Anza Borrego Desert State Park is almost a home away from home for me. I have visited this amazing location countless times, and coming back with new and exciting pictures every single trip!
It is a great place to explore and photograph and offers a wide variety of hikes and locations to visit.
From never-ending canyons to isolated wind caves, to towering metal dinosaur sculptures, Anza Borrego seems to have it all!
Directions
Anza Borrego is nestled into Southern California and is about an hour and a half drive from Palm Springs.
As you approach from the west on S-22, you want to make a left at the stop sign at the intersection of Montezuma Valley Road and Palm Canyon Drive. Follow this road until you end up in the town of Borrego Springs. This will lead you to the visitor center.
While driving through the town there are many artistic shops and gift centers you can stop by. Some of these stores even have extra metal sculptures which I’ll explain down below.
Best Spots to Visit
Anza Borrego is home to many wonderful locations to photograph and explore. As you enter through the town, your first stop will definitely have to be Galleta Meadows (my personal favorite)!
Galleta Meadows
Galleta Meadows is home to approximately 130 metal sculptures! Cool right?! These sculptures were created by Ricardo Breceda and feature a variety of creatures, ranging from dinosaurs to sloths, to scorpions, and even a dragon!
A dragon serpent sculpture and star trails!
Technically, these sculptures are not apart of the state park. Galleta Meadows is a privately owned estate land.
A map of Galleta Meadows.
These sculptures are scattered all throughout the town and are fun to spot while driving. They are north and south of the Christmas Circle and can easily be spotted from the side of the road. One of the best features, in my opinion, is that these sculptures line up with the Milky Way in amazing ways!
The Milky Way aligns perfectly with this car sculpture around May!
UPDATE: The bighorn sheep in this photo were taken down in 2018. They were moved to a different location.
Fonts Point
Fonts Point is a gorgeous lookout in Anza Borrego that provides stunning views of jaggedy canyons and a panoramic landscape of the Borrego Springs town.
- The drive to it is a 4-mile dirt road
- 4×4 is highly recommended
- This place is best to photograph during sunrise and sunset
As you come from Christmas Circle, drive on S-22 for 10 miles. You will see a dirt road on the right side with a sign for Font’s Point right after mile marker 29.
A beautiful sunset at Font’s Point!
This is the point where you will off-road toward Font’s Point. The drive-in can become sandy so I highly recommend using a four-wheel-drive vehicle. This, of course, does depend on when you plan on going. At the end of the road, you will come across a small parking lot. From here it’s about a 5-minute walk to the viewpoint.
Sunrise is awesome at Font’s Point!
Sunrise is amazing up here as the sun rises directly in front of you, lighting up the rocks and canyon below.
Wind Caves
The wind caves are a very unique spot to go and explore. Aside from the actual destination, there is beautiful scenery all throughout the hike, making the area a great place to wander around.
- The drive to it is a bumpy, poorly maintained, 4-mile dirt road
- 4×4 is highly recommended
The drive is for sure an adventure to say the least. Get ready for bumps and jolts for about 20 minutes as you drive in toward the trailhead.
DO NOT rely on Google Maps. Make sure to download directions from your phone, screenshot them, or better yet, bring a physical map!
Once you get past the bumpy dirt road, you will encounter more dirt road. At a certain point, you need a 4×4 vehicle to traverse through rocks sprawled out on the ground. When I visited, we parked before the rock obstacles and hiked the rest of the way in.
As you hike or drive up to the trailhead, you will become enveloped in a huge canyon and soon be greeted with endless desert scenery.
The wind caves!
The hike to the wind caves is steep but relatively short (about 0.5 miles).
This location looks best during sunrise, as the light hits all of the mountains and canyons, making the whole scene feel even more magical!
A beautiful sunset at the wind caves!
When To Go
Deciding on when you want to visit Anza Borrego Desert State Park will greatly be influenced by what you want to photograph there.
During the summer months, temperatures can become quite high, ranging from 70-100 °F (21-37 °C). Bring lots of water and proper clothing. There is not much shade along certain hikes so be mindful of that factor.
There are chances as well that a super bloom can occur in the spring. This phenomenon showcases an unusually high number of wildflowers to blossom, putting on a spectacular show!
Besides the temperature, Anza Borrego is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park. This basically means that it gets really really dark here and light pollution is managed greatly. Which, for my fellow astrophotographers, is a spectacular thing!
Who wouldn’t want to watch the Milky Way rise over a 10-foot scorpion statue?
Where To Stay
Okay, so you’re hooked on going to this amazing state park? Awesome! Let’s find you a place to stay.
Depending on your style of sleeping, Anza Borrego offers multiple options. There are countless motels and hotels around the town. The Palm Canyon Hotel and RV Resort is highly recommended and very close to the park.
If camping is more your route, no problem! The park offers multiple campsites, with a large campground being located near the visitor center.
There is, of course, the option of sleeping in your car. I have done this numerous times while photographing the park at night and for me, it is the most accessible. Especially when photographing the statues, you can just park next to them, set your camera up and stargaze for hours.
Campfires ARE NOT allowed anywhere in the park!
For Photographers and Explorer Enthusiasts
Last but not least, I want to share with you the best spots to photograph during sunset, night, or sunrise.
So, here is that list for Anza Borrego Desert State Park! (The one with stars are in my opinion the best spots for that given time)
There you have it! A complete photography guide for Anza Borrego Desert State Park! Have fun, be safe, and keep exploring!
