Day Trip To Borrego Springs: Town in the Middle of a National Park

Borrego Springs is a unique desert town in the center of Anza-Borrego State Park. It is an excellent choice for a quick weekend retreat or a cost-efficient family day trip. Regardless of the time of year, this desert haven provides a variety of attractions. However, it is crucial to note that temperatures can reach triple digits during summer when air conditioning is necessary.

As soon as you step into downtown Borrego Springs, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time. This charming desert community rests against the brown hues of the nearby San Ysidro Mountains. You won’t find any big-box or chain stores along the main street, but you can still enjoy a peaceful atmosphere with several dining and shopping options. Popular activities in the area include hiking, biking, and admiring the fantastic metal sculptures created by artist and welder Ricardo Breceda.

Galleta Meadows Metal Sculptures

Galleta Meadows Sky Art Sculptures is an awe-inspiring collection of over 120 welded-steel sculptures. These sculptures depict prehistoric animals, farmworkers, saints, cacti, serpents, a stagecoach, and a jeep. They can be admired just outside Borrego Springs, mainly along Borrego Springs Road, both north and south of downtown. Many sculptures are easily visible from the road or accessed through a short hike, but a car is necessary to view all of them —a list of the most accessible sculptures in Borrego Springs is below.

Borrego Spring Sculptures Locations

Sculptures north of town: Henderson Canyon and Borrego Springs Road. “All these works of art are easily visible from the road.”

• Sky Art Desert Sculpture: Elephants
• BigHorn Sheep
• Sky Art Desert Sculpture: Jeep
• Borrego Springs Indian Head Sculpture
• Sky Art Desert Sculpture: Spanish Padre
• Padre Sculpture

South of town along Borrego Springs Road. These three sculptures are located within a short walking distance from the road.

• Borrego Springs Serpent Sculpture
• Sky Art Desert Sculpture: Dinosaur
• Sky Art Desert Sculpture: Peccary

Galleta Meadows Sculptures Map

Borrego Palm Canyon Trail & Campground

The Borrego Canyon Campground is located at the entrance of the canyon. Some campsites include small wooden ramadas that provide shade from the sun, and there is a fire ring and plenty of flat space for setting up your tent. The campground welcomes pets, but please be aware that hiking trails are off-limits to them. The Borrego Canyon trail is a 3-mile round trip from the campground. The uphill climb leads to an oasis with a large stand of fan palms, a stream, and a small waterfall. There is also a paved parking lot at the trailhead for visitors not camping.

The Slot Canyon Trail

The Slot Canyon Trail is located a few miles south of Borrego Springs and has gained popularity through social media. The trail is relatively easy to navigate; however, there are a few rocky areas where you need to climb and squeeze through narrow slots in the rocks. The trail is approximately two miles long. People often create small monuments at the canyon’s end by stacking stones. Unfortunately, Slot Canyon is overrated and overrun by the social media crowd. It is worth noting that there is another slot hike in Anza Borrego called the Calcite Mine Slot Trail, which is less well-known than the Slot Canyon Trail.

Seley Orchards Fruit Stand

Seley Ranch is a family-owned citrus orchard in Borrego Springs, covering 160 acres. The main crops grown at Seley Ranch are citrus fruits, including oranges, lemons, and the famous Seley red grapefruits. They have a self-service produce stand at the ranch’s main entrance. Deposit your money in a box and pick up your produce. Seley Ranch is private property. Only enter the ranch if you are invited to do so.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park covers about one-fifth of San Diego County’s land. If you venture further into the park, you’ll discover more than 500 miles of roads. Some of these roads lead up to rocky terrain or through deep sand. While some routes are paved, most require an off-road or 4×4 vehicle. You can witness the wildflowers blooming in the park in late February or early March. You’ll see a variety of cactus blooms in different colors, such as red, yellow, and green. Each season, the flowers change based on the temperature and rainfall patterns throughout the year.

Getting to Borrego Springs

Various lodging options are available if you spend more than one day in the area. Additionally, Borrego Springs offers several restaurants within the town. The town is 90 miles northeast of San Diego and 150 miles from Los Angeles, with the 600,000-acre desert state park surrounding the area. Driving times may vary depending on traffic conditions, with San Diego taking approximately 2 hours, Palm Springs taking 1.5 hours, and Los Angeles taking three or more hours.

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