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Borrego Springs, CA - Anza Borrego State Park
Borrego Springs, California is a place you can only enjoy by visiting. This
rare gem with 3,000 population is surrounded by the largest state park in
the contiguous United States, the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. In the
spring time after a rain, the desert comes alive with stunning flowers in
bloom. Itt's truly a sight to behold! Some compare Borrego Springs to Palm
Springs a long time ago when there were no stoplights, little traffic and a
tranquil lifestyle.
Borrego Springs is not desolate,
however. The California state park attracts thousands of people who venture
out to experience this treasure.. For those seeking the creature
comforts, you can stay at one of the hotels in Borrego Springs, dine on a
home-cooked, hot meal and venture out to the desert during the daylight.
There's a lot of exploration in store for you in the park which spans 900
square miles and is comprised of over 650,000 acres. Hundreds of miles of
hiking and biking trails, 12 wilderness areas and many species of wildlife
such as golden eagles, mule deer and big horn sheep can be experienced in
this wonderland where nature's hand touches everything.
Located in eastern San Diego County,
with portions extending east into Imperial County and north into Riverside
County, it takes 2 hours to drive to Borrego Springs from San Diego,
Riverside, and Palm Springs and approximately 3 hours to get there from
Disneyland.. Many visitors approach from the east or west via Highways
S22 and 78. From the coast, these highways descend from the heights of the
Peninsular range of mountains with spectacular views of the great bowl of
the Colorado Desert. Highway S2 enters the park from the south off of
Interstate 8.
In addition to the desert park attraction, Borrego Springs holds festivals
such as Circle of Art in March, Peg Leg Liar's Contest at Peg Leg Smith
Monument in April, Cinco de Mayo in May and Borrego Days Desert Festival,
the last week in October. The festival includes a parade, the Miss Borrego
Pageant, a carnival, live music, arts and crafts.
Peg Leg Smith Monument celebrates a
Gold Rush character named Thomas Long Smith or Peg Leg Smith. Peg Leg Smith
was a prospector and story teller unmatched by most who knew him
during the early to mid-1800s. Smith claimed he found pure gold nuggets in
the Borrego Springs' hidden hills. Though his golden treasure was lost
somewhere in the hills where he could not find it, today you can remember
him by throwing rocks on a pile near the marker that commemorates this
character. The stone monument and plaque says, Let those who seek
Peg Leg's gold add ten rocks to this pile. You can find this monument on
Pegleg Road exit to Henderson Canyon Road a few miles from the Borrego
Springs Airport on Highway 22.
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