A very well maintained sprawling state park with tons of beautiful trails and serene desert campsites and well maintained bathrooms and a gorgeous visitor center! Be aware that most if not all trails from what I can tell do not allow dogs, even on leashes

Really stunning area with lots to explore. We focused on the sculptures during our visit, spent hours but still didn't explore all! Will be back for sure.

This place is one of my favorite places in California because of the amazing hike into the canyon. I love the dinosaurs nearby and the town feels like it was frozen in time. Very much old California and the Wild West. Plus you have the mountains that are snowcapped in the winter about half an hour away and the beach 2 hours away. Beautiful place to explore the desert and see wild sheep (borregos) if you are lucky! 🐏

We had an amazing visit! We went early spring and several things were blooming. The stars were wonderful. The hiking was great. Especially the Palm Canyon trail! The oasis is amazing and some bighorn sheep came close to the trail. The welcome center is nice and the volunteers there are incredibly helpful. One of the naturalists (Ms. Bussey I think, sorry if that's wrong) helped us decided between two trail and her advice was so valuable.

Off roading is a family favorite! We go a few times a year and use the showers and restroom provided by the park and tent or trailer camp. There is nothing better than waking up to the smell of a 2 stroke and the sound of fun!

Spent two nights in a tent during a new moon and it was great. Saw like ts of stars, shooting stars and a few meteors. Weather was great as well. Also hiked nearby slot canyon.

This is an incredible desert park and is a gift that keeps on giving. Plenty of off roading, primitive camping, a great visitor center and a genuinely welcoming town. The desert is beautiful 365 days a year but always pay attention to the weather and park rangers’ advice!

This is a perfect hike for beginners, and one of a kind as well! I highly recommend this trail especially if you have never had the experience of hiking through a slot canyon. Beautiful rock formations to enjoy, and lots of off the trail paths to explore as well. Great photos place to enjoy a scenic sunset or sunrise. Its best to go during those times, to avoid getting heat exhaustion. That being said, bring plenty of water, and some food to enjoy while enjoying the scenery. Perfect place to visit for a short weekend getaway and explore interesting geological formations!

One of the easiest and best hikes in the park! If you want to do a hike in the middle of the day, most of the other trails would be too hot and have little shade. Not the Slot though. It was nice and shaded, and relatively easy for most people. Highly recommend if you want a short trail in the park, but still want an amazing experience. Note, after you see the arch in the Slot, turn back if you are short on time. Not much past that. You can also do the loop, but not recommended due to lack of shade.

Wow! This place is absolutely incredible. The hiking trails are not only enjoyable but also offer plenty of opportunities for exploration. The rock formations and unique ground features are truly stunning, making every step of the journey a visual delight. Whether you’re an avid hiker or just love taking in breathtaking natural scenery, this spot is a must-visit!

Slot Canyon Trail is incredible but not a super novice hiking trail, there isn’t a whole lot of elevation changes but the canyon can get quite narrow so visitors will need a base level of nimble-ness. It’s a stunningly beautiful site though! It feels very otherworldly, a stark and haunting beauty. There are vault toilets at the parking area at the end of a graded road that doesn’t require 4 wheel drive thankfully

Trail Overview: Difficulty: Easy, but with some tricky spots in the slot (young kids will need help here). Terrain: Sandy, suitable for non-SUV vehicles. Wear shoes with good traction. Dogs: Not allowed on the trail. Water: Bring extra water, even though it’s a short hike. Directions: From Hwy 78 east, turn left onto Buttes Pass Road. Continue for 1 mile to a "Y" intersection. Stay left. Drive 0.8 miles until the road sharply turns left; the parking lot will be there. Parking fee: $10 per car (cash only).

It is an easy two-wheel drive road to the trailhead. There is a fee required of $10 per vehicle. Bathrooms, get your bottles of water ready, and a nice one and a half mile hike to the end of the trail. If you go a little further past the canyon there are some really cool wind caves, wind formations that you can hike up to and check out do not bring dogs on the trail, make sure that you are physically capable of a couple of medium to difficult drop offs other than that it's super easy children and seniors can do it just fine

This place was awesome!! Not a difficult high (only if person is really overweight might have difficulty going through the really narrow trail part) we when at 4pm and it was perfect. Enough shade in 80% of hike/walk.

We've been coming here for years! It's always a great place to ride quads or side by sides. There's always places to explore here like the pumpkin patch, shell reef and the fish wash, to name a few. Yes the rangers here can be hard on you but as long as you have your OHV's up to date on registration, have a whip on each of your OHV's and ride with your helmet on at all times, you should be fine.

Super fun place! Lots of spots for all levels of riders! Plenty of bathrooms and they were clean! We had a good time with our family

My family spends a lot of time enjoying this park. The rangers offer very cool learning experiences for the kids, and the variety of terrain keeps all of us smiling whether we’re in Jeeps or on bikes.

One of my favorite places to ride dirtbikes and four wheel Drive. Close to town plenty of trails great choice for off road. Close Burrago Springs , Great riding trails ,Some Sand Dunes. A few campgrounds close by with Services. Or you can go off grid set up and ride. There are bathrooms and dumpsters for trash.

We love camping here. The Rangers really do a good job keeping this place clean and safe. A lot of great areas to off-road and explore for all levels riders and vehicles.

First time at Ocotillo OHV!! Had a blast! Being newbies we stopped at the Ranger station for info!!! These guys where gr8!! Gave us a map! Tips of fun trails!! And checked our jeep out!! 🤔 one of the most friendly Ranger stations ,I have been in!! Thx for your help!

Always a pleasure to take the kids out and have some safe fun away from all the craziness associated with other SRVAs in the area

Our group of 11 motorcyclists arrived at Red Ocotillo after a three-hour ride, looking forward to a relaxing meal—and we were not disappointed! The restaurant provided a peaceful ambiance, which was exactly what we needed after our journey. The food was delicious, with a variety of flavorful dishes that satisfied everyone in our group. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home, adding to the overall positive experience. The combination of great service, tasty food, and a serene environment makes Red Ocotillo a spot we’d highly recommend to anyone passing through Borrego Springs. A wonderful place to take a break and enjoy good company!

Let me say that the food made everything else acceptable. Very young front of house staff that was very reluctant to tell people walking in that the wait was over 50 for food . I believe if they had more servers then this would have been a 5 star review. Walked in and. Told to seat ourselves, No menus offered or even pointed to. Staff was not rude at all, just overwhelmed. Overall a beautiful place with delicious food . I had the breakfast crab cake with Benedict sauce and the rosemary potatoes and it tasted like a home cooked delicious meal. I can tell the cook put heart into it. My husband had Peg Leg breakfast -French toast and bacon (cooked perfectly crispy) and the portion was smallest out of all of our order, but very very yummy.

Had a wonderful dinner here today! Our waitress Brianna was great and very helpful with our difficult allergy. Big shout out to the cooks as well who were willing to accommodate to us!

Very good food and reasonable prices. The service is excellent. The waitress included a few spanish words to make me feel welcomed.

We first came to this restaurant and were blown away — not just by the amazing food (seriously, the clam chowder on Fridays is a must), but by our incredible server, Sherry. The moment we walked in, she had us seated with menus, drinks, great food recommendations, and a fun, upbeat attitude that made the whole experience special. We enjoyed it so much, we came back the very next day! Fast forward a month — we couldn’t wait to return. Unfortunately, we found out Sherry was no longer there, and the difference in service was noticeable. The server we had barely checked on us, seemed to spend most of the time in the kitchen, and only really came out when it was time for us to pay. I was even looking forward to trying the cherry cobbler she told us about, but never got the chance to order it. That said — the food is still fantastic, especially the clam chowder on Fridays. I just hope the level of service returns to what it once was, because with the right staff, this place is truly top-tier.

Probably the best breakfast spot in Borrego Springs, but pricey. Our breakfast for 2 was $58.53 with tip: crab cake benedict and pancake with egg and sausage. Nice vibe.

We had a lovely visit to this restaurant for a good quality and value for money breakfast. The service was exemplary, the lady working was super friendly and made us feel at ease. The only slight negative was that one of the items we wanted with our breakfast was unavailable.

Well maintained small park with trees in the middle of a desert. People can rest under the trees. Has drinking water and rest rooms as well.

You know you've reached the oasis of Borrego Springs when you come about the Circle. Great time to stop, rest and take in the beauty of the desert.

Christmas Circle is the Hub of this wonderful Desert Community and a Great resting stop for visitors or a nice picnic! The park is a California Public Benefit 501c3 non-profit and It is made possible by the Awesome Voluteers and Gracious Donations. It costs a lot to maintain the trees, water, electric, buildings, restrooms, and recently a vehicle took out a bench. If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to help suppor the park, please mail your donations to : Christmas Circle Community Park POBox 1025, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 (Paypal is available)

Best little town park.. it is in the center of town ... Easy, easy easy to find, the roads from the south, east, west and north all met at the 1 way 2 lane traffic circle, and Christmas Circle is the Center Island with several, several acres, including a covered event stage, picnic tables, shade trees, great breezes, and immaculate Puplic Handicapped Restrooms for Men and Woman and they are huge and airy.. enjoy yourself in Borrego

Cool little park with restrooms. Enjoyed watching the sun rising here today.

We loved stopping here after hiking to have an amazing picnic and a beautiful 360 view of mountains and beauty all around us. We even enjoyed free WiFi: password on bathroom mirrors. I have two questions though: 1. Why is it called Christmas Circle Park? 2. Why doesn't more towns have a cool park like this in the center of them? I highly recommend packing your igloo and having a picnic with your sweetie or loved ones here!

Fun place to stop and check out the sculptures peppered throughout the grounds around Christmas Circle Drive. Though the attractions were closed to the public we pulled over and watched them from a distance. The pictures below were taken last fall when we were there pre COVID. If you are headed to Palm Springs from the south end, stop and check it out. Neat little desert town with a few dining options.

We just came across Kesling's Kitchen just looking for a quick bite. The staff were friendly and welcoming and the food was delicious! We had the Fish & Chips, a Fried Chicken Sandwich and a Greek Salad. I would recommend all of them.

We were visiting the area [March 7-10, 2019], and had the experience of hoping Borrego Springs would impress us with its culinary wonders!? This is my third review of our experiences; the other two being Kendall's Cafe and the Red Ocotillo, please see/read them. Out of the three, this place/experience was the best in food quality, service, and aesthetics. On that note; the first insights are that the weekends can be busy compared to regular weekdays. As we hoped for our second lunch on a Saturday afternoon, we noted a line emanating from the front door. Not so on trip one, Friday afternoon. This sight created a dilemma; so rather than wait being pressed for time and feeling hungry we decided on the Red Ocotillo 😒. Upon entering the door at Kesling's you order at the front so perhaps looking at their menu on line would be in order to make the process a bit more efficient? The restaurant was not busy so we had our pick of many tables. The order consisted of mine, the Safron Tom and the Go Go Greek sandwiches, and one of their beers on tap [which they were out of?] Made a second choice which they had. The food was well prepared, fresh ingredients, well presented, and tasted very good on the palate. A small side of their slaw was surprisingly fresh, hearty, tasty, and not too saucey. The beer was one of their (brown) offerings,; very good. I noted the business was not busy, so the quick and efficient service stands to reason. Enjoyed the modern and clean looking aesthetics, see my pics and others. A very nice touch was the the children's art work on the way to the restrooms. The restrooms by the way is often a factor of the whole experience. It was clean looking and well stocked including paper towels for drying hands...Overall the rating is in the range of 4.2-4.4 🌟's Enjoy! .

For it's limited menu options and a casual food court kind of feel, this place surprised me with its good food! We went here for lunch. No waiting time, but there is definitely a continuous crowd coming in, eating and moving on. We chose the house special cactus and green chilli soup, pork bahn mi and chicken on flat sandwiches. The portions were decent, the sandwiches come with a side of salad. Everything is fresh and definitely tasty! The cactus soup was delicious!! Will recommend this place to friends if they head out to Borrego springs. Didn't try their beers and wines on tap, but that is on my list for a next visit.

The green chili pepper and cactus soup was absolutely phenomenal, never had cactus soup before but now I will search for it. And the Kesling sub sandwich also was very good and so filling. The grilled romaine salad was good but could have been grilled a bit more. Sitting outside is a great view of the mountains in the passing RVs. I also enjoyed the beer selection on draft.

Such a great experience with excellent food, friendly service, spacious indoor and beautiful outdoor patio dining—we went back for dinner after eating lunch earlier in the day. Seasonal super fresh and tasty food “made with love” that you can taste. A gem in this little town!

Really great space located in the Borrego Art Institute building. Very modern. The first step in the door you smell the wood burning pizza oven. You order at the counter and pick a seat. Excellent pizzas and specials. The day we were there they did a roasted green Chile's and cactus (Nopales) soup the was absolutely delicious and a little spicy. YUM. They also make their desserts like salted caramel cheesecake that was light and tasty.

Look, I am moving out to Borrego Springs from New York City so my experience with pizza is pretty darn extensive. So with that in mind, I decided to try the margherita pizza here. Why not? I wasn't let down, for sure, but I wasn't blown away impressed, either. Again, I've had some pretty awesome slices in my day and I really didn't have high expectations for pizza out in the desert. It surpassed my expectations! Honestly, I should have tried something else from the menu because it all sounded good but for some reason the thought of desert pizza grabbed my attention. I would definitely recommend stopping here if you're trying to get some pizza or a cold brew. This place won't let you down. Promise. Don't go writing all your friends in New York City about the pizza out here, though. They might give you an earfull. A+ for overall atmosphere, vibe, service, and quality. Great visit

This place is a vibe. A true hidden gem, tucked right off the Main Street roundabout. After a long, hot day hiking in the state park, my boyfriend and I were exhausted, starving, and in desperate need of a cool spot to recharge. This place was exactly what we needed. As we walked in, a few musicians were setting up for live music, but the real show had already started- - locals at the bar were singing, laughing, and having the time of their lives over dinner. The energy was contagious. Our server was incredibly kind and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed. My boyfriend went for the steak special with a Pepsi, and I got the Baja burger with fries and a Diet Dr. Pepper. The steak was cooked perfectly, and my burger was packed with flavor - every bite hit the spot. After a day of hiking, this meal brought us back to life. It's clear this place is a local favorite, and I can see why. Something about it reminded me of a classic Midwest diner - - warm, welcoming, and effortlessly fun. If I'm ever back in the area, I'd come here again in a heartbeat.

Been coming to Borrego Springs a few years now, and have been dying to try Carlee,s. It is basically the centerpiece of the whole town, with definitely the best location. Being a senior, I am a huge Back to the Future Nostalgia kind of guy, so obviously I am going to completely love this place. Absolutely love the decor, the booth, and the whole setup is awesome. Everything was very clean, including the bathrooms. I sat at the bar, and ordered a beer. Yes, the number one complaint of slow service is definitely true, but I can understand that in this day and age, it is very hard to try and cut a profit. The menu with surprisingly huge, with definitely something for everyone. I wanted to order a pizza, as I saw many people picking them up for takeout. I asked a few locals and they told me the pizza was awesome. I really wanted to order one to go back to our room, but I could tell that it would probably not be a good idea since the restaurant was already pretty well full, and I did not really feel like waiting that long and was afraid it might ruin my beautiful visit here. Definitely a Local's favorite, and I'm sure a tourist enjoy it as well. I will Probably go back tomorrow an order a pizza just to see if it is as good as the locals claim, which I'm sure it is.

The sign is always eye catching when driving by, especially in the evening. Though it usually looks quiet and even closed from the outside, it was lively on the inside on a Sunday night. Music is not loud and obnoxious, and bar seating was spacious and plentiful. The bar tender acknowledged me And made my drink and took my order. I didn't see cocktail prices on the menu so I imagined I would get charged some exotic "desert" prices but I really only got charged like $7! I had an old fashioned and it was strong and well made. The pizza was not flavourful but it was a good size. I added pineapple and mushrooms on mine. You can tell in the picture that my topping just sat on top so it's like eating pizza and having the topping flavors on the side. Overall, I enjoyed my stay. The bar tender does not bother you and everyone else looks to be enjoying their time too. It's a good place to stop by for some drinks!

Great place with outdoor patio dining if you have a dog traveling with you. Indoor had a pool table, bar seating and tables. Food, service and atmosphere was good.

Lively and friendly restaurant with lots of bar seating plus banquette seating. Plenty of burgers, sandwiches, fish tacos. It’s a busy spot so the food wasn’t served quickly but within a reasonable time. Well prepared and seasoned, generous helpings. Would definitely return.

We came up to Barrego on a Thursday, and some local suggested coming to Carly‘s for lunch. We’re a little skeptical when we walked in the door, but after being in there for a few minutes, we quite enjoyed ourselves. We had lunch there, the food was pretty good, and the beer was cold. Although it looks a little bit like a dive bar, the place was full, and there’s plenty of parking on the street and around the back. If you’re looking for some good quick food and Carly can be the place, as long as you’re not there in peak hour when it can be a little slow, but otherwise enjoy.

We had a delicious lunch today at Carlee's as we were passing by on the way to Calexico. We ordered Chicken (grilled chicken was outstanding!!!) Cesar Salad, Fish Tacos, Hamburgers, Fish n Chips and more, all plates were huge and tasty. We were pleasantly surprised about all the options on the menu. Nice ambiance and super clean bathrooms were a great plus. Gotta remember this place for future visits.