Borrego Springs is a unique desert town at the center of Anza-Borrego State Park. It is an ideal destination for a quick weekend getaway or a budget-friendly family day trip. Regardless of the season, this desert oasis offers many attractions. When planning a trip, it is essential to note that summers can get quite hot, with temperatures reaching triple digits.
As you enter downtown Borrego Springs, you’ll feel like you’ve taken a step back in time. This little desert community is located against the brown hues of the nearby San Ysidro Mountains. You won’t find any big box or chain stores along the main street. Still, you can enjoy a relaxed pace and many activities, including hiking, biking, and a wonderful collection of metal sculptures at Galleta Meadows.
Galleta Meadows Steel Sculptures
Galleta Meadows Estates is a stunning collection of more than 100 welded-steel sculptures. These sculptures depict prehistoric animals, farmworkers, saints, and cacti and are the incredible work of Ricardo Breceda. The sculptures can be viewed just outside Borrego Springs, mainly along Borrego Springs Road, both north and south of downtown.
Many Sculptures can be easily seen from the road or a short hike in Borrego Springs. However, we advise you to avoid driving on the soft sand unless you have a 4WD vehicle, as getting stuck in the sand is common, and towing cars out can be expensive. If planning a day trip, you can obtain maps of Anza-Borrego Park and Galleta Meadows from the Visitor Center. The center is open only on weekends and holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Inside the Anza-Borrego Park visitor center, you will find an exhibit and a park ranger to answer any questions about camping or other outdoor recreational activities.
A good side trip while you’re in the area is the nearby mountain community of Julian, a small historic gold mining known for its apple pies and cider. The town is located just 20 miles west of Borrego Springs on the edge of the mixed pine-oak woodland of the Cleveland National Forest.
Galleta Meadows Sculptures Map
Getting to Borrego Springs
If you choose to spend more than one day in the area, various lodging options are available. Additionally, there are several restaurants in town.
Borrego Springs is situated in the extreme western Sonoran Desert, 90 miles northeast of San Diego and 150 miles from Los Angeles. The 600,000-acre desert state park surrounds the town.
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