Camping at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
On a Friday morning in March 2015, we had plans to go camping in Joshua Tree National Park the next day. Like most spring weekends in Joshua Tree, all of the campgrounds were already full. Rather than give up on our weekend, we started looking for somewhere new to explore and decided on Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Located in San Diego County, about 40 miles northeast of San Diego, Anza-Borrego is California's largest state park. We quickly started researching the park to figure out where to camp and what to see in such a massive desert landscape.
Camping at Culp Valley
We decided to camp at Culp Valley, one of the park's primitive campgrounds. At 3,400 feet, it is the highest campground in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It is also one of the more developed primitive campgrounds, with designated campsites and vault toilets while still maintaining a rugged, remote feel.
The dirt road into the campground is short, well graded, and easily accessible for most vehicles. We immediately liked the landscape, with large boulders and rocky hillsides surrounding the campsites.
Our only mistake was choosing a campsite that left us perched out in the open. It turned into a very windy night, and if we had to choose again, we'd definitely look for a little more protection from the wind.
Exploring the Park
After packing up camp, we headed down to the visitor center in Borrego Springs. It's a great place to stop, with exhibits about the park, friendly staff, and a beautiful garden showcasing many of the native desert plants. Of course, we couldn't leave without picking up a park sticker.
The drive back up to Culp Valley is full of winding roads and beautiful views, although it certainly felt like we used a lot more gas climbing back up than we did coming down. We also spent some time exploring the rocky hillsides around our campsite. A short distance up the road, several trails head off into the surrounding landscape. The desert warmed up much faster than we expected, so it didn't take long before we decided it was time to head back.
The evening before, we climbed one of the large rock piles next to our campsite to watch the sunset. Carefully making our way up and back down without scraping our knees or dropping our cameras was half the adventure, and the view from the top made it well worth the climb.
Our quick overnight trip to Anza-Borrego was enough to convince us we'd only scratched the surface. There is so much to see and do throughout the park that we were already making a list of places to explore on our next visit.
Tips for Visiting Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Backcountry camping is permitted throughout much of the park, but regulations vary by location and season. Check the park website for the latest rules before your visit.
Campfires are not allowed directly on the ground. Bring a metal container or find an installed fire pit.
Make time to stop at the visitor center. It's an excellent introduction to the park and the surrounding desert.
Wildlife is abundant throughout the park. Keep an eye out for desert bighorn sheep, jackrabbits, coyotes, roadrunners, reptiles, and birds! Respect their habitat and always practice Leave No Trace principles.
Borrego Springs has gas stations, restaurants, grocery stores, and other supplies if you need to stock up during your trip.
