pockets of flowers left in scattered areas of the Park. It’s time to say “good-bye” to this year’s bloom and look forward to next year!
April 14, 2023
1. Visitor Center
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center off Palm Canyon Drive. Head west on Palm Canyon Drive until it terminates at the Visitor Center parking lot. Flowers are low to the ground and scattered all throughout the desert floor. Look closely along pathways at the VC, Campground Trail, Little Surprise Canyon, and Hellhole Canyon. Flowers: Brittlebush, Heliotrope, Chuparosa, Barrel Cactus, Beavertail Cactus, Desert Dandelions.
4. Cactus Loop Trail
Location: Tamarisk Grove Campground. Directions: Take County Road S3, 20 minutes south of Borrego Springs. Head through the Yaqui Pass and look for the tamarisk trees and the campground. Flowers: Fishhook Cactus, Cholla, Beavertail Cactus
April 6, 2023
1. Visitor Center
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center off Palm Canyon Drive. Head west on Palm Canyon Drive until it terminates at the Visitor Center parking lot. Flowers are low to the ground and scattered all throughout the desert floor. Look closely along pathways at the VC, Campground Trail, Little Surprise Canyon, and Hellhole Canyon. Flowers: Brittlebush, Heliotrope, Chuparosa, Barrel Cactus, Beavertail Cactus, Desert Dandelions.
2. Start of Coyote Canyon: (For the first mile past the end of the pavement.)
Directions: Go north on DiGiorgio Road, one road east of Christmas Circle. The pavement ends about three miles north of Palm Canyon Drive. Park at the interpretive kiosk OR drive a half mile on the sandy road and park. Look for flowers for the next one mile. The road is sandy, and passable with care with 2WD. Coyote Canyon past Desert Gardens is 4WD. Dogs allowed on the road on a leash.
Flowers: Sand Verbena, Desert Primrose, Desert Lily, Desert Sunflower
3. Henderson Canyon Road
Between Borrego Valley Road and Highway S2. Directions: Park safely off the pavement and walk north in the flower field. Flowers: Sand Verbena, Dune Primrose, Desert Lily, Desert Sunflower
4. Cactus Loop Trail
Location: Tamarisk Grove Campground. Directions: Take County Road S3, 20 minutes south of Borrego Springs. Head through the Yaqui Pass and look for the tamarisk trees and the campground. Flowers: Fishhook Cactus, Cholla, Beavertail Cactus
March 30, 2023
1. Start of Coyote Canyon: (For the first mile past the end of the pavement.)
Directions: Go north on DiGiorgio Road, one road east of Christmas Circle. The pavement ends about three miles north of Palm Canyon Drive. Park at the interpretive kiosk OR drive a half mile on the sandy road and park. Look for flowers for the next one mile. The road is sandy, and passable with care with 2WD. Coyote Canyon past Desert Gardens is 4WD. Dogs allowed on the road on a leash.
Flowers: Predominate color is purple – mostly sand verbena, Arizona lupine is starting to appear, some brown eyed primrose and some desert primrose.
2. Henderson Canyon Road
Between Borrego Valley Road and Highway S2. Directions: Park safely off the pavement and walk
north in the flower field. Flowers: Predominate color is yellow -mostly desert sunflower. Some sand verbena remain, but not much. Currently towards the middle to the east. West portion is starting.
3. Cactus Loop Trail
Location: Tamarisk Grove Campground. Directions: Take County Road S3, 20 minutes south of Borrego Springs. Head through the Yaqui Pass and look for the tamarisk trees and the campground.
Flowers: Fishhook Cactus, Beavertail, Barrel Cactus. Parish’s Goldpoppy and Emory’s Rockdaisy are dominate right now and a few Bigelow’s Monkeyflower.
4. June Wash
Location: Mile 41 on County Rd S2, an hour south of Borrego Springs. 3 miles south of Agua Caliente County Park. PARK at the start of the wash with 2WD. Deep sandy road, OK for 4WD. Flowers are
2/10ths of a mile past the entrance of June Wash, and along the road and washes, good for walking. Flowers: Sand Verbena, Desert Sunflower, Dune Primrose, possible Desert Lily
5. Vallecito Creek Road
Location: Mile 43 on County Rd S2, an hour south of Borrego Springs. A little more than 3 mile south of Agua Caliente County Park. The wash is sandy, and only passable by vehicles with 4WD. Good for driving. Flowers: Sand Verbena, Desert Sunflower, Dune Primrose, possible Desert Lily
6. Visitor Center
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center off of Palm Canyon Drive. Head west on Palm Canyon Drive until it terminates at the Visitor Center parking lot. Flowers are low to the ground and scattered all throughout the desert floor. Look closely along pathways at the VC, Campground Trail, Little Surprise Canyon, and Hellhole Canyon. Flowers: Brittlebush, Heliotrope, Chuparosa, Barrel Cactus, Beavertail Cactus, Desert Dandelions. Hellhole Canyon: Mostly Distant Phacelia and fiddleneck from the parking to the junction of the CRHT. Beyond the CRHT you start to see brown eyed evening primrose, Emory’s Rockdaisy and Fremont’s Pincushion.
March 24, 2023
March 17, 2023
March 3, 2023
1. Start of Coyote Canyon: (For the first mile past the end of the pavement.)
Directions: Go north on DiGiorgio Road, one road east of Christmas Circle. The pavement ends about three miles north of Palm Canyon Drive. Park at the interpretive kiosk OR drive a half mile on the sandy road and park. Look for flowers for the next one mile. The road is sandy, and passable with care with 2WD. Coyote Canyon past Desert Gardens is 4WD. Dogs allowed on the road on a leash.
Flowers: Sand Verbena, Desert Primrose, Desert Lily, Desert Sunflower
2. Henderson Canyon Road
Between Borrego Valley Road and Highway S2. Directions: Park safely off the pavement and walk north in the flower field. Flowers: Sand Verbena, Dune Primrose, Desert Lily, Desert Sunflower
3. Cactus Loop Trail
Location: Tamarisk Grove Campground. Directions: Take County Road S3, 20 minutes south of Borrego Springs. Head through the Yaqui Pass and look for the tamarisk trees and the campground. Flowers: Fishhook Cacti
4. June Wash
Location: Mile 41 on County Rd S2, an hour south of Borrego Springs. 3 miles south of Agua Caliente County Park. PARK at the start of the wash with 2WD. Deep sandy road, OK for 4WD. Flowers are 2/10ths of a mile past the entrance of June Wash, and along the road and washes, good for walking.
Flowers: Sand Verbena, Desert Sunflower, Dune Primrose, possible Desert Lily
5. Vallecito Creek Road
Location: Mile 43 on County Rd S2, an hour south of Borrego Springs. A little more than 3 mile south of Agua Caliente County Park. The wash is sandy, and only passable by vehicles with 4WD. Good for driving. Flowers: Sand Verbena, Desert Sunflower, Dune Primrose, possible Desert Lily
February 24, 2023
1. Start of Coyote Canyon: (For the first mile past the end of the pavement.)
Directions: Go north on DiGiorgio Road, one road east of Christmas Circle. The pavement ends about three miles north of Palm Canyon Drive. Park at the interpretive kiosk OR drive a half mile on the sandy road and park. Look for flowers for the next one mile. The road is sandy, and passable with care with 2WD. Coyote Canyon past Desert Gardens is 4WD. Dogs allowed on the road on a leash.
2. Henderson Canyon Road
Between Borrego Valley Road and Highway S2. Directions: Park safely off the pavement and walk north in the flower field.
3. Cactus Loop Trail
Location: Tamarisk Grove Campground. Directions: Take County Road S3, 20 minutes south of Borrego Springs. Head through the Yaqui Pass and look for the tamarisk trees and the campground.
4. June Wash
Location: Mile 41 on County Rd S2, an hour south of Borrego Springs. 3 miles south of Agua Caliente County Park. PARK at the start of the wash with 2WD. Deep sandy road, OK for 4WD. Flowers are 2/10ths of a mile past the entrance of June Wash, and along the road and washes, good for walking.
5. Vallecito Creek Road
Location: Mile 43 on County Rd S2, an hour south of Borrego Springs. A little more than 3 mile south of Agua Caliente County Park. The wash is sandy, and only passable by vehicles with 4WD. Good for driving.6.
6. Bow Willow Campground and Hiking Trail
Location: Travel south of County Rd S2, about 12 miles south of Agua Caliente County Park. The road is sandy, and only passable by vehicles with 4WD. Park at the campground.
February 10, 2023
1. Start of Coyote Canyon- Directions: Go north on DiGiorgio Road, one road east of Christmas Circle. The pavement ends about three miles north of Palm Canyon Drive. Park at the interpretive kiosk OR drive a half mile on the sandy road and park. Look for flowers for the next one mile. The road is sandy, and passable with care with 2WD. Past Desert Gardens, Coyote Canyon past Desert Gardens is 4WD. Dogs allowed on the road on a leash.
2. Henderson Canyon Road- Between Borrego Valley Road and Highway S2. Directions: Park safely off the pavement and walk north in the flower field.
3. June Wash- Location: Mile 41 on County Rd S2, an hour’s south of Borrego Springs. 3 miles south of Aqua Caliente County Park. PARK at the start of the wash with 2WD. Deep sandy road, OK for 4WD. Flowers are along the road and washes, good for walking.
February 2, 2023
Please check out the Park’s wildflower map here: Anza-Borrego Desert SP ® (ca.gov). This map will get updated weekly.
Currently there are patches of flowers in the following areas:
Northern part of the park include:
Henderson Canyon Rd. (sand verbena, desert sunflower and desert primrose)
Southern part of the park include:
June Wash (sand verbena)
Remember: Please do not stop in the road. Pull over to the side of the road to view the wildflowers, wildlife, and to take photos. Park within one vehicle length of the road and do not park on any vegetation. Leave no trace and take only memories. Please leave the wildflowers for others to enjoy. Give wildlife their distance and allow them access to water.
February 1, 2023
There are some areas of sand verbena, desert sunflowers and desert primrose along the eastern portion of Henderson Canyon Road.
January 2023
While the Park is not anticipating a super bloom this season, we are seeing some flowers starting to bloom in the canyons. We will update with more information as we receive it.
Please visit the Park’s wildflower page here for the most recent updates.
Enjoy & Protect Our Wildflower Bloom
Enjoy the Bloom Safely:
- Bring water and food. Drink water frequently. Don’t save it for later.
- Wear sunscreen, a hat and layers, the weather can change quickly.
- Wear closed-toed shoes, the desert can be “pokey”.
- Stay on two-wheel drive roads unless you have a high clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle.
Share the Bloom:
- Take photos and share them #anzaborrego. Drones are not allowed in the Park.
- Please do not pick the flowers, leave them for all visitors to experience.
Protect the Bloom:
- Tread lightly and stay on trails. Be careful not to walk on the blooms.
- Pack it in and pack it out, take your trash with you.
- Dogs are allowed only on Park roads and must be on a 6 foot leash at all times.
More About Wildflowers
Thousands of visitors come to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park® each year to enjoy the beauty of unique and captivating desert wildflowers in bloom. With 92 different plant families, 346 genera and hundreds of flowering species, there is quite a variety of flora to discover! There are many factors that determine when, how many and which blooms will appear in any given season. A combination of sun, rain, temperature, and wind set the stage for the springtime arrival of wildflowers. So, when is the best time to experience this phenomenon? That is one of the most frequently asked questions at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park! It is very difficult to answer, as each year’s conditions can vary greatly. However, the second week of March is often the peak of the wildflower bloom. When all conditions are perfect you will see the carpets of flowers you often see in the media.
Ways to get around Anza-Borrego Desert State Park:
Take a Hike: Come prepared for hiking into some of the most beautiful areas by bringing sturdy shoes, layers of clothes, hat, sunscreen, water, and snacks. Stop by the Park Visitor Center or the Anza-Borrego Foundation State Park Store for information on where to go.
Overland It: Plan a desert tour with our friends at California Overland.
Get way out, beyond the most visited areas, to see not only wildflowers but some of the most
incredible resources of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Stay Connected and Be Prepared:
1. Sign up for ABF’s email updates to receive communication about the bloom.
2. Check Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s website for road conditions, safety tips, and best routes to take when traveling to the Park or call the Visitor Center at 760-767-4205.
3. Call the Wildflower Hotline: (760) 767-4684
4. Check out our Facebook page and share your images with us #anzaborrego
5. Visit our State Park Store for free information, wildflower brochures, books, and all your needs for heading out into the desert.
6. Plan your stay in advance, visit Reserve California to book a site for camping in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.