There is absolutely no shortage of camping in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Four developed campgrounds with 175 total sites and eight primitive campgrounds with even more places to camp are located throughout the park. Primitive campgrounds are free, and sites at developed campgrounds range from fifteen to thirty-five dollars per night (and $80 for a group site at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground).
The primitive campgrounds have vault toilets (except at Yaqui Pass), but not picnic tables or other amenities. Fish Creek Campground is the most developed of the primitive campgrounds. Its six sites all have their own fire rings, which are not included at other primitive campgrounds.
Blair Valley Campground is a large undeveloped area situated at 2,500 feet above sea level, providing more moderate temperatures than the desert below. Culp Valley is the highest primitive campground at 3,350 feet and Fish Creek is the lowest at 280 feet.
Unlimited roadside camping is available throughout the park, similar to Mojave National Preserve. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has fairly specific rules regarding their roadside parking:
- Do not camp farther than one car length from any dirt or paved road
- Do not camp within 100 feet of any water source
- There is no garbage collection outside developed campgrounds so pack-in pack-out
- Ground fires are not permitted, and metal containers must be used for all campfires
This last rule is the trickiest. Bring a metal container to keep your fire off the ground. Pack out all coals, and dispose of them as trash. Coals should not be buried or spread out on the soil.
Dogs are welcome on leashes within campgrounds, but dogs are not allowed on trails or in wilderness areas. Overall, the desert is not a good place for dogs. Burned paw pads, cactus quills, and snakebites pose a danger to dogs, and canines threaten desert biomes as well. A dog’s scent can scare other animals away from trail areas, shrinking the habitat they rely on to survive.
If you not interested in sleeping on the ground, check out other lodging options on tripadvisor.com.
Developed Campgrounds in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Borrego Palm Canyon Campground | 122 sites | reservations accepted | $25 – $80 per night | drinking water, picnic tables, shade ramadas, fire rings, showers, and flush toilets | elevation 775 feet | Start of Borrego Palm Canyon Trail and Panoramic Overlook Trail
Tamarisk Grove Campground | 27 sites | reservations accepted | $25 per night | non-potable water, picnic tables, shade ramadas, fire rings, showers, and flush toilets | elevation 1,400 feet | Start of Cactus Loop Trail and Yaqui Well Trail
Vern Whitaker Horse Camp | 10 sites | reservations accepted | $30 per night | drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, showers, and flush toilets | elevation 960 feet
Bow Willow Campground | 16 sites | first-come first-serve | $15 per night | picnic tables, shade ramadas, fire rings, and flush toilets | elevation 950 feet
Primitive Campgrounds in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Blair Valley Primitive Campground | Lots of sites | first-come first-serve | $0 per night | vault toilets | elevation 2,500 feet
Sheep Canyon Primitive Campground | first-come first-serve | $0 per night | picnic tables, shade ramadas, vault toilets | elevation 1,500 feet
Culp Valley Primitive Campground | first-come first-serve | $0 per night | vault toilets | elevation 3,350 feet | Start of Culp Valley Loop
Aroyo Salado Primitive Campground | first-come first-serve | $0 per night | vault toilets | elevation 880 feet
Yaqui Pass Primitive Campground | first-come first-serve | $0 per night | vault toilets | elevation 1,730 feet| Start of Kenyon Overlook Trail
Yaqui Well Primitive Campground | first-come first-serve | $0 per night | vault toilets | elevation 1,400 feet
Fish Creek Primitive Campground | 6 Sites | first-come first-serve | $0 per night | fire rings, vault toilets | elevation 280 feet
Mountain Palm Primitive Campground | first-come first-serve | $0 per night | fire rings, vault toilets | elevation 760 feet
Or view California Desert trails and campgrounds in a larger map
Hikes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
| Trail | Description | Distance | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
 810 | Calcite Mine Trail This figure-eight shaped lollipop loop visits enthralling narrows and a mine site important to the history of the Anza-Borrego Desert. | 4 - 4.25 miles 600 feet | 33.2811, -116.0964 |
 820 | Borrego Palm Canyon Trail This loop visits a popular palm tree oasis in a canyon west of Borrego Springs. | 3.25 miles 450 feet | 33.2702, -116.4182 |
 822 | Panoramic Overlook Trail The out and back hike ascends a ridge on the south side of Borrego Palm Canyon to sweeping views of the San Ysidro Mountains and Borrego Valley. | 1 mile 275 feet | 33.267663, -116.409476 |
 830 | Hellhole Canyon Trail to Maidenhair Falls This out and back hike visits a 20-foot waterfall in a canyon near Borrego Springs, making it the perfect place to cool off on a hot day in the California Desert. | 5.5 miles 1,000 feet | 33.248037, -116.40594 |
 833 | Culp Valley Loop This loop visits Culp Valley Overlook and Pena Springs, delivering views of the San Ysidro Mountains and Borrego Valley along the way. | 2.2 miles 200 feet | 33.2241, -116.454725 |
 836 | Tubb Canyon Trail to Big Spring This out and back hike follows a footpath across Tubb Canyon to Big Spring in a desert canyon below Pinyon Ridge in the San Ysidro Mountains. | 1.5 miles 200 feet | 33.211274, -116.438534 |
 840 | The Slot This out and back hike crosses a narrow canyon beneath a natural rock span that is among the most photographed landmarks in the park. | 0.8 miles 100 feet | 33.18213, -116.21417 |
 843 | Kenyon Overlook Trail This loop sets out from Yaqui Pass to reach an incredible viewpoint across Mescal Bajada. | 1.15 miles 125 feet | 33.148143, -116.348653 |
 845 | Cactus Loop Trail This loop on a self-guided nature trail explores cacti and other plants that have adapted to survive in the Anza-Borrego Desert. | 0.75 miles 225 feet | 33.138755, -116.37494 |
 846 | Yaqui Well Trail This out and back hike on a self-guided nature trail explores area botany and history on the way to a rare desert water source. | 1.6 miles 100 feet | 33.138333, -116.37649 |
 850 | Village Site No hiking required to visit this Kumeyaay Indian Village Site on Mine Wash Road where you can find morteros in a collection of boulders. | 0.1 miles | 33.113076, -116.34512 |
 855 | Narrows Earth Trail This short self-guided loop explores the geology of the park. | 0.5 miles 50 feet | 33.13072, -116.30155 |
 860 | Elephant Trees Trail This easy loop offers a lesson in desert botany including the rare elephant tree. | 1 mile 50 feet | 33.068153, -116.1168 |
 870 | Pictograph Trail This out and back hike visits rock paintings drawn by Kumeyaay Indians who lived in the Anza-Borrego Desert thousands of years ago. | 1.8 miles 190 feet | 33.01965, -116.3598 |
 880 | Morteros Trail This out and back hike visits a village of boulders once occupied by Kumeyaay Indians who left behind Morteros, grinding bowls carved into the rock. | 0.6 miles 40 feet | 33.00895, -116.3784 |
 890 | Marshal South Home Trail This out and back hike ascends to the ruins of an adobe cabin on Ghost Mountain (Yaquitepec) with great views above Blair Valley. | 1.3 miles 450 feet | 33.003382, -116.389789 |
 900 | Rainbow Canyon Trail This out and back hike follows an undeveloped trail up a colorful canyon full of vibrant rock formations and desert plants. | 2.2 miles 300 feet | 32.99775, -116.44755 |
 930 | Wind Caves Trail This short hike climbs to a sandstone formation that begs to be explored. | 1.25 miles 250 feet | 32.9933, -116.1184 |
 | Joshua Tree National Park Nine campgrounds with 500 total sites are spread throughout the park to facilitate your visit. |
 | Mojave National Preserve A few campgrounds and endless roadside camping accommodate stays within the preserve. |
 | Death Valley National Park Nine campgrounds are spread throughout this large park to facilitate your visit. |
[…] we arrived to the sands of Anza Borrego, we set out to find the perfect camping spot. We had read online that Fish Creek was the place to go for the best free, primitive camping as it provides […]
We drove from San Diego to Anza Borrego for some epic desert camping at Fish Creek. We got wood and beverages at the Iron Door and had an insane time trying to bike through the sand at Fish Creek Wash. It was the perfect time of year to visit and we look forward to returning to hike the mud caves!
Fish Creek Campground: free, restrooms, fire pits, solitude, beautiful! Bring A LOT of water.
Check out our post with more tips, photos and more! Enjoy
http://mrandmrsadventure.com/2014/03/20/camping-and-biking-in-anza-borrego-state-park/
It is probably obvious, but the park guidelines are “Do not camp CLOSER than one car length from any dirt or paved road”.
It is incorrectly stated on this page as •Do not camp farther than one car length from any dirt or paved road. That is wrong. It is not safe and not allowed.
Hi Dave,
I’ve uploaded a photo of the park regulations page from a guide for Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. For primitive/backcountry camping and day use it reads that “Vehicles must be parked no more than 1 vehicle length off the road. Do not trample vegetation or drive over geological features.”
Thanks. Sorry to post incorrect information. I was at park headquarters and must have misunderstood the ranger’s instructions (because it sounds unsafe).
Thanks for your clarification.
Potable water, where we can find?
Hello,
I need to know if you are still allowed to camp at the wind caves inside the small caves. I did it when I was a younger boys out and was wondering if I still can with a few friends? Also would there be a fee if we did?
I’d definitely recommend the Arroyo Salado campground, if you like quiet, wild camping like us. No reservation needed and there were plenty of spots when we rolled up over President’s Day weekend. You can have fires — just go to the hardware store in town and get a metal trash can lid for $5.
The star-gazing there is worth the site not having potable water!
[…] place to begin your exploration of the Anza-Borrego Desert. To reach the trailhead, drive through Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, the largest developed campground in the park, where an eight-dollar day use fee is charged. This […]
Thanks for posting about camp fires and the requirement of a metal container.
Too many times we see old fire rings with all kinds of trash left in them.
Thanks,
Bob
hi there – just checking if your list for free camping / environmental camping is still correct for 2017?
With Bow-Willow would it still be first come first serve? – If so where do you pay the $15 fee? Sorry for basic questions but am having issues in getting basic questions answered on Reserve America.
Thank you!
I believe that this information is still up to date. Stop by the visitor center in Borrego Springs (or call them at (760)767-4205 for the latest updates). You can deposit the fee at the campground. Bring the exact amount or a check.
so im an avid offroader and im curious as to if im allowed to offroad were i want or what am i allowed to do
How much does it cost to camp at Agua Caliente campground?
[…] Anza-Borrego has many campgrounds and also allows roadside camping – HikesPeak offers a nice overview of the facilities and nearby attractions at the different campgrounds […]
Can a Volkswagen Jetta make it to any of this primitive campgrounds? we are feeling spontaneous!