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The Anza-Borrego Desert is a quiet place for van camping. And Borrego Palm Canyon Campground has beautiful night skies and pretty views.
But something was out there lurking in the middle of the night, under the stars. So stay tuned to find out, in case you might encounter this too!
I’ll share what to know when staying there, what it’s like, and tips.
Getting to Borrego Palm Canyon Campground
From Los Angeles, it takes about 4 hours at 150 miles. The easiest way is to take the I-10 East to the CA-71 South.
Then from there, take the I-15 South to the CA-79 South.
Note that if you travel at night, you won’t find street lighting. This desert is a Dark Sky Park, so be cautious of traveling late.
Staying at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground
The California State Parks system operates Borrego Palm Canyon Campground. This campsite is open year-round.
However, after speaking to a staff member, she said some sites close during the summer. It’s way too hot!
Reservations
You can make a reservation from October 1 to April 30 online. I stayed in the winter, without a reservation.
I recommend booking ahead of time. You might not find a spot, as there was only one left when I arrived.
And people tend to reserve spots for a few days.
Campsites
The campground had plenty of open spots without hookups. The camper van didn’t have the water line connected.
But the spot had a full hookup. It was a spacious, level spot with a vast desert view.
There was a access to water, electricity, and a fire ring. You can buy firewood near the entrance.
Quiet, Dark Nights
Amid darkness, tumbleweeds bounced across the landscape. The campground was pretty quiet.
After eating, I searched for the bathrooms. Anza-Borrego Desert is dark at night.
The moon cast some light, but I needed a flashlight. I couldn’t help but think I saw some shadows moving.
It was so quiet, you really could have heard a pin drop.
The desert got frigid at night, and the stars twinkled in the clear sky. The moon glowed over the land, highlighting the palm trees.
A Bump in the Night
I eventually fell asleep, but I woke up in the middle of the night. Something rocked the van.
At first, I thought it may have been an animal. But that would have been a huge animal. Or a person…
There weren’t security cameras set up on the van, so you can bet I was lying there with eyes wide open for a while.
The RVs and trucks started their engines between 3 and 4 a.m. and woke me up. Otherwise, I slept well.
In the morning, I looked for animal prints on the ground.
A few animals live in the Anza-Borrego desert, such as bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, and snakes. The only ones big enough to rock the van could be a bighorn sheep or deer.
I found some hoof prints, but not near the van. But I also saw some shoe prints that were not ours.
And both looked pretty fresh. Hmmm…
Clean Facilities
In the morning, the sun glowed over the land. That was when I saw how clean the facilities were.
I ate breakfast against the mountainous backdrop. The wooden picnic table had not one smudge of dirt on it.
For a state campground, the place looked great and was very well-maintained, with clean bathrooms and showers.
You’ll need tokens to shower, but they don’t cost much.
The ranger told me these tokens only work at Anza-Borrego Desert campgrounds. You can’t use them at other locations.
I told him that California needs a system so the tokens work at all the state campgrounds. He said I had a great idea!
Travel Notes
On another trip, I saw many tent campers picnicking and hanging out in the heat. I didn’t expect to see so many people outside in the sweltering hot conditions.
The staff had told me that during the summer, some undeveloped and developed sites without hookups remain open.
There’s a lot of dispersed camping in the park, so that’s always an option.
No matter where you stay in the desert, be sure to bring lots of water. When I’ve visited in the winter, the days can still heat up with intense sun.
Overall
Luckily, if this campground is booked up, you can always do dispersed camping. Borrego Palm Canyon is indeed a quiet desert escape for van camping.
It doesn’t cost very much for peace of mind. It’s well worth the trip, and maybe you’ll find out what’s out there at night!
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