Anza-Borrego — Desert Bighorn
Anza-Borrego Desert SP · near Borrego Springs · California Desert
Wildlife Watching
At a glance
- Best season
- Oct–Apr (cool season); bighorn often near water in warm months; blooms in spring
- Open year round
- Yes
What is here
- Wildlife
- land-mammals · birds
- Species
- Peninsular desert bighorn sheep, roadrunners, hummingbirds, migrant songbirds, raptors
- Amenities
- Desert bighorn sheep · Palm-oasis bird magnets · California's largest state park · Spring wildflower blooms
- Best for
- Desert bighorn & oasis birding
- Features
- Namesake desert bighorn · Palm Canyon oasis · Migrant bird magnet · Spring superblooms
Worth knowing
- Hazards
- Extreme heat outside cool months · Rugged canyon hiking · Carry ample water · Bighorn are wary — bring optics
- Good for a first timer
- No
Wildlife Watching detail
- Viewing
- trail
- Effort
- moderate
- Habitat
- plains
- Sighting
- 3
- Viewing notes
- California's largest state park, named for the desert bighorn sheep ('borrego') that clamber the canyon walls — plus roadrunners, migrating birds at palm oases, and spring blooms
- Intl tip
- California's LARGEST state park, named for the desert bighorn sheep ('borrego') that clamber its canyon walls. The classic spot is Palm Canyon, where a rocky trail climbs to a palm oasis and bighorn come to water (especially in warm months) — scan the slopes with binoculars. Oases and washes draw hummingbirds, migrant songbirds, roadrunners, and raptors; good springs bring superblooms. Serious desert: dangerous heat outside Oct–Apr, rugged hiking, carry ample water. Bighorn are wary — bring optics and patience.
The guide
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — the largest state park in California — takes its name from the borrego, the Spanish word for t…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Anza-Borrego — Desert Bighorn — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 33.25, -116.4