How big is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

More than 600,000 acres, or roughly 1,000 square miles. It is the largest state park in California and the third largest in the United States, spanning parts of San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties.

How much does it cost to enter Anza-Borrego?

Day use is $10 per vehicle, collected at the Visitor Center, developed campgrounds and several popular trailheads including The Slot and Hellhole Canyon. The park has no entrance gates and much of it can be accessed without a fee.

When is wildflower season at Anza-Borrego?

Annual wildflowers can appear from January through mid-April, with peak bloom most often between late February and early April. Timing varies year to year based on rainfall and temperature.

Is Anza-Borrego a Dark Sky Park?

Yes. The park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018 at Silver tier. Borrego Springs, the town at its center, has been an International Dark Sky Community since 2009, the first in California.

Do I need four-wheel drive at Anza-Borrego?

Not for the paved roads, the Visitor Center or the main campgrounds. The vast majority of the park's roughly 500 miles of dirt roads do require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park open at night?

Yes, the park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The Visitor Center is open daily 9am to 5pm October through May, and weekends and holidays only June through September.

Shandel Sutherland • November 10, 2023

Borrego Military Target Area

Borrego’s Military Echoes

Borrego Springs is renowned for its serene deserts and pristine night skies, but beneath its tranquil surface lies a military past rooted deeply in the sands of time.

The Borrego Hotel, once an Emergency Landing Field and Bombing Range during World War II, stands as a testament to the area’s contribution to the nation’s wartime readiness.

Borrego’s Wartime Role

In 1941, as global conflicts escalated, the U.S. Navy selected the remote desert of Borrego Springs for military preparedness. The Borrego Hotel was transformed into a strategic site where pilots practiced vital skills such as high-altitude bombing and emergency procedures essential for combat.

The facility included a 250-foot by 2600-foot dirt runway and a distinctive bombing target marked by concentric circles, making it a significant training hub for the San Diego Naval Air Station.

The AT-11 Kansan was the typical aircraft used for bomb target practice.

Military Legacy and Community Safeguarding

Post-war, the site continued under Navy use until 1955, after which it was returned to private hands. Today, the land is primarily recreational, but the imprints of history remain.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been involved in the environmental restoration of this Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS), ensuring that the land, once a cradle of wartime activity, is now safe for public enjoyment. Their efforts included detailed investigations to identify and mitigate any residual hazards, confirming the area’s use for military training with findings of practice bombs and munitions debris.

Echoes of History in Modern Tranquility

The shift from a training ground to tranquil desert is profound. Where pilots once honed their wartime skills, visitors now experience peace and quietude. The Borrego Hotel’s legacy, intertwined with environmental restoration endeavors, continues to shape the region’s identity, bridging its historical military importance with its present-day role as a sanctuary for nature and relaxation.

Voices from the Past: Borrego Springs’ Military Heritage

Borrego Springs’ military heritage is preserved not only in historical documents but also in the memories and accounts of those who lived and served in the area. Interviews with local residents and military personnel offer a personal glimpse into the past, bringing to life the stories not captured in written records alone.

Sgt. Grayson’s Insights: SGT Grayson of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Arson/Explosives Unit shared that he had no knowledge of ordnance activity at the Borrego Hotel site, extending his insights to the broader region of Anza Borrego State Park.

Fire Department’s Perspective: Investigator Steve Sawyer of the Borrego Springs Fire Department Arson/Bomb Unit also had no recollection of ordnance presence at the former Borrego Hotel Site.

Local Law Enforcement Observations: Deputies Hahn and McKenna confirmed no awareness of a target area or ordnance presence at the site, acknowledging other range activities within the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

Lifelong Residents’ Accounts: Nancy Ellis and David Ragsdill shared their lack of awareness of military activity at the Borrego Hotel site but knew of other military sites in the area.

Legacy in the Land: Florence Leedy provided an account of a concentric circle bombing target on her property.

Park Rangers’ Confirmation: Park Rangers like Fred Jee, Mark Jorgensen, and Jim Meiers acknowledged no knowledge of ordnance at the Borrego Hotel site but were familiar with evidence of past military activity within the area.

Borrego Hotel: A Timeline of Transformation

Pre-1941: The area where Camp Ensign would be built was originally Ensign Ranch date palm orchards.

1941: Opening of the Borrego Hotel Target Area for high-altitude bombing, dive-bombing, and strafing.

1942: Establishment of the Borrego Valley Maneuver Area by the US Army as an Anti-Aircraft Training Center, also used by the Marine Corps. Construction of bombing stations, strafing stations, rocket targets, and anti-aircraft artillery for training.

1943: US Marines construct Camp Ensign for military truck driving training at night. Ensign Ranch Airfield is built just south of Camp Ensign.

1944: Closure of the Borrego Valley Maneuver Area in August.

1955: Closure of the Borrego Hotel Target Area and Naval Outlying Landing Field.

1956: Sale of the land of the Borrego Hotel Target Area and Naval Outlying Landing Field.

Present: The region is known for recreational use and desert serenity, with environmental restoration efforts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1990s-2010s. Today, it is celebrated for its natural beauty and quietude, with historical significance commemorated by the community.

These interviews and historical insights underscore the layered history of Borrego Springs, where the military past intersects with civilian life, creating a rich tapestry of heritage and tranquility.

Check out this military report for more details.