The oases are prolific with many types of fauna, especially for bird-watching. The high-country to the north and east has closed-cone pine forests, manzanitas and oak woodlands. Seasonal wildflower displays can be seen in many plant community association throughout the park. The park has natural springs and oases, with the state's only native palm, the California fan palm. The park is home to elephant trees ( Bursera microphylla), which are “fairly common in parts of Baja California but north of the border practically confined to the Anza-Borrego region.” These woodlands include such plants as smoke tree ( Psorothamnus spinosus), velvet mesquite ( Prosopis velutina), and catclaw ( Acacia greggii). In the washes, Colorado/Sonoran microphylla woodlands can be found. The bajadas are predominantly creosote bush-bur sage with creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata) and the palo verde-cactus shrub ecosystems with the palo verde tree ( Parkinsonia microphylla), cacti, and ocotillo. The park contains bajadas and desert washes rock formations and colorful badlands, large arid landscapes, and mountains. The park has about 600 species of native plants. The higher extreme northern and eastern sections in the Peninsular Ranges are in the California montane chaparral and woodlands ecoregion. The habitats are primarily within the Colorado Desert ecosystem of the Sonoran Desert ecoregion. Flora and fauna ĭesert bighorn sheep at Palm Canyon Oasis. The park was designated a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association in 2018. Stargazing is another activity at Anza-Borrego. The park also provides access points to the Pacific Crest Trail. These highways climb from the coast to 2,400 ft (730 m) above sea level, then descend 2,000 ft (610 m) down into the Borrego Valley in the center of the park.Ī popular site to hike to near the visitor center is Hellhole Palms, a grove of California fan palms in Hellhole Canyon near Maidenhair Falls. S67 provides access through the high and forested Laguna Mountains, such as in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Access on the west- Pacific Ocean side is via California County Routes S79. Access on the east- Coachella Valley side is via County Route S22 and State Route 78. The park is approximately a two-hour drive northeast from San Diego, southeast from Riverside or Irvine, and south from Palm Springs. Park information and maps are available in the visitor center. The park has 500 mi (800 km) of dirt roads, 12 designated wilderness areas, and 110 mi (180 km) of hiking trails. Sunset Travel Guide to Southern California (1974)
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