Updated 8Aug2026
UnUnlikeSave the Date! Desert Symposium 2027 
March 18–22, 2027 • Borrego Springs, California

Dear Desert Symposium Friends,

Please mark your calendars for Desert Symposium 2027, to be held March 18–22, 2027, in beautiful Borrego Springs, California, the gateway to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Theme
Colorado Desert Time Machine: Exploring the Past, Discovering the Future

Join researchers, students, land managers, and desert enthusiasts as we explore the geology, paleontology, archaeology, biology, history, and changing landscapes of the Colorado Desert.

As always, presentations on all aspects of desert science, history, and natural resources are welcome.

Hosted By
Desert Symposium 2027 is hosted by the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Paleontology Society, in partnership with the Anza-Borrego Foundation, the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center, and the Desert Symposium.
​
Our primary meeting venue will be the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center.

Field Excursions
One of the highlights of every Desert Symposium is the opportunity to experience the desert firsthand.

Following the technical sessions, we are planning a variety of field excursions throughout ABDSP and the surrounding region. In place of our traditional 3-day Desert Symposium trip, we are offering a dozen or more guided half-day and full-day trips on Sunday and Monday. These excursions will showcase the area's remarkable geology, paleontology, fault systems, ecology, archaeology, and cultural history.

Please take a moment to complete our brief questionnaire below to indicate your interest in these planned trips.

Preliminary Schedule
Date /Activities
Thursday, March 18       
 - Evening Welcome Reception
Friday, March 19             
 - Technical Sessions, Keynote Speaker & Posters
Saturday, March 20       
 - Technical Sessions & Posters
Sunday, March 21             
 - Field Excursions
Monday, March 22           
 - Field Excursions

Lodging
Participants are welcome to stay wherever they choose.
Options will include:
  • Special Symposium Rate: Borrego Springs Resort $149/night
  • Hotels and Vacation Rentals: Numerous accommodations throughout Borrego Springs
  • Camping: Experience Anza-Borrego your way—from developed campgrounds to designated primitive camping areas or permitted backcountry camping within the Park. Or stay at one of the RV Parks in Borrego Springs.
Additional lodging information and reservation details will be included in our September announcement.

What You Can Do Now
  • Reserve March 18–22, 2027 on your calendar.
  • Begin thinking about a presentation or poster.
  • Complete our online planning questionnaire below.

Help Us Plan
To help us create the best possible symposium, we invite you to complete a brief planning questionnaire.
The survey will ask about:
  • Your interest in attending
  • Field excursions that interest you
  • Preferred lodging (hotel, camping, or other accommodations)
  • Interest in presenting a paper or poster
  • Volunteer opportunities

​Your responses will help us estimate attendance, coordinate lodging, develop field excursions, and build a symposium program that reflects the interests of our participants.

We look forward to welcoming you to Borrego Springs for another outstanding Desert Symposium as we explore the remarkable past—and exciting future—of the Colorado Desert.
​This questionnaire is for planning purposes only and is not a registration for Desert Symposium 2027. Your responses will help us estimate attendance, plan field excursions, coordinate lodging and develop the Symposium program. Registration will open in November.

    Desert Symposium 2027 Planning
    Field Excursions
    Lodging
More Information Coming in September:
Field Trip Previews, Results from our Questionnaire, Lodging details

Fossils, Art, Flowers, Field Surveys and more.
Scenes from ABDSP