Overview
With over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park includes washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas of the Colorado Desert. The park office, visitor center, and three of its campgrounds have many accessible features described below. Phone 760-767-5311. Many visitors approach from the east or west via Highways S22 and 78. Highway S2 enters the park from the south off Interstate 8.
Camping
Borrego Palm Canyon Campground. Three tent campsites are accessible. All are accessibly furnished and located. Tent pads are 12'x 12' on soft sand. There are 48 sites with full hook-ups, two of which are accessible. Restrooms with showers: Five accessible unisex toilet rooms with separate showers are dispersed through upper and lower ends of campground with some near tent sites and some near sites with RV hookups. Routes of travel from sites to restrooms are accessible. There is one accessible parking space adjacent to each of the accessible restrooms.
Tamarisk Grove Campground. Two campsites are accessible. Restroom: A new accessible restroom and shower building is adjacent to one of the accessible campsites. An accessible parking space is adjacent to the building. The campfire center has been made accessible.
Bow Willow Campground. There are two accessible campsites and an accessible non-flush restroom at this remote primitive campground.
Trails
The 3/4 mile All-Access Trail near the Visitor Center has been improved and now connects the Visitor Center to the Borrego Palms Campground. Interpretive panels focus on area plants and animals and include Braille text keyed to alternate senses.
The Culp Valley Trail is a ˝ mile accessible trail that starts at the Culp Valley Campground located off S22, Montezuma Valley Road. Access to the trailhead is located on the backside of the campground. Accessible parking is available at the trailhead and the accessible restroom at the campground. This trail is constructed of compacted soil and gravel and has a destination overlook of the Borrego Valley and surrounding area.
Exhibits/Programs
Anza Borrego Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is generally accessible and includes automatic doors at the entry. Exhibits are generally accessible. Assistive listening devices are available. Exterior accessible restrooms off the parking area are available. Parking includes four designated accessible spaces with one van accessible. Route of travel from lot to Visitor Center entry is 300 feet, but path is paved and generally accessible.
Other Information
An accessible mounting ramp is available at the Horse Camp.
Definitions & Terms
Accessible
Meets all or most of the current accessibility standards; most visitors with disabilities will not need assistance.
Generally accessible
Meets many current codes and has few barriers, but some visitors with disabilities may need assistance.
Usable
Meets some current codes but has some barriers; many visitors with disabilities may require assistance.
Designated accessible
Describes facilities that have been set aside and usually signed or “designated” accessible because they met accessibility codes when built. Such facilities may vary from newer suggested guidelines in specified ways, and improvements may be planned or ongoing. Minor variations from guidelines are not usually described. This term is often used for parking spaces that are reserved for visitors with disabilities even though there may be minor issues with slope, signage, or size.
