Memories of the Anza-Borrego Visitor Center

With more than 600,000 acres, Anza Borrego Desert State Park has many areas worth exploring. But for the sheer convenience of meeting the widest array of species, both plant and animal, it is hard to find a better spot than the Anza-Borrego Visitor Center.

It is possible to reach Borrego Springs through Julian by descending CA-78. Most visitors will approach via the Montezuma Grade, or State Road S-22. Where the road reaches the town, a turn to the right will carry on into the town center. But a turn to the left leads to Palm Canyon and the Anza-Borrego Visitor Center.

One interesting aspect of the Visitor Center is the building itself. It is dug into a low hillside with native landscaping all around and above. The grounds are loaded with trees and shrubs, and most have signage describing their species. Inside the building are educational exhibits and a gift store with books and garments. The friendly staff eagerly answer questions from the curious who want to learn where to go in the park and what they might see. In spring, especially after a wet winter, wildflowers attract visitors from all across southern California. If there are other seasonal attractions such as Swainson’s Hawk migration, this is where folks might come to learn how to find these wonderful events.

There are walking trails winding through the property where I’ve found enjoyment meeting the local sparrows, wrens, gnatcatchers, doves, and thrashers. There is a small pond on the property that helps sustain rabbits, rodents, birds, and other wildlife. Life endures in this region year-round, but we frail humans usually avoid time here during the oppressively hot summers.