Ocotillo Wells SVRA

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Ocotillo Wells SVRA The official page of Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area. Elevations here range from 176 feet below sea level to 790 feet above sea level.
(2165)

Welcome to Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA), where more than 85,000 acres of southern California desert await off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts. Located near the Salton Sea and covering portions of both San Diego and Imperial Counties, Ocotillo Wells SVRA offers a wide variety of opportunities for OHV recreation as well as for hiking, biking, geocaching, and camping. In fact, it is possible to explore the park's open environment and varied terrain for days without having to retrace your tracks. Visitors marvel at the many exotically named natural wonders such as Blowsand Hill, Devil's Slide, and the Badlands. The extreme terrain and intense climate have challenged both the skills and endurance of OHV recreation enthusiasts for generations. The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Program was created in 1971 out of the critical need to better manage growing demands for off-highway recreation, while at the same time foster respect for private property rights and protect California's natural and cultural resources. Today, this program, a division of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, is the largest and most successful program of its type in the U.S. The program continues its commitment to provide safe, enjoyable recreation while balancing the need to protect the state's resources. In addition to providing accessibility to off-highway recreation for everyone from hikers to bikers to bird watchers, the program provides a variety of services and benefits to California's residents and visitors, including resource management of state lands, wildlife habitat protection, youth development and law enforcement. Program funding comes from fuel taxes which are attributable to the recreational use of vehicles off highway, off-highway vehicle registration fees and fees collected at State Vehicular Recreation Areas. Be sure to visit our other pages, too! OHMVR Division
https://www.facebook.com/CAStateParksOHV

Clay Pit SVRA
https://www.facebook.com/ClayPitSVRA?fref=ts

Prairie City SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prairie-City-State-Vehicular-Recreation-Area/168242086519173?fref=ts

Carnegie SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carnegie-SVRA/203533419677830?fref=ts

Hollister Hills SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hollister-Hills-State-Vehicular-Recreation-Area/131036720291981?fref=ts

Oceano Dunes SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oceano-Dunes-District-Pismo/390676052585?fref=ts

Hungry Valley SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hungry-Valley-SVRA/367908266603892?fref=ts


Heber Dunes SVRA:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heber-Dunes-SVRA/528521697180458?fref=ts

Welcome back, riders! We’re so happy to see you back in the park!
10/18/2026

Welcome back, riders! We’re so happy to see you back in the park!

🔭🎃 Halloween Programs: Pumpkin Patch, Astronomy, & Scorpion Search! 🦂✨Join us for our Junior Ranger programs on Hallowee...
10/17/2026

🔭🎃 Halloween Programs: Pumpkin Patch, Astronomy, & Scorpion Search! 🦂✨

Join us for our Junior Ranger programs on Halloween! We will be exploring the pumpkins that are found in our park, and you will be able to create your own pumpkin! ✨🎃

📅 October 31, 2026 🕢 2:00 PM📍 5172 Highway 78, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 Meeting location: Discovery Center

Additionally, we will be having our first night program of the season: a spooktacular evening under the stars! Explore the wonders of the night sky with our astronomy program, then join the adventure as we search for scorpions with UV lights! 🔦🦂 Hot chocolate and candy will be provided by Friends Of Ocotillo Wells!

📅 October 31, 2026 🕢 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM 📍 5172 Highway 78, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 Meeting location: Amphitheater on the nature trail

Bring your curiosity, your sense of adventure, and get ready for a night of stars, science, and spooky desert discoveries! 🌠👻

10/16/2026

FACT FRIDAY: The Fast-Moving Coachwhip!

Blink and you might miss it! Coachwhips, also known as red racers, are among the fastest snakes in North America. Did you know that they are fast moving daytime hunters? They use their speed and keen eyesight to hunt prey like lizards, birds, small rodents, and even other snakes.

These nonvenomous snakes are well adapted to life in the desert and are an amazing part of our desert ecosystem!

LET'S TALK SNAKES!
Have you ever spotted a coachwhip in our park?
Were you surprised by how quickly this one moved?
What other desert animals would you like to learn about?

Share your answers in the comments!

📸Arriana Fowlkes

TRAVEL THURSDAY: WHERE IN THE PARK IS THIS?!Think you know Ocotillo Wells SVRA? Take a closer look at this week’s featur...
10/15/2026

TRAVEL THURSDAY: WHERE IN THE PARK IS THIS?!

Think you know Ocotillo Wells SVRA? Take a closer look at this week’s featured location and put your park knowledge to the test! We’re highlighting a less-traveled trail in the park.

📍 Where do you think this is? Drop your guess in the comments below!

Have you explored this area before?

Check back in the comments tomorrow for the reveal!

🌵 Welcome back, riders! 🌵We’re excited to welcome you to our first Junior Ranger program of the season! Whether you’re j...
10/15/2026

🌵 Welcome back, riders! 🌵

We’re excited to welcome you to our first Junior Ranger program of the season! Whether you’re joining us for the first time or returning for another season of adventure, we’re so happy to have you with us! This time, we’ll be learning all about one of the desert’s most fascinating residents: tarantulas! 🕷️

Programs will be held at 10:30am and 2:00pm

Have you ever wondered why these eight-legged critters can be spotted wandering across the desert floor? What are they looking for, and what makes them such an important part of our desert ecosystem? 🤔

Join us as we uncover some amazing tarantula facts, bust a few myths, and discover why these fuzzy creatures deserve a little love and appreciation! 💚

We can’t wait to explore, learn, and kick off another exciting season of Junior Ranger adventures with you. See you out there, riders!

If there's water on the side, check before you ride.
10/14/2026

If there's water on the side, check before you ride.

Ocotillo Wells will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next month and as part of that let's discuss a fascinating area ...
10/11/2026

Ocotillo Wells will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next month and as part of that let's discuss a fascinating area of the park, the Badlands. This area once resided under the Salton Trough where sediment was built up over millennia, first as part of an extension of the Gulf of California, and then from the Colorado river which deposited its unique reddish sediment. The Badlands were then pushed up through tectonic forces caused by the greater San Andreas fault system, exposing the sedimentary layer to erosion, which created the awe inspiring, layered hills and gulleys you can ride through today.

⚠️ WEATHER ALERT! With rain storms potentially bringing wetter weather to Southern California, it’s important to stay w...
10/08/2026

⚠️ WEATHER ALERT!

With rain storms potentially bringing wetter weather to Southern California, it’s important to stay weather aware when visiting our park!

Please be aware of your surroundings and be aware that we are expecting showers within these upcoming days. Please check the weather in Ocotillo wells before planning a trip out here.

⚠️ Flash floods can happen quickly, even when it isn’t raining where you are. Water from storms miles away can flow through washes and low lying areas.

Before you ride, check the forecast and any weather alerts. If flooding occurs, move to higher ground and NEVER attempt to drive through floodwater.

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-116.13&lat=33.145

TRAVEL THURSDAYS!Do you recognize this famous landmark in our park? Located within Ocotillo Wells SVRA, this mysterious ...
10/08/2026

TRAVEL THURSDAYS!

Do you recognize this famous landmark in our park?

Located within Ocotillo Wells SVRA, this mysterious landmark is known for its unique, naturally formed sandstone concretions scattered across the desert. These unusual formations are one of the park's most recognizable and fascinating features!

📍What is the name of this special location?!

Drop your answers in the comments!

Remember to help us protect these special natural features by riding responsibly.

📷: Arriana Fowlkes

CLOSURE NOTICE! The Ocotillo Wells SVRA Discovery Center will be closed this Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 1...
10/07/2026

CLOSURE NOTICE!

The Ocotillo Wells SVRA Discovery Center will be closed this Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10th. Our Interpretive staff will be at an event that is offsite. We will be open Sunday, October 11th as normal.

Thank you and we are looking forward to welcoming you back soon!

Address

5172 Highway 78
Borrego Springs, CA
92004

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