Welcome to the BORREGO EXPERIENCE Stay Safe. Get lots of fresh air!

Spread out and avoid the crowds in our 1,000 square miles of open spaces. Marvel at spectacular mountain views. Challenge yourself to one or more of our 200 half day hikes. Stay up late for infinite night time stargazing.

As Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the community of Borrego Springs and our businesses gradually welcome visitors back to Borrego, it’s important to know how to enjoy our town and outdoor spaces safely.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, face coverings are now required indoors (including visitor centers and State park restrooms) and outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. Yet, that’s not the only consideration before visiting a recreation site right now. Be prepared for new protocols to ensure a happy — and safe — visit. Here are five important steps for safely getting outside in the Park and visiting the community of Borrego Springs in 2020.

• Stick to groups of under 10 people and only members of your household. Limiting travel and contact with non-household members helps contain the spread of COVID-19. Stay home if you feel sick or have any flu-like symptoms.

• Prevent crowding in parking lots and on trails. Pay attention to your surroundings. Stay on designated trails except when you briefly need to give others more room when passing to maintain physical distancing. Leaving no trace and ensuring the park stay clean lessens the impact on staff and the risk of exposure to virus. Take any trash with you, including disposable gloves and face coverings, and make wildfire prevention a priority.

• Bring the essential supplies needed for your stay. Bring drinking water, hand sanitizer, face coverings, money for food and gas. You do not want to run out of water in the desert, especially if hiking or cycling. Plan on brining with you a minimum of one gallon of drinking water per person per day. While only 90 miles from San Diego to the west and 70 to Palm Springs in the east, that is where the hospitals are. Bring a first aid kit. With limited local ambulance and rescue services have a plan to self-evacuate in an emergency.

• Practice good personal hygiene and physical distancing. Just because you’re outdoors doesn’t mean you won’t run into other people. Keep practicing good personal hygiene and wash or sanitize your hands often. Know which facilities are open (restrooms may be closed) and avoid high-touchpoint areas like playgrounds and picnic shelters as they are not disinfected frequently. Cover your cough with a tissue, or the inside of your elbow.

• Monitor BorregoExperience.com for up to date information about visiting the Park and community. What’s open, what’s not. Know where the crowded spots are and recommendations for alternate places to hike, bike or visit. We also have an extensive and detailed list of recommendations updated daily. If you have any questions please email us at BorregoExperienceInfo@Gmail.com.