Ocotillo Wells SVRA

Ocotillo Wells SVRA The official page of Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area. Elevations here range from 176 feet below sea level to 790 feet above sea level.
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Welcome to Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA), where more than 85,000 acres of southern California desert await off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts. Located near the Salton Sea and covering portions of both San Diego and Imperial Counties, Ocotillo Wells SVRA offers a wide variety of opportunities for OHV recreation as well as for hiking, biking, geocaching, and camping. In fa

ct, it is possible to explore the park's open environment and varied terrain for days without having to retrace your tracks. Visitors marvel at the many exotically named natural wonders such as Blowsand Hill, Devil's Slide, and the Badlands. The extreme terrain and intense climate have challenged both the skills and endurance of OHV recreation enthusiasts for generations. The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Program was created in 1971 out of the critical need to better manage growing demands for off-highway recreation, while at the same time foster respect for private property rights and protect California's natural and cultural resources. Today, this program, a division of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, is the largest and most successful program of its type in the U.S. The program continues its commitment to provide safe, enjoyable recreation while balancing the need to protect the state's resources. In addition to providing accessibility to off-highway recreation for everyone from hikers to bikers to bird watchers, the program provides a variety of services and benefits to California's residents and visitors, including resource management of state lands, wildlife habitat protection, youth development and law enforcement. Program funding comes from fuel taxes which are attributable to the recreational use of vehicles off highway, off-highway vehicle registration fees and fees collected at State Vehicular Recreation Areas. Be sure to visit our other pages, too! OHMVR Division
https://www.facebook.com/CAStateParksOHV

Clay Pit SVRA
https://www.facebook.com/ClayPitSVRA?fref=ts

Prairie City SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prairie-City-State-Vehicular-Recreation-Area/168242086519173?fref=ts

Carnegie SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carnegie-SVRA/203533419677830?fref=ts

Hollister Hills SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hollister-Hills-State-Vehicular-Recreation-Area/131036720291981?fref=ts

Oceano Dunes SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oceano-Dunes-District-Pismo/390676052585?fref=ts

Hungry Valley SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hungry-Valley-SVRA/367908266603892?fref=ts


Heber Dunes SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heber-Dunes-SVRA/528521697180458?fref=ts

Join us June 13th!
05/31/2026

Join us June 13th!

Seasonal Closure NoticeThe Ocotillo Wells Discovery Center is now closed for the season and will reopen in Fall 2026.Tha...
05/31/2026

Seasonal Closure Notice

The Ocotillo Wells Discovery Center is now closed for the season and will reopen in Fall 2026.

Thank you to all of our visitors, volunteers, staff, for making this season a success. We appreciate your enthusiasm for learning about the unique natural and cultural resources of the Ocotillo Wells area.

We look forward to welcoming you back in Fall 2026 for another season of exploration and discovery.

See you next season! 🌵

What was your favorite moment from the 2025–26 season?

Did you know the Pumpkin Patch at Ocotillo Wells SVRA is made up of naturally formed sandstone concretions? 🎃🌵Over time,...
05/22/2026

Did you know the Pumpkin Patch at Ocotillo Wells SVRA is made up of naturally formed sandstone concretions? 🎃🌵

Over time, wind and water erosion revealed these unique rounded formations hidden beneath the desert surface. Their pumpkin-like appearance has made the Pumpkin Patch one of the most recognizable geologic features in the park.

Help protect this special landscape by staying on designated routes and avoiding climbing on the formations.

Have you visited the Pumpkin Patch before?

📸 Arriana Fowlkes

Did you know iguanas can stay active in high temperatures?! While most reptiles (and people) run from high temperatures,...
05/21/2026

Did you know iguanas can stay active in high temperatures?! While most reptiles (and people) run from high temperatures, these Desert Iguanas thrive in it!

📸Maritza Mendoza

Stay Safe! T-CLOC Check everyone!
05/05/2026

Stay Safe! T-CLOC Check everyone!

Who has been to Gas Domes? Do you wonder why it is here? It's a unique feature of Ocotillo Wells SVRA and we hope you ar...
04/28/2026

Who has been to Gas Domes? Do you wonder why it is here? It's a unique feature of Ocotillo Wells SVRA and we hope you are excited to learn more about it!

📷Photo credit: Arriana Fowlkes

Will you join us for a program? Learn about animals and how our pumpkins are made? Possibly attend a Junior Ranger Progr...
04/24/2026

Will you join us for a program? Learn about animals and how our pumpkins are made? Possibly attend a Junior Ranger Program and earn your own Junior Ranger Badge? We will be here and we hope you can join us!

Saturday April 25, 2026
Programs meet at the Discovery Center, intended for youth aged 7-12, and adult supervision is required.

10:30am Junior Ranger Program: The Roadrunner
Discover how roadrunners survive in the harsh desert, what they eat, and why protecting their habitat matters. Junior Rangers will explore how small actions help protect the land for animals and people alike.

2:00pm Junior Ranger Program: The Secret Life of
Kangaroo Rats
Discover how this tiny desert animal survives in harsh conditions using special adaptations like nighttime activity, powerful jumping legs, and the ability to live with very little water.

10:00am-2:30pm: Pop up at Pumpkin Patch
Information, maps, and wildlife at Ocotillo Wells!


Friends Of Ocotillo Wells

04/21/2026

Watch your step! Numerous Colorado Desert Sidewinders, Crotalus cerastes ssp. laterorepens, have been spotted around the park with the warmer weather!
Sidewinders are small rattlesnakes that are named for their unique movement. These snakes have a sideways gait, as opposed to other snakes' forward, slithering movement. Highly adapted, this sideways gait allows the animal to speedily move across hot sand with minimal contact.
Like any animal with a mouth, they can bite and are venomous. Although, given the opportunity, they would rather make a speedy exit away from you or stay still and be left alone. These creatures are experts in camouflage and at times will crater into the sand, with only the horn-shaped scales above their eyes visible.
Remember to view and respect them from a distance! All animals and plants are protected within the California State Park system and play an important role in this ecosystem.

Join us for a program or two this weekend! The weather should be windy on Friday and a high of 83 on Saturday. Pretty ni...
04/09/2026

Join us for a program or two this weekend! The weather should be windy on Friday and a high of 83 on Saturday. Pretty nice!

Programs meet at the Discovery Center, intended for youth aged 7-12, and adult supervision is required.

10:30am Junior Ranger Program:
Rattlesnakes: Friend or Foe?
Are rattlesnakes something to fear or fascinating animals to respect? Join us to explore the truth about rattlesnakes! Learn how they survive, bust common myths, discover which species live in our park, and find out what to do if you encounter one in the wild.

2:00pm Junior Ranger Program:
Big Ears, Big Survival!
Join us for a fun and interactive adventure as we discover how desert animals survive using their amazing big ears! Meet the kit fox and the jackrabbit, and learn how their ears help them stay cool, find food, and stay safe from danger.

1:30- 5:00pm Pumpkin Patch Pop Up Booth
Information, maps, and wildlife at Ocotillo Wells!

Friends Of Ocotillo Wells

Address

5172 Highway 78
Borrego Springs, CA
92004

Website

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