SoCal Nature Kids’ Guide to Imperial County, California

If you’re not familiar with Imperial County, it’s the Southern California’s least populous state, encompassing the desert between San Diego County and Arizona. On the one hand, this means it’s not super developed and has more open spaces. On the other hand, it can be very hot and dry without as many resources for parks, museums, and nature centers as other parts on the Southern California.

With that said, this list isn’t as long as some others for Southern California, but I didn’t want to exclude Imperial County as it is a part of Southern California! Hopefully it gives some ideas if you live in that area or will be visiting!

IMPERIAL COUNTY HIKING TRAILS AND NATURE AREAS

  • Anza Borrego State Park - while this is technically mostly in San Diego County, it’s can be more accessible to families in parts of Imperial County. A mom from Imperial County recently recommended The Slot trail (in Anza Borrego) to me and said it was really fun.

  • Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge (906 West Sinclair Road Calipatria, CA 92233-9744)

  • Picacho State Recreation Area (Winterhaven, CA)

  • Imperial Wildlife Area Wister Unit (at Salton Sea)

  • Imperial National Wildlife Refuge (along CA/AZ border near Yuma)

IMPERIAL COUNTY MUSEUMS

  • Imperial Valley Museum (11 Frontage Rd, Ocotillo, CA 92259)

  • Sonny Bono Visitor Center (906 W Sinclair Rd, Calipatria, CA 92233)

  • Pioneer Museum (373 E Aten Rd, Imperial, CA 92251)

IMPERIAL COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS:

  • Sunbeam Lake Park (1750 Drew Rd, Seeley, CA 92273)

  • Red Hill Park (7581 Garst Rd, Calipatria, CA 92233)

  • Ocotillo Community Park (266 Imperial Hwy, Ocotillo, CA 92259)

  • Wiest Lake (5351 Dietrich Rd, Brawley, CA 92227)

  • Palo Verde County Park (CA-78, Palo Verde, CA 92266)

  • In-Ko-Pah County Park (In-Ko-Pah Park Road, Jacumba Hot Springs, 91934) - technically a San Diego park, but right on the border of Imperial County)

IMPERIAL COUNTY CAMPING SPOTS

  • Salton Sea State Recreation Area (100225 State Park Rd, Mecca, CA 92254)

  • Anza Borrego Desert State Park

  • Glamis Sand Dunes: This is a popular area for off-road vehicle camping trips, which is something I know very little about, but this detailed post seems helpful! https://runwildmychild.com/glamis-sand-dunes-with-kids/