Anza Borrego State Park

Anza Borrego is definitely at its best in spring when wildflowers are blooming everywhere, but I love the desert and felt like driving through on my way out of Palm Springs just the same. During the colder months this park is probably favored by adventurers for its badlands and I ran into piles of dudes in dirt bike gear at the gas station on my way in but there is also an appeal for us more “genteel” folks. I stopped to survey the seemingly endless badlands before wandering through the chollas (including a beautiful piece of cholla wood skeleton I may have brought home with me…) and other desert plants, climbing over large rocks like a kid, on my way to Borrego Springs-the main attraction of my visit.

Borrego Springs is pretty uneventful save for the 130 metal sculptures artist Ricardo Breceda has installed at various points through the town. If you aimlessly drive you’ll find a bunch but can also get a map at the Chamber of Commerce at 786 Palm Canyon Drive. I missed the scorpion but I guess that means I will just have to come back in spring when the flowers are blooming!