Borrego Springs | 5 Things to Do in Borrego Springs
What to Do in Borrego Springs
Borrego Springs is quite unique, located in San Diego County, 78 miles southeast of San Diego and 30 miles east of the Salton Sea. It’s the only town in California that is completely surrounded by a state park. Odds are you’re planning a trip to Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Borrego Springs is going to be your home base for the trip! You may have already planned out you’re hiking adventures but now you’re wondering what you’ll do on your down time or on your rest days. This post will review five suggested things to see and do in Borrego Springs.
Insider Tip: Summer months bring with it almost unbearable weather here in the desert. Most of the residents even leave during the summer months to seek out cooler temps. If you don’t want to be hiking in over 100°F weather, I highly recommend visiting Borrego Springs between late October to early/mid-April.
Galleta Meadows
A fan favorite in Borrego Springs is tracking down the 130 free-standing sculptures produced by artist Ricardo Breceda. These outdoor art sculptures play with the desert landscape. Visiting at different times of day will give you different perspectives of the surrounding desert landscape. These sculptures are also a favorite for those who enjoy night photography. Since Borrego Springs is a certified Dark Sky Community you can get fantastic photos of the night sky! Here is a helpful map outlining the location of some of the most popular sculptures.
Insider Tip: My favorite sculpture is the desert dragon as it travels across the road. Don’t miss it!
Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association Center Botanical Garden
If you want to become more familiar with the desert flora and fauna, I highly suggest a visit to the Borrego Botanical Garden. Located behind the Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association Center you’ll discover plants, trees, flowers, and cacti all native to the area. My favorite is the ocotillo, which can be spotted all around Borrego Spring. This is an easy garden stroll, and you might just be lucky enough to spot birds and butterflies on your visit. There are interpretive signs to guide you through your visit. The gardens are located at 625 Palm Canyon Drive. More information on the gardens here.
Insider Tip: Make sure to check out the Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association Center store on you visit and pick up a souvenir.
Borrego Springs Public Library
The Borrego Spring Public Library was constructed in 2019 and serves as a central meeting area for the community. There is a lot of pride and honor in the library and its unique architecture was inspired by the desert landscape. The structure itself was designed to be a Zero Net Energy building. The structure is also on stilts to minimize any impact if flooding occurs. Natural light seeps into reading nooks and corners. This is a place to go to feel inspired and connect with others. A visit needs to be on your Borrego Springs adventure. Watch this video to learn more about the thought and care that went into building the library. It’s a fantastic video to learn more about the library and the community of Borrego Springs.
Insider Tip: Check out the re-sell area where you can buy gently used book. Every time I visit Borrego Springs, I stop by the library to pick up a new book. Bring cash, books can be as low as a dollar, but only cash is currently accepted.
Borrego Art Institute/Art Park
The Borrego Art Institute is a place for everyone to experience and explore art. The non-profit organization runs a small art gallery in the center of town. Classes, events, and art shows are just some of the things locals and guests can participate in. Located behind the Art Institute is ArtPark. ArtPark is a fun interactive area featuring community gardens. Volunteers are responsible for running the beautiful park, it’s fun to take a stroll admiring all the different plants and flowers. The park also offers classes, community outreach programs, and seasonal produce! Check out the website for more information.
Insider Tip: Just head to the backside of the Borrego Art Institute and you’ll easily be able to locate the ArtPark!
Borrego Springs County Park
The Borrego Springs Park is located in the middle of town. A 16-acre park with a wide variety of activities for residents and visitors. They have pickleball, tennis, beach volleyball, basketball and bocce ball courts. There are walking paths that take you throughout the park. (Which can be fun for birdwatching and wildflower scouting!) There is a dog park with an area for small dogs as well as large dogs. A playground in located in the park for children to explore. And my favorite a small outdoor fitness area with various stations. I really enjoy listening to all the birds while I exercise in this area. Check out the website for park location, hours, and events!
Insider Tip: Bring your tennis racket or pickleball paddles and enjoy all that the park has to offer.
Additional Borrego Springs Resources
- Looking for wildflowers, check out this post!
- Where to eat in Borrego Springs!
- Christmas Circle Friday Farmers Market
- Looking for a luxurious stay, book a room at the Borrego Valley Inn.
Enjoy the little eclectic town of Borrego Springs, Adventure Awaits!