Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [310]
There are several other primitive campgrounds in the park – Culp Valley, Arroyo Salado, Yaqui Well, Yaqui Pass, Fish Creek and Mountain Palm Springs – which are free and have pit toilets but no water and only minimal facilities. Information about all campgrounds can be obtained from any ranger station or visitor center in the park, or online at www.parks.ca.gov.
Motels & Resorts
The following are in Borrego Springs. In summer temperatures soar and rates drop; prices following are for winter.
Hacienda del Sol ( 760-767-5442; www.haciendadelsol-borrego.com; 610 Palm Canyon Dr; r $75, units with kitchen $120-160; wi-fi) This 6-acre property has rooms from motel-size to cottages, all pretty Spartan with desert-plant landscaping. It’s good for groups of mates seeking to socialize around the pool, and has a picnic area with horseshoes and shuffleboard.
Stanlund’s Inn & Suites ( 760-767-5501; www.stanlunds.com; 2771 Borrego Springs Rd; incl breakfast r $85-115; ) Stanlund’s, outside the town center, is a standard-issue motel, though clean and well kept with concrete block walls. Some rooms have kitchens, but all have coffeemaker, microwave and fridge.
Palm Canyon Resort ( 760-767-5341, 800-242-0044; www.palmcanyonresort.com; 221 Palm Canyon Dr; r $109-189; ) A quarter of a mile from the park’s visitor center, you’ll get a comfy motel-style room at this Old West village-style inn (though built in the 1980s). There are two pools, a restaurant and saloon, laundry, store and RV parking.
Palms at Indian Head ( 760-767-7788, 800-519-2624; www.thepalmsatindianhead.com; 2220 Hoberg Rd; r incl breakfast $159-229; ) One mile north from Palm Canyon Dr and on 240 acres abutting the state park, the 12-room Palms is a real retreat in a 1950s shell with mostly Southwestern-style rooms, no in-room phones or internet. There’s a 25-yard-long pool and suites have wood-burning fireplaces. No children under 13.
Borrego Valley Inn ( 760-767-0311, 800-333-5810; www.borregovalleyinn.com; 405 Palm Canyon Dr; r incl breakfast $200-230; wi-fi) This small, immaculately kept inn (15 rooms on 9-plus acres), filled with Southwestern artifacts and Native American weavings, is an intimate spa-resort, perfect for adults. One pool is clothing-optional. Rates include a healthy breakfast and all-day soft drinks. Most rooms have kitchenettes.
La Casa del Zorro ( 760-767-5323, 800-824-1884; www.lacasadelzorro.com; 3845 Yaqui Pass Rd; r from $365, casitas from $395; wi-fi) The area’s top luxury resort has manicured grounds, glorious swimming pools, croquet, a putting green and excellent tennis and fitness facilities. Southwestern architecture boasts spacious rooms with marble everything and folk-craft–inspired design. Most rooms have wood-burning fireplaces, and casitas have private pools.
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EATING
All of the following are in Borrego Springs.
Center Market ( 760-767-3311; 590 Palm Canyon Dr; 8:30am-6:30pm Mon-Sat, 8:30am-5pm Sun; ) The better of the town’s two supermarkets is across from the mall.
Kendall’s Cafe ( 760-767-3491; the Mall; mains breakfast & lunch $5-11, dinner $11-15; 6am-8pm; ) This coffee shop is a hometown favorite for blueberry pancakes at breakfast and a combination of Mexican (enchiladas, fajitas etc) and straight-down-the-middle American standards the rest of the day.
Jilberto’s Taco Shop ( 760-767-1008; 655 Palm Canyon Dr; most dishes under $6; ) Jilberto’s makes up with flavor and price what it lacks in atmosphere. Outdoor tables.
Carlee’s Place ( 760-767-3262; 660 Palm Canyon Dr; mains lunch $6-12, dinner $12-21; lunch & dinner; ) Even if the decor feels like it hasn’t been updated since the ’70s, locals pick Carlee’s, near Christmas Circle, for its burgers, pastas and steak dinners – the pool table is a big draw too. There’s live music on Friday and karaoke on Thursday and Saturday.
Red Ocotillo ( 760-767-7400; 818 Palm Canyon Dr; mains breakfast $6-13, lunch & dinner