Anza Borrego Desert State Park

Sources: Hiking in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park by Robin Halford, California State Parks website   

History: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is named after Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza, as well as the park’s iconic protected species the bighorn sheep, Borrego in Spanish.   

Flora/Fauna: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is home to a wide range of plant and animal species of the Sonoran Desert. The endangered Bighorn Sheep is a protected species within the park. The park is also home to mountain lions, coyotes and roadrunners, as well as numerous bird species. Please treat their home with respect when visiting. It also hosts a variety of desert plant species in numerous different communities. Along fault lines which create springs and creeks, the California Fan Palm grows, creating unexpected oases in the desert. More commonly seen succulents include cacti, such as cholla and barrel cacti, as well as the ocotillio, which is in fact not a cactus, although many people mistake it as such due to its spiny appearance. The park is also popular during the springtime due its incredible wildflower blooms.  

Activities/other: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one of the largest state parks in the U.S, covering more than 600,000 acres. In addition to countless miles of hiking trails (some accessible via paved highways, with many more isolated trails only accessible via four wheel drive), it also hosts several campgrounds. Come out for a visit – there is something for everyone! Description by Barbi Lynn Lazarus.