Anza-Borrego Foundation

06/12/2026

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park weekend update!

Friday Park Updates
Forecast
Sat 6/6 high 103f low 67f
Sun 6/7 high 100f low 65f

High temperatures are in the forecast. Remember to carry water and drink it. Prepare yourself and your vehicle with extra supplies such as extra clothing, sunscreen, water, food, and maps. Cell service is not reliable in and around Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Sat, June 6
2p Junior Rangers! Perfect for ages 7-12. Visitor Center

SAVE THE DATE! Celebrate California State Parks Week. This is where you live!
Sat, June 13
8p Scorpion Safari and Explore and Learn about Nocturnal Life in the Anza-Borrego Desert. Visitor Center 200 Palm Canyon Drive. Wear closed-toe shoes, bring water and a UV/Black flashlight if you have one--some will be available to borrow.

Annual seasonal closures June 1-Sept 30
• Visitor Center will be open on weekends and holidays only from 9a-5p
• Limited campsites available at Borrego Palm Canyon campground on a first come first serve basis
• Vern Whitaker Horse camp and Tamarisk Grove campground will be closed

📸Fluorescent side view of a scorpion in the Visitor Center garden

06/11/2026

Looking for a unique way to celebrate Father's Day weekend? Join us for Anza-Borrego Under the Stars at the Peg Leg Smith Monument and experience the magic of one of California's premier International Dark Sky Parks.

Bring Dad for an unforgettable evening of stargazing as an astronomer guides you through the stars, planets, and constellations visible in the desert night sky. Whether you're new to astronomy or a seasoned skywatcher, this relaxed, family-friendly event offers a chance to slow down, look up, and experience the wonder of the universe together.

• Easy 2WD access
• Family-friendly and beginner-friendly
• Telescope viewing and guided stargazing
• Bring camp chairs, snacks, and beverages
• Optional camping if you'd like to extend your adventure

Saturday, June 20, 2026
8:30–10:30 p.m.
Peg Leg Smith Monument, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Register today and celebrate Father's Day under some of the darkest skies in California.

Experience the night sky like never before at the Peg Leg Smith Monument, nestled within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park—an official International Dark Sky Park. Explore stars, planets, and constellations through telescopes, guided by an astronomer.

06/10/2026

As discussions about the proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink continue, we've seen a growing amount of misinformation, confusion, and unanswered questions circulating online.

To help our community stay informed, we've created a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions resource covering what is being proposed, why Anza-Borrego Foundation opposes routes through the Park and Borrego Springs, potential impacts to wilderness, dark skies, wildlife, recreation, and local communities, as well as what comes next in the review process. The FAQ also addresses common questions about energy demand, alternative routes, and project costs.

We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read the full FAQ and share it with friends, family, and fellow Park supporters. An informed community is one of our strongest tools for protecting Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

https://theabf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/FAQ-1.pdf

06/09/2026

30% off our entire store through June 15! Shop now at https://theabf.org/store/

06/08/2026

Become a Certified California Naturalist in Anza-Borrego!

Do you love the desert and want to deepen your understanding of one of California’s most remarkable landscapes? Join Anza-Borrego Foundation and UC Environmental Stewards for an immersive nine-week California Naturalist course focused on the natural history, ecology, and conservation of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Learn alongside expert scientists and naturalists as you explore the Park’s geology, plants, wildlife, and water resources through online discussions, guest lectures, field experiences, and hands-on stewardship activities.

Course highlights include:
• Weekly live online sessions
• Four guided field trips in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
• Participatory science and stewardship training
• An independent natural history project
• California Naturalist certification upon completion

October 12 – December 13, 2026
Hybrid Format: Online & Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Space is limited to 18 participants and the course is expected to fill quickly.

Register today and take your passion for the desert to the next level through learning, discovery, and stewardship.

Are you passionate about the desert and ready to deepen your connection to this unique landscape? Do you want to be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and network to help protect and preserve our diverse wildlife, habitats, and water resources? Join Anza-Borrego Foundation and UC Environmental Ste...

06/03/2026

We need your help. Please make a donation today.

The proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink threatens one of California's last great truly wild places. SDG&E has significant financial resources behind this project. Protecting Anza-Borrego requires that ABF has a seat at the table, too.

ABF is investing in advocacy, outreach, education, and coalition building—but we can't do it alone. This work will continue for years as the project moves through environmental review.

If you want to help keep Anza-Borrego wild, now is the time.

Every dollar helps ensure the Park has a voice in the fight ahead.

Donate: https://theabf.org/ways-to-give/donate/

06/02/2026

Each month, Moments in Time with Dave Van Cleve shares fascinating stories from the history of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park through the eyes of one of the Park’s most knowledgeable former leaders. In this newest installment, Dave reveals how an unexpected conversation about a baseball field at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park ultimately led to the creation of Camp Borrego—ABF’s outdoor education program for 5th graders in Anza-Borrego.

From the early vision and logistical challenges to the lasting impact on hundreds of students, this story highlights how meaningful outdoor experiences can inspire future generations of desert stewards. Read the full blog post and discover how one small opportunity helped shape a lasting legacy of education and connection in Anza-Borrego.

Moments in Time with Dave Van Cleve: How a Baseball Field at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park led to a 5th-grade Camp in Anza-Borrego David Van Cleve has many ties to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Anza-Borrego Foundation. In the 1980s, he was an environmental scientist in the San Diego regional offic...

05/29/2026

Some thoughts belong in the desert.

Our Anza-Borrego Stone Journals are perfect for capturing the reflections, memories, sketches, and adventures inspired by time in the Park. Made from durable, water-resistant stone paper, they’re designed to go wherever your journey takes you.

Save 20% through September 1 with code JOURNAL! https://theabf.org/product/retro-bighorn-stone-journal/

Because sometimes the best souvenirs aren’t the photos we take—they’re the thoughts we bring home.

05/29/2026

Good morning from Borrego Palm Canyon! ☀️It’s a gorgeous sunny morning, quite windy, and only 67°. We’re enjoying these last cool mornings of the season before summer arrives in full heat soon.