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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

During the California Gold Rush of 1849, several thousand prospectors passed through the Anza-Borrego Desert. Today it is the largest state park in California and the second largest in the United States after Adirondack Park in New York. The park is about two hours from San Diego, Riverside and Palm Springs. It is named after the Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza as well as the spanish word "borrega", meaning Bighorn Sheep, of which there are several.

The park features a great deal of wildlife. From March to May, a colorful display of cacti and wildflowers come into bloom. Other plants include washes, palm groves and ocotillo. Wild animals include roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer, bighorn sheep, iguanas, chuckwallas, and red diamond rattlesnakes. The bighorn sheep are endangered and a rare find.

The park has a visitors' center in the Borrego Springs, the only town in the park. Another sight in the park is the Box Canyon Historical Monument, from which one can view the old road used by miners on their way to the goldfields 500 miles to the north.

The park contains 100 miles of paved roads, from which visitors can access the numerous campsites. Four-wheel vehicles are recommended for the 500 miles of unpaved roads.

• Telephone: (760) 767-4205
• Hours: Jun - Sep, Sat & Sun; Oct - May daily