Southern California’s Anza-Borrego Desert lies only two hours to the northeast of San Diego, but is a completely different world. The Borrego Valley, surrounded by tall bald mountains, is hot and dry, yet full of life. That life doesn’t only consists of animals. Rather the contrary, it’s the Anza-Borrego Desert wildflowers in spring that attract most visitors.
Millions of wildflowers carpet the desert floor in March. This year, because of heavy rainfall early in the year, the spring bloom is more impressive than it normally is. It’s a once-in-a-decade bloom, so if you happen to be in Southern California, make sure to go there. Now!
Thousands of wildflowersAnza-Borrego Desert Wildflowers in California, USA
You shouldn’t expect to be alone, as The Anza-Borrego Desert wildflowers draw in massive crowds. Traffic jams on the otherwise empty desert roads are to be expected. Accommodations are fully booked. The only places where you might be able to rest your head at night are the campgrounds. Make sure to check availabilities beforehand, though, if you do decide to make a last-minute trip. The middle of the week is the best time to visit, after all the weekends are crazy busy.
The small town of Borrego Springs is the focal point of human activity in the Anza-Borrego Desert. It’s surrounded on all sides by the huge Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, one of the largest state parks in America. This is where you can find gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and cafés.
The park visitor center lies just west of the town. Designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, it’s located partially underground. This is the best place to start your visit, pick up maps and ask about road conditions in the desert. Check out this post for things to do in the park.
In this post, it’s all about the flowers. They’re the main attraction of the park, after all. They deserve the attention they get, given that it’s a pretty amazing sight. You’ll find wildflowers in the desert just to the north and west of Borrego Springs. You really don’t need to venture that far if the wildflowers are the main reason for your visit. Henderson Canyon Road and Borrego Palm Canyon are two excellent places, where you can see a variety of flowers.
To show you just how impressive a wildflower-carpeted desert landscape is, I’ve included some of my own favorite photos below. Enjoy! Plan a trip, as it’s worth it!
Anza-Borrego Desert Wildflowers – Photos