California’s Largest State Park: A Hiker’s Paradise with Stunning Flowers and Desert Views

When it comes to protected land, it’s hard to compete with California. The Sunshine State boasts not only nine national parks, but 280 state parks (the most in the U.S.) encompassing some 1.6 million acres. This includes at least 340 miles of coastline, 15,000 campsites, and 5,200 miles of hiking trails found in sites ranging from this spot offering beautiful bayside camping to an uncrowded, natural wonderland full of awe-inspiring trees. The size, range, and diversity of California’s state parks is simply unmatched anywhere else in the country, and one of its crown jewels is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — the largest in the system.

Situated just east of San Diego near the border with Mexico, Anza-Borrego is a 600,000-acre expanse that features the best of California’s colorful, and sometimes otherworldly desert landscape — including 12 wilderness areas. The park’s 500 miles of dirt roads and 110 miles of hiking trails allow visitors to explore and soak up arresting vistas of wide-open land and dramatic rock formations. You can also keep your eye out for local wildlife and take in plenty of desert flora — especially the multichromatic array of wildflowers that come alive in late winter and early spring.

For those wishing to stay the night, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park also allows camping. You’ll not only experience its splendors during the day, but also after dark when the sky — largely free of light pollution — turns into a brilliant tapestry of shining stars.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park was created in 1932 and named for Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza, as well as the bighorn sheep that call the park home, known as “borrego” in Spanish. Today the park occupies a vast arid landscape featuring washes, cacti, palm groves, slot canyons, stone rises, along with its iconic wildflowers. It’s also a great place to spot wildlife — not just the elusive sheep the park is named for — but also a range of creatures such as bobcats, coyotes, jackrabbits, mule deer, mountain lions, and foxes. The park is also home to three species of rattlesnake, so stick to established paths, wear protective clothing, carry a walking stick, and make sure to keep your dog on a leash to avoid any unwanted encounters.

While people come to Anza-Borrego to experience the desert in its purest, starkest form, wildflowers are a particular draw, and for good reason: The park boasts more than 200 varieties of these colorful blooms, along with many other desert plants. However, these wildflowers can be temperamental and require specific conditions (rainfall, sun, wind, temperature) to open up. While these conditions can occur most any time of the year, the best time to catch the bloom is mid-March through May.

The best way to explore the park is to hit the trail, and hikes range from quick jaunts for beginners to multi-day treks deep into the heart of Anza-Borrego. When you’re out on the path, keep your eyes open for Native American petroglyphs, as they’re found throughout the reserve and can be found best via the Pictograph Trail. Just make sure to be respectful, which includes never touching or disturbing the rock art.