California's Largest State Park Is A Hiker's Dream Full Of Gorgeous Flowers & Desert Views

When it comes to protected land, it's hard to compete with California. The Sunshine State boasts not only nine national parks, but 280 state parks (the most in the U.S.) encompassing some 1.6 million acres. This includes at least 340 miles of coastline, 15,000 campsites, and 5,200 miles of hiking trails found in sites ranging from this spot offering beautiful bayside camping to an uncrowded, natural wonderland full of awe-inspiring trees. The size, range, and diversity of California's state parks is simply unmatched anywhere else in the country, and one of its crown jewels is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — the largest in the system.

Situated just east of San Diego near the border with Mexico, Anza-Borrego is a 600,000-acre expanse that features the best of California's colorful, and sometimes otherworldly desert landscape — including 12 wilderness areas. The park's 500 miles of dirt roads and 110 miles of hiking trails allow visitors to explore and soak up arresting vistas of wide-open land and dramatic rock formations. You can also keep your eye out for local wildlife and take in plenty of desert flora — especially the multichromatic array of wildflowers that come alive in late winter and early spring.

For those wishing to stay the night, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park also allows camping. You'll not only experience its splendors during the day, but also after dark when the sky — largely free of light pollution — turns into a brilliant tapestry of shining stars.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park was created in 1932 and named for Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza, as well as the bighorn sheep that call the park home, known as "borrego" in Spanish. Today the park occupies a vast arid landscape featuring washes, cacti, palm groves, slot canyons, stone rises, along with its iconic wildflowers. It's also a great place to spot wildlife — not just the elusive sheep the park is named for — but also a range of creatures such as bobcats, coyotes, jackrabbits, mule deer, mountain lions, and foxes. The park is also home to three species of rattlesnake, so stick to established paths, wear protective clothing, carry a walking stick, and make sure to keep your dog on a leash to avoid any unwanted encounters.

While people come to Anza-Borrego to experience the desert in its purest, starkest form, wildflowers are a particular draw, and for good reason: The park boasts more than 200 varieties of these colorful blooms, along with many other desert plants. However, these wildflowers can be temperamental and require specific conditions (rainfall, sun, wind, temperature) to open up. While these conditions can occur most any time of the year, the best time to catch the bloom is mid-March through May.

The best way to explore the park is to hit the trail, and hikes range from quick jaunts for beginners to multi-day treks deep into the heart of Anza-Borrego. When you're out on the path, keep your eyes open for Native American petroglyphs, as they're found throughout the reserve and can be found best via the Pictograph Trail. Just make sure to be respectful, which includes never touching or disturbing the rock art.

For those keen to do more than a day trip, there are plenty of opportunities for camping at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The park contains eight primitive campgrounds (no amenities, no reservations) and allows dispersed camping throughout most all of its 600,000 acres. This means that whether you're hiking, biking, horseback riding, ATVing, or driving its dirt roads, you can set up camp most anywhere. Just make sure to read up on the rules (there are some restrictions), and of course, practice "leave no trace" anywhere you go.

Anza-Borrego also has five developed campgrounds with RV spots and cabins, along with basic amenities including restrooms, hookups, and showers. These take reservations from October 1 to April 30 via ReserveCalifornia.com and may book up quickly during the popular winter months. Whichever kind of camping you opt for, make sure to adjust your gaze upwards once the sun sets, as Anza Borrego boasts some of the best stargazing in California. It's been designated as International Dark Sky Park, while nearby Borrego Springs was named the state's first International Dark Sky Community.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is just over an hour and a half drive from San Diego. As the name suggests, this is proper desert terrain and the temperatures can soar well into the 90s and even 100s, so bring plenty of water and pack for sun. The area is also prone to thunderstorms and flash flooding during parts of the year, so keep on top of weather reports. If you plan to explore the park in your vehicle, know that a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle is a must for some roads in the park. While you're in the area, hit the road and embrace serenity at California's best desert towns.