Anza-Borrego State Park: Galleta Meadows Scavenger Hunt

State Parks

Jun 1

Do you ever miss the joy of childhood scavenger hunts, the excitement of finding easter eggs, or the thrill of “Where’s Waldo”? Okay, maybe we’re exaggerating a little, but don’t you wish you could go back and enjoy the simpler times? Well, look no further than California’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, home to the famous metal art sculptures designed by Ricardo Breceda.

History

First appearing in 2008, the owner of the Galleta Meadows Estate, Dennis Avery, wanted to add art pieces to his property free of charge for everyone to enjoy. He tasked Ricardo Breceda, a metal welder and artist, to supplement the artwork.

Location

Galleta Meadows is located in the middle of Borrego Springs. Once you find your first sculpture in this quiet town, you’ll be hooked in trying to find them all. There are over 130 individual sculptures throughout the meadows! They all very in size with the tallest standing at 20 feet, and the longest (Sea Serpent) spanning 350 feet. All of the sculptures can be found along Borrego Springs Road on either side of Palm Canyon Drive.

The Sculptures

The sculptures are fantastical representations of mythical creatures, real life animals, and ancient extinct species. Most of the sculptures depict life-like story telling of animals grazing, fighting, and hunting. Breceda welded the sculptures in such a way to give them a very natural feeling as if they are moments forever paused in time. Their rusty color and framework help them blend naturally to their surroundings.

Driving

To find the sculptures, you will have to drive off the main road onto dirt paths. High clearance vehicles with 4x4 capabilities and good tires are highly recommend because of the bumpy and sandy terrain. Most of the sculptures that are grouped in the same vicinity have paths that connect to one another. This makes it very easy to drive from sculpture to sculpture without having to stay in the hot sun for too long. The paths weave in-and-out for some of the pieces, allowing you to take pictures from your car!

Free Printout

Below, we have provided a free printout of the main sculptures for you to take along on your hunt. If you have any questions about the sculptures or the park in general, leave us a comment in the section down below. Allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy finding these beautiful art pieces and have fun!