Wildflowers in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Wildflowers draw crowds of visitors to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Who wouldn’t want to see the desert come alive with vibrant tapestries of colors? At peak bloom, which lasts just a couple of weeks, the desert floor transforms into a dazzling tableau with carpets of yellow, red, and purple. The bloom typically climaxes in early march, but the intensity and timing of the bloom varies each year. Rainfall, wind, and temperature influence the scale and scheduling of the bloom. Unfortunately, in recent years invasive Sahara Mustard has swept into the Anza-Borrego Desert destroying much of the native vegetation, and diminishing the wildflower bloom. Visitors are encouraged to pull up this weed when spotted.

Even outside peak bloom, wildflowers can be seen along trails and roadways throughout the spring. Keep an eye open for flowering cacti, bushes, and other vegetation. News of the bloom is posted on the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park website, and can also be received over the phone by calling the wildflower hotline at 760-767-4684. You only need to hike one of the short trails in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to discover lots of wildflowers.

Joshua Tree WildflowersSee more wildflowers in Joshua Tree National Park
The desert bloom to the north is impressive as well. Take a look at blooming Canterbury bell, desert dandelions, desert poppies, Engelmann hedgehog, globemallow, Mojave aster, Mojave mound cactus, sand blazing star, and more.
Los Angeles WildflowersSee more wildflowers in Los Angeles
The spring broom around LA brings out blue dicks, blue-eyed grass, monkeyflower, Chinese houses, lupines, phacelia, poppies, shooting stars, sunflowers, and more.

 

Flowers in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Barrel Cactus wildflower
Barrel cactus along Kenyon Overlook Trail
Barrel Cactus wildflower
Barrel cactus along Kenyon Overlook Trail
Barrel Cactus Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Barrel cactus along Elephant Trees Trail
Barrel Cactus Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Barrel cactus along Cactus Loop Trail
Barrel Cactus Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Barrel cactus along Cactus Loop Trail
Barrel Cactus Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Barrel cactus along Yaqui Well Trail
Barrel Cactus Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Barrel cactus along Yaqui Well Trail
Beavertail Cactus Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Beavertail cactus along Yaqui Well Trail
Beavertail Cactus Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Beavertail cactus along Yaqui Well Trail
Beavertail Cactus Wildflower
Beavertail cactus along Kenyon Overlook Trail
Beavertail Cactus Wildflower
Beavertail cactus along Kenyon Overlook Trail
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Beavertail cactus along Elephant Trees Trail
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Beavertail cactus along Cactus Loop Trail
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Bigelow’s monkeyflower along Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Bigelow’s monkeyflower along Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Brittlebush along Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Brittlebush along Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
Brown Eyed Primrose Wildflower
Brown-eyed primrose along Calcite Mine Trail
Creosote bush desert Wildflower
Creosote bush along Yaqui Well Trail
Desert Chicory Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Desert chicory along Wind Caves Trail
Desert dandelion Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Desert dandelion at the Village Site
Desert Poppy Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Desert poppy and Bigelow’s monkeyflower along Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
Fishhook Cactus Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Fishhook cactus along Elephant Trees Trail
Fishhook Cactus Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Fishhook cactus along Yaqui Well Trail
Fishhook Cactus Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Fishhook cactus along Yaqui Well Trail
Lupines Wildflower
Lupines along Calcite Mine Trail
Lupines Wildflower Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Lupines along Calcite Mine Trail
Ocotillo Wildflower Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Ocotillo along Elephant Trees Trail
Ocotillo Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Ocotillo along Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
Ocotillo Wildflower
Ocotillo along Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
Phacelia Wildflower
Phacelia along Split Mountain Wash
Prickly Poppy Wildflower
Prickly poppy along Wind Caves Trail
Purple Mat Wildflower
Purple mat along Rainbow Canyon Trail
Silver Cholla Cactus flower
Silver cholla cactus along Kenyon Overlook Trail
Silver Cholla Cactus bloom
Silver cholla cactus along Kenyon Overlook Trail
blooming Silver Cholla Cactus
Silver cholla cactus along Kenyon Overlook Trail
flowering Silver Cholla Cactus
Silver cholla cactus along Kenyon Overlook Trail
Silver Cholla Cactus wildflower
Silver cholla cactus along Cactus Loop Trail
Silver Cholla Cactus flower
Silver cholla cactus along Cactus Loop Trail

And that invasive weed…

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Sahara Mustard

 

Hikes in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

 

TrailDescriptionDistanceLocation
Anza-Borrego Desert Calcite Mine810Calcite 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
Anza-Borrego Desert Borrego Palm Canyon820Borrego 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
Anza-Borrego Desert Panoramic Overlook Trail822Panoramic 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
Anza-Borrego Desert Hellhole Canyon Waterfall830Hellhole 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
Culp Valley Loop833Culp 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
Tubb Canyon Trail836Tubb 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
Anza-Borrego Desert Slot Canyon840The 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
Kenyon Overlook Trail843Kenyon 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
Anza-Borrego Desert Cactus Loop Trail845Cactus 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
Yaqui Well Trail Anza-Borrego Desert846Yaqui 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
Kumeyaay Indian Village Site850Village 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 miles33.113076,
-116.34512
Anza-Borrego Desert Narrows Earth Trail855Narrows Earth Trail
This short self-guided loop explores the geology of the park.
0.5 miles
50 feet
33.13072,
-116.30155
Anza-Borrego Desert Elephant Trees Trail860Elephant Trees Trail
This easy loop offers a lesson in desert botany including the rare elephant tree.
1 mile
50 feet
33.068153,
-116.1168
Anza-Borrego Desert Pictograph Trail870Pictograph 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
Anza-Borrego Desert Morteros Trail880Morteros 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
Marshal South Cabin Trail890Marshal 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
Rainbow Canyon900Rainbow 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
Anza-Borrego Desert Wind Caves930Wind Caves Trail
This short hike climbs to a sandstone formation that begs to be explored.
1.25 miles
250 feet
32.9933,
-116.1184

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