Galleta Meadows Sculptures / Sky Art Desert Sculpture Garden (Under the Sun Foundation)

This was a fun day. Seeing this metal art was on a bucket list and it didn't disappoint. We wanted to be there at sunrise so we missed a bunch of sculptures on the way into town. But we found them on the way out. The artwork was amazing and eclectic. My highschool mascot was a miner so this one was a fave... We also got to see some big horn sheep so win-win.

The sculptures in Gallera Meadows are wonderful. I was in Borrego Springs to see the wildflower bloom and saw the new sculptures. Well worth the drive!!

These sculptures are true works of skillful, creative art. The attention to detail and realism of historical species that roamed these parts is a sight to behold. Well worth a visit if you're in the area

Very nice sculpture garden in the desert. Worth the detour to wherever you’re going.

Fantastic and free. Recommend all wheel drive in places so you don't get stuck in the sand. Some deep ruts, high clearance recommended also otherwise just park on the side of the road and walk in.

Super beautiful road to this place. Viewing the sculptures takes from 1 hour to 1.30. There are paths between the sculptures. A great place to spend a weekend.

So many cool sculptures to check out while enjoying the desert!

Excellent sculptures throughout the dessert. Can drive into area be respectful of property..owner gives permission... stay on paths already made & use car or walk around

This is a must see if you are visiting Borrego Springs! The Galleta Meadows are a collection of metal sculptures scattered throughout the desert landscape. It's an activity both kids and adults will enjoy. Consider it a scavenger hunt driving around looking for another sculpture but if you are looking for a specific sculpture, you can download the guided map on their website. There are over 100 of them and some require a 4WD to get to them, as they can be off the paved paths. They are FREE and open 24/7. I'd suggest going early in the morning or closer to sunset to get the best photos.

Ever since I saw the giant serpent sculpture in the awesome Lovecraftian-scifi-horror movie "The Endless", I've had this estate on my travel bucket list! As you weave in and out of the various entrances to Anza Borrego Desert State Park surrounding Borrego Springs, these iron giants rise up in various poses, lending a whimsical air to the otherwise hostile environs. Nothing prepared me for how expansive and impressive the estate is - definitely worth a visit when you're in the area! With 130 giant metal sculptures sprawling over numerous different sites, you'll definitely need/want a car (maybe a bike?) to see as many as possible - but they're so spread out I think it would be difficult to see them all in one go. The roads meandering around the statues are dubiously maintained dirt roads - many of which have deep, soft sand requiring 4x4 vehicles so be aware. A lot of them are within walking distance of a paved or more maintained/flattened dirt road that's drivable in regular cars - just be sure to pay attention to signs and use common sense. There seems to be a grouping of three themes to these works of art: prehistoric creatures, local history, and whimsical fancies! The owner of the estate, Dennis Avery, commissioned the works by a SoCal artist named Ricardo Breceda and they were created from 2008-2012. So they're technically on private property but it's not gated and open 24/7...just be mindful of the road signs and respectful, etc. Definitely some local fun and a must on your visit - great photo ops abound, especially with the desert mountains and plants as the backdrop! Highly recommend!

We didn't stop to take photos, but I'm so glad we passed these statues on the way to hiking the slot canyons. These are really cool and I love the desert vibes. Free and fun to take pictures with family and friends!

A must see for the open minded, free spirited who doesn't let high cost of gas & long distance get in their way. Also consider that it's desert hot hot, dress light & comfy, might need sunscreen and a sun cap. And if you get thirsty or hungry, support the little local cafes, markets & liquor store. It's literally a tiny town, one main drag, a roundabout and some lodging, few stores of interest and Art; And then comes the mention of the large State Park it's nestled in & known for. This is where I mention the large metal sculptures that are all around but you'll have to hunt them down yourselves, it's not that hard to find. The artist is Ricardo Breceda who also has more artwork in display his gallery on highway 79 where Riverside & San Diego county lines meet. Here in Borrego Springs is where he was discovered, his story is a fascinating one if you're not familiar with, you should look it up. One final note: Be considerate of others that also come to view the sculptures & try to park out of its view & not photo bomb! So many people want to enjoy but we need to be respectful of each other to heighten the experience. In my one photo no one was around which is why my car was in the picture. We would've moved it if others came.

A great collection of 100+ Ricardo Breceda sculptures! There are groups of sculptures north of, in, and south of Borrego Springs. Each sculpture is made of a metal that oxidizes to an attractive color. The Under the Sun Foundation provides a map online. Each sculpture can be reached within a few seconds or minutes' walk from a paved road. From about April through October, the sand surface, and the air near the surface may be too hot for pets. This region is very hot in summer; consider visiting in cooler weather. Our favorite is the Serpent - a set of sculptures that together look like a dragon flowing through the sand. You might want to park your vehicle a little way from the Serpent so that others can take a great photo or video. We want to put a tiny Breceda serpent in our lawn; surely, the HOA will not mind :) South of the town, we like the horses and other sculptures on each side of route S3, also called Borrego Springs Road. If you look online, you can find the Breceda Gallery, located near Temecula, where you can visit then admire his sculptures and buy.

This was really a cool place to visit. All the iron sculptures were well done. The desert background gave the sculptures an even more dramatic effect. People were respectful to others taking photos. While I thought it was totally worth the trip out here, just keep in mind: - It's like a scavenger hunt looking for these sculptures as they are scattered. - Some of the roads to the sculptures were a little rough. - Our experience would've been a little more pleasant if it wasn't so hot. It's so beautiful out here!

This was a special attraction to us. We loved driving around looking for the Sky Art metal sculptures that dotted the desert landscape. To see them up close just drive on the sand when you spot one. Many are replicas of animals that once roamed the area during the Paleozoic Era. You'll see other sculptures, too. This drive was fun. Kids of all ages would like getting out in the sand and gazing into the eyes of these life sized creatures. Recommended is driving a vehicle that's not way low to the ground.

There is a lot of hiking to do in the area, so the sculptures are not the only attraction out here. People come out for spring when the bloom is going on, so I try to avoid it during that time. So the sculptures themselves are pretty cool, and there are over 160 of them spread out over a few mile area in Borrego Springs both North and South of the circle. If you stop over at the chamber of commerce near the circle you can get a free map of where all of them are located. All of the sculpture are free and they are all open 24x7. Some you can drive up very close to, others you can park nearby and walk up to, and some recommend a 4x4 to get to. The best 1 in my opinion is the Serpent which is N of the circle. People refer to it as the dragon. It is about 300 feet long and 15 feet tall. It is also the most crowded and photographed especially on dark sky nights of the new moon. A few miles South of the circle (and 4x4 access recommended) are the dinosaurs like the T Rex and others. I was able to go in my suv that is not 4x4 and I made it on a dry, hot, sunny day, bump by bump. I don't recommend going in the rain or mud, unless you have a serious 4x4 and driving skills. There are all kinds of sculptures, I definitely like the Serpent and the dinosaurs, but the scorpion and cricket are neat too, and there are others I have not seen yet like the Jeep and the Indian head. There are all different kinds and plenty to see. I think you could see them all in 1 day with a proper map and motivation if you only spent a minute or 2 at each one. It is about 90 minutes east of Oceanside with little to no traffic, so it is not something you can just hop on over to. I went in September when it was 109 degrees and I still saw 15-20 people at some of the sculptures, but when it is nice and cool like in May there were close to 100 people. So if you are waiting to take a picture, just be patient, and get in line. Eventually you can get a picture of the Serpent with no one or no cars in it.

These sculptures have been placed all over the Warner Springs and Borrego Springs areas of California. They are (in many cases) life size and very unique. They also have many (about an acre) of them for sale.

I don't recommend going to this place in the middle of July...unless you're a little bit of a nutcase like me...because it was so damn hot that we could only spend a few mins outside before running back full of sweat into the camry with the ac on full blast. We used Waze to get to the area and found the camels first....which made us comfortable cause we is arabs. And heres a tip...you don't need to go to the visitor's center for a map...download one for free here - https://underthesunfoundation.org/content/1-visit-us/sky-art-map.pdf

In the time of a pandemic, it makes you seek out places where you can be outdoors! How much outdoors can you be, but in the middle of the desert! Borrego Springs, to be exact! Heard about the metal sculptures strewn over this property! The artist is Ricardo Breceda and the most popular and known sculpture of his is the Serpent! Can check that off my list of things to see! Before you go, you can download the Sky Art Map from Under the Sun Foundation's website to find where all the sculptures are. You can probably also get it from the visitor's center or the hotel lobby if you're staying in the area. Definite must stop! It was fun to find the sculptures! Not too hard, cuz you can see them from the road. The dinosaurs, though, you have to do a little off-roading on the dirt road to get to them! Fun! If you can see them at sunset, it looks really cool! But, it does get pretty dark, so be prepared! Since it's the desert, also be prepared for chilly nights!

1) Its FREE! 2) Its ART! 3) Its AWESOME! 4) Its HOT! Go in the winter if you can! Check the weather! 5) Its DIRTY! Literally...all the sculptures are on dirt, so don't wear your most expensive shoes or clothes. The dirt roads are bumpy, so don't show up in your Corvette or Ferrari.

Sky art metal sculptures in Borrego Valley My favorite is the Chinese dragon snake there's lots of others here almost a hundred and thirty total. PhilanthropistDennis Avery ( Avery labels) commissioned metal sculpture artist Ricardo Breceda to design and construct metal sculptures in scattered property Avery owned in Borrego Valley, he bought the land to keep it from being developed and give access 2 the sculptures to the greater community, which he called Galleta Meadows.The sculptures were built between 2008 and 2012. Many of the sculptures relate to fossils found in the area, some relate to the history of the area and many are just whimsical and fun. Much of the area is surrounded by the Anza-Borrego desert State Park the largest state park in California. He's also was a longtime friend of the Chinese American community in California and other places. And get some great maps at the historical center in town.

The drive is great.. a lot of cold beer stop to relax. Highly recommend... a lot of sculptures in the way to town... The town is unique, great people, and extremely hot... Great place to stay with a camper truck for one night.

This was such a cool experience and worth the drive. There are sculptures all over! You can drive right up to them and get out of your car to walk around. I'd suggest taking a screenshot of a map online to know where they all are. If you have pets you're also able to bring them since everything is out in the open. Just make sure it's not too hot of a day so the sand doesn't burn their paws.

Took the kids and I am so happy I did awesome place !! They had tons of fun . I'm so happy places like these exist Leave the phone off and enjoy !!!

These sculptures were beyond beautiful! My man & I were stuck in "awe" at how beautiful & detailed these sculptures were. It amazes us how there are some people out there with such artistic capabilities. The fact that someone made these sculptures by hand is breathtaking. Major props & thanks to the work of artist/welder Ricardo Breceda your work is breathtaking!

We actually had no idea these sculptures were out here in Borrego Springs. Once I found out where we were going to be staying at I kinda looked around to see if there was something we could do around the town. The first thing that pop up was galleta meadows estate and the sculptures created by Ricardo Breceda. Dude these things are spread around the desert. We were able to drive the car around the little dirt road around but we had to be very careful since they had some big rocks there. Its seems like it would be better if you had an off roading vehicle just in case, and you also have to be careful with the trails lol I lead my sister through a wrong path and almost got us lost lmao but we got us back on the right path lol. Well we wanted to the the Dinosaurs first!! We did end up on the other side of the road to see the other sculptures. I don't think we actually got all of them because their is alot but what we saw was well worth the trip.

The original plan for the park like acreage is a combination of desert scenery from 60 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth, to 15 thousand years ago when sabre tooth cats, giant sloth, camels and giant land tortoises occupied the area. This is a wonder for ever age - bring a picnic lunch and a camera and plan to spend half a day touring the dirt paths and roads to visit the sculptures.

You can spend a whole day just in Galleta Meadows, there are so many large metal sculptures that command your attention and tell you to pull over for a closer look. Mostly animal sculptures, it really is amazing to see as they are crafted in such detail you can almost imagine your on a safari with life sized elephants ambling across the desert. We came to Borrego Springs to look at the wildflowers but I think I have an equal ratio of flower to sculpture in my camera roll. Like Pokemon, you got to catch 'em all! My dad was most impressed with the giant dragon that is made of multiple pieces to look as if it's undulating across the highway. It's so massive, it's hard to capture the scale on with my phone camera, if you have the professional equipment bring it! Do bring lot's of water and hat, it's easy to get dehydrated due to no shade and there's no convenience stores for miles.

Galleta Meadows Estate is a must-see when visiting Anza Borrego. I guarantee you've never experienced anything like it. Unless you have 4WD, I strongly advise parking on the roadsides rather than trying to drive through the estate itself. I lost count of how many cars we saw being towed through the loose, sandy soil. The Anza Borrego Desert State Park Visitors Center has a map of all of the sculptures. Here is some interesting background information: http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/galleta-meadows-estate Have fun! My usual sunscreen and water warnings apply here.

This is a bit overrated but considering there's so little to do around the area it's cool for little kids and anyone who may be bored enough. Wouldn't recommend it if it's going out of your way.

I read about Galleta Meadows a few years ago, saw cool photos of the sculptures in the desert, so I became a bit obsessed with the place. Had to visit it and wouldn't quit it. It's a 3 hour drive from LA, so I had to figure out a way to get there since a day trip would be too much. We decided to go to Borrego Springs as a day trip from Palm Springs (about 1 hour 1/2). You need to check your car, make sure it works well, check your tires. Also, from Salton Sea are through Anza Borrego park there are 15 miles of road work, the paved areas are pretty bad. You don't need a 4X4, but don't drive fast. Yes, go by the Visitor Center to get a map. It's a nice stop to decompress, use the facilities- restrooms, get more water, chill. The Visitor Center is at the end of everything, the end of the road, on the right. You park, see a building, there are the restrooms, keep walking, you'll find it. We talked to somebody at the Visitor Center, got a map of the sculptures (I had one printed that I found on line, but their map is better!). Ask all the questions you need, that's your last chance. Sure, there was Borrego Days celebrations when we went, so the downtown was crazy, to make things more confusing at the roundabout for us. The main sculptures (camels, elephants, dragon, scorpion, Indian head,etc ) are on Borrego Springs rd., to the left (w. Christmas Circle) coming from the Visitor's Center. There are some others (vulture, horses, dinosaurs) to the left side of Borrego Springs Rd., on the road going to Julian, which worked for us since we were headed on that direction. It's hard to describe the sensation of spotting the first sculptures, it's like discovering a new continent of the cool art of Mexican artist Ricardo Breceda. Dennis Avery was a cool guy to sponsor these unique metal creatures spread through the desert. It makes Borrego Springs a special place. You see the elephants, camels, scorpion (behind there are the workers sculptures), and then more and more. We stopped at the turtles, couldn't find the bighorn sheep. We were able to drive on unpaved sandy roads to some of the sculptures, to others we just walked to. We went in mid-Oct., and it was hot, over 90, so bring water, wear comfy shoes, use sun protective lotion. After this side, we continued on the other one, one the way to Julian to see some more sculptures. We saw the dinosaurs in the distance, but didn't have it in us to drive to them on unpaved roads, didn't want to get stuck (we saw a Jeep stuck in the sand and they were trying to get out, not a pretty situation). If it wasn't that hot, maybe I would have walked. Everything is free to visit. But you need the map, you need to prepare for the trip (you can camp at Anza Borrego national park, there are hotels, motels, etc in Borrego Springs). Like us, you might not see all the sculptures (we did see about 90%), but it's not about hunting sculptures in the desert, it's about the experience of being there and having the privilege to admire them from close by. Favorites? Hard to choose. Of course I love the dragon that's on both sides of the road. But every sculpture is unique and special and I was happy to see the imaginary world of Breceda. Unique place. I wish I'd stayed there longer, but I'll always cherish this place, a bit difficult to get to. The reward is great! Great blue desert sky, cool rocky mountains, quiet, sculptures all around you. It's that kinda of place that's hard to believe that it exists. I still can't believe I was there!

Million years ago, it is known that many ancient creatures lived on at the Anza Borrega Desert area. Even though they are all gone now, over 130 free standing metal sculptures by artist Ricardo Breceda can be seen scattered all over the desert. It was brought them to life, capturing each creatures in motion. The fun part of driving around that area is when you spot sculptures popping out out of nowhere, along the road, which adds on to the excitement of the road trip! Some of my favorite sculptures are: ~ The Sea Dragon ~ The Scorpion ~ The Mammoth ~ The Jeep ~ The Grasshopper Tips: ~ Drive to Anza Borrego State Park Visitor Center to grab a map, the staff will be glad to guide you the directions to the sculptures. ~ All the sculptures are widely spread out, impossible to walk, have to drive from one spot to another ~ Free admission, open to public ~ Advisable to visit during Spring/Fall, it was wayyyyy too hot to visit during Summer! Bring lots of water and stay hydrated!

Visiting the giant Galleta Estate metal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda is worth a road trip to Borrego Springs. There are two main clusters of sculptures.One is north west, the other south East. Find a sculpture map online or in a local store. The pieces are off the main road but you can drive to them. Keep in mind the trails are desert sand. 4x4's are not needed, but be careful. - Not too far away is the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the small museum center. It's free, and it great for kids. Make sure you go to the back "hands-on" room. Great fun. - Tip, If you like these outdoor sculptures visit the other site in Aguanga ( South East of Temecula) 44450 highway 79. https://www.yelp.com/biz/ricardo-breceda-temecula-2

One of the coolest things I've ever seen! Seriously! Why are there hundreds of metal sculptures out in the middle of nowhere? I'm the type of weirdo who will drive for hours to see something cool. This place is worth the drive my friends. For starters the town of Borrego Springs is a desert oasis and I love finding myself in the middle of the desert. No itinerary. No direction. Artist/welder Ricardo Breceda was assigned the task by the late owner of the massive estate who requested free standing art spread around his thousands of acres. How fun! Some of the sculptures you'll find are of: mammoths, tigers, dinosaurs, elephants, horses, pioneers, Indians, birds, and so much more! My two favorites were the massive dragon that actually crosses the road and the Spanish Padre Pedro who is carrying a string of prayer beads and a wooden cross. Simply amazing! Some of the sculptures can be spotted right from the road and others will require you to get a little creative along dirt roads. Grab a map from pretty much any hotel or restaurant and you'll have a much easier time locating them. There are two sections of town separated by a few miles that are home to all these beauties. Facts: FREE! Open 24/7 Perfect day trip! There are over 130 sculptures

Loved it ! We arrived around noon on Saturday 1/8/21 and had no trouble seeing all we wanted to see. There is a roundabout called Christmas circle with a park in the middle that has restrooms. All the statues are on Borrego Spring Rd , you can download a map from https://underthesunfoundation.org of all the sculpture locations. The street runs down the middle of the park with statues on each side. We started on one side, had lunch in the park, then checked out the other side. Some statues are a bit of the road so drive carefully. The drive was absolutely beautiful from LA. It was a perfect day trip.

We chose to go at the end of May, thinking that summer has not "officially" begun yet. BUT... unlike the sun, that was NOT a very bright idea. This is more of a road than an actually single destination. It's full of beautiful sculptures ranging from dinosaurs to Gyarados-looking-creatures. The artist actually meticulously created these sculptures to a point where it looks alive - and scary - but you can't even help but come for a closer look. My siblings and I all loved it. It's definitely a great tourist destination and an adventure for all ages!

What a disappointment and shame on the people who manages this and call themselves "Under the Sun Foundation". Today, we drove up there for hours to see the assumable beautiful sculptures people are talking about, only to see that they had closed everything down for a political statement. Their website is claiming it's Gavin Newsom's fault -- which not true at all. They closed it down on June 20th anyways! Even though all national parks, bars, and beaches are open, and the stay at home order from March 19th has been relinquished already with new requirements released on May 4th. It's obvious to me that they're trying to make a political statement. Shame on you to use an art project for your political agenda. These sculptures were not meant to be political statements, but open to enrich people's minds -- not fill them with hatred. What is this? You they let people drive up there for hours, so you can make a political statement? I really disrespect these organizers now. I encourage anybody not to support this place, letting families and people drive up there in vain to read a political statement is just disgraceful. Keep your politics to yourself, do not enforce it on people who are interested in art. Shame on you!

Came here today to visit the amazing artwork sprawled across acres of private land! Saw the famous dragon serpent, and various other artwork on display - horses, elephants, scorpion, camels, Indian chief, jeep, and more! It can get dusty driving through the dirt roads but it was a fun off roading experience. Come check this out - free admission and you'll spend a good 1-2 hours visiting all the statues.

If you ever have a chance to visit Borrego Springs you'll find some of the greatest metal artwork ever. It's all free to the public with most creatures modeled after animals that once lived in this great desert. Everything from elephants and giraffes to sabertooth tigers and tortoises with a few extra works of art thrown in for good measures. Makes for a fun filled day for those who wish to make the drive. Enjoy

Stop number three on Random Outing Day with my friend. It was hard to find this place, as there are no signs, and there is no real address for it. Luckily we found a friendly local who told us where to go. This is just a long stretch of highway, surrounded by desert, with random metal sculptures of animals scattered throughout. You can drive onto the desert floor and drive right up to the sculptures. These are true works of art. There is so much detail - I loved the dragon! I don't know the whole story behind these, why they are here, who they belong to, etc...but I am glad they are here. If you are ever in the area, this is a cool place. Take a 30 minute detour and drive down the road to check out the sculptures!

129 amazing life-size metal sculptures of dinosaurs, ancient camels and elephants, an enormous rattledragon, and many others in the desert. Easy to spot off the side of the road, dirt roads leading to all of them. Dennis Avery has made this very accessible, encouraging people to come photograph, and of course, commissioning sculptor Ricardo Breceda to create these. I do a lot of night sky photography, and these make fantastic subjects beneath the starry sky, but really, day or night, it's a total treat. You can obtain maps from most of the stores in town, and they're not difficult to find at all. Strongly recommended.

Like many others, I had no idea this place existed. When my parents told me they were going to be RVing through the nearby desert and described Galleta Meadows, I knew it would was going to be up my alley. First off, this place is NOT hard to find and I'm still trying to figure out how you could miss it. It's by no means hidden. I will say this - if you get motion sick, do not take the route through Escondido on the 76. I pretty much wanted to die when I got there and didn't feel better till I threw up. TMI, but consider yourselves warned. Anyway, the sculptures themselves are amazing and they make for many great photo opportunities. We went earlier in the year and the weather wasn't an issue. This would be a great family outing - the kids have plenty of room to run around, it's completely free and it's fun to discover more sculptures slightly hidden off either side of the road. If you have any questions, the people at the local tourism bureau are very enthusiastic to show you exactly where to go (but really, it's a no brainer). This is also a great stop in town to get a map of the area and have a potty break.

They closed it all out if you can't get in You have to walk for Hundreds of yards to see the sculptures they are not that impressive and there was no wildfire this year

Richardo Breceda's army of sculpture has grown and I especially like his grape harvesters and the appropriately rusty orange dragon that is so monumentally long it wreaks havoc on both sides of the road. Other large mythical creatures look right out of Godzilla movies and Ultraman TV episodes: some growling defiantly into the sky and a few seemingly crashed to earth in defeat.

My guy and I decided to take a last minute Fourth of July weekend trip and as assumed waiting until the last minute would cause, prices for VRBO's and hotels anywhere along the coast were through the roof. After some quick research, I came across photos of Ricardo Bresceda's art and was sold! I've heard of Borrego Springs due to its festivities and hikes that can be done in the fall, winter and spring seasons, but had never gotten around to visiting. Being from the Mojave Desert, I was well aware that the desertheat this time of year was going to cause a lot of things to be shut down for the summer season, but we opted to splurge on a nice VRBO since we knew we'd be spending a lot of time indoors and figured it would still be a fun getaway. I was thrilled to learn that we could visit this expansive desert art museum by car as driving right up to each sculpture in the air conditioned cab made our experience so enjoyable. I will recommend that you have an SUV, truck or crossover though as you have to take dirt roads to get up close to each exhibit and as others have mentioned, soft sand is prominent! Not to mention that getting to the large dinosaur exhibits are pretty far out in the desert and actually requires a bit of off roading. The art was absolutely amazing. I could hardly believe that it was all made from metal. All of the animals had some sort of prehistoric basis and some of the exhibits even told a story from start to finish. The sloths were actually very stunning to me because they really looked like they were made of fur! Anyone able to do that with metal is so talented! Each sculpture is impressively large and just looks so surreal with the desert mountain backdrop. I recommend that you screenshot a desert map of all of the exhibits (which you can find with a quick Google search) so that you know exactly where to go and so you don't miss any sculptures! This was such a fun and different trip, I highly recommend!

A great place to take the family while in the area. Large metal sculptures scattered over open fields are detailed works of art. The pieces can be easily viewed from the car if needed. Easy access and free.

Stunning sculptures especially under starry skies.

Such a lovely ride, perfect for a little adventure! Galleta Meadows Estate is magical, especially at the crack of dawn. The drive through the hills and the descend down is one of the best drives i've driven. It is a nice overview of the entire land. Galleta is located inside a neat little town with wide streets! Most, if not all the stores carry a map that provides the location of each metal creature. One of the concerns I have when driving unfamiliar terrain is will I have enough gas to make it. The town these metal creatures are scattered across is well kept and clean. I managed to step into a gas station and a little diner. The people their were very friendly and helped me with my questions. Pros: - There is no entrance fee. - There is plenty to see. - Located in a neat little town Cons: - It can get very warm, come early and/or bring plenty of water.

Really neat. A variety of metal sculptures in the desert. My favorite was the dragon (it stretched across the road), the Jeep, and the religious statue with a dog alongside. You can get some awesome photographs here, especially with the setting sun. Really close to the town of Borrego Springs and easy to find. There are dirt roads leading up to these so you don't have to park and walk to them. You can pull right up. Very convenient!

The Anza Borrego Desert is as harsh as it is vast. 120 degrees in the summer. Killer flash floods in the rainy times, December through March. 6 inches in a "good" year. It is beautiful, colorless, angry, unforgiving, and relentless. The night skies are hypnotic, the Milky Way looks like it is within reach. And unbelievably, the town of Borrego Springs sits right in the middle of this god forsaken desert, a little green oasis popping up from the stark grayness that surrounds it. The Galleta Meadows Estate is the pride and joy of this little town and is a highlight not to be missed. A meadow...not really. Unless you might find desert flowers in the Spring. But that is short lived. As you drive away from town on sun parched, asphalt roads that are salted with desert sand, you wonder what all this "noise" is about. All you see are ancient rocks, sand dunes, scraggly desert flora, dead palms scraped to the side, and an occasional isolated structure. And then you see it. The first of the rusty giants silhouetted against the horizon, standing in the middle of a huge, dirt and sandy field. There is an elephant trio, a baby camel suckling from her mother. Then you see more in the distance, a scorpion, then a horse, a dinosaur, a sea monster. Keep driving, there is more. All towering, they are waiting for your to take your car off the road and drive close up to experience them face to face. No need for 4 wheel drive, the tire tracks on the hard packed sand and the other vehicles already parading by, and the lack of No Trespassing signs, are the assurance this is terra firma, and driving is allowed and encouraged. Brilliant Mexican sculptor, Ricardo Breceda, is the reason behind these wonderful creations. I have lost track of his working studio since it moved last year, but we first discovered him while wine tasting in the never never land Southeast of Temecula. He also has a small "store" in Temecula's Old Town, but this, here in Borrego Springs, is where you see his art at its best. There are a handful of resorts and motels in town, camping accommodations in the state park. And a couple of restaurants and businesses to support the brave. Check out Red Ocatillo, a really great find for a delicious meal. This would be a fun adventure for the kids, as long as you keep in mind avoiding the most harsh times. It will take you a little more than an hour driving south from Palm Springs.

Really cool random metal art animals in the middle of the desert. Just drive north and south of the roundabout in downtown. The dragon, my favorite and the busiest with people, is toward the north. He is wickedly cool coming out of the ground in many places and continuing on the opposite side of the road. All in all, he is probably a couple hundred feet long. But stretched across miles, are multiple sculptures, including horses, elephants, eagles, bugs, camels and others. Quite a few, you can drive right up to. Others are a short walk.

This place was interesting! Lots of metal sculptures spread out. Our filming crew got some incredible photos from it (@simply_whimsical on IG to see some). Worth the drive for the scenery. Not your typical touristy spot which was refreshing.

There wasn't much in Borrego Springs. This was one of the highlights. It was fun to see these rusty metal Sculptures. The artist really understood the nature of rusty corten steel and was able to craft these beasts with convincing gusto. The highlights were the dragon, scorpion and grass hopper. There were many others scattered across this area. I ran out of time and energy to be able to see everyone of them.

I love coming here it is a must see for anyone who lives in California!! The sculptures are a real treat to see and best of all it's free!!!

" Out in The Middle of NOWHERE " My wife and I visited the Anza Borrego Desert yesterday and saw all of these rusty looking Statues out in the middle of NOWHERE. Yes in the middle of the Desert are beautiful rustic statues of all different types. It is so unique to walk around and see the many different Statutes and just stare at them for a while. When you go to the Anza Borrego Desert you have to make time to go see the Galleta Meadows, it is well worth it.

Beautiful place, to bring your family and take some awesome pictures get creative. Only in California can a State Park be overrun with massive metal sculptures in the name of art. I am not even beginning to complain though as the Galleta Meadows Sculptures in Anza-Borrego are some of my favorite things to take new adventurers to. There are over 130 and as you are driving around they just seem to pop up out of nowhere, it is so awesome.

A free map of the sculptures is available at borregospringsartmap.com. You can save the map on your phone, as a photo. Note that there are a number of other maps floating around on the internet, but many of them are now out of date, because several of the sculptures were relocated in 2017.