Desert Dreams are Made of These CA National Parks
Best of Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks
Located in the high desert of southeast California, Joshua Tree National Park is a landscape both whimsical and mystical. It’s best to visit this desertscape in late fall and winter, when temperatures are cooler. Get into the park early and start at the west entrance, driving to the Hidden Valley Trailhead. This 1-mile loop is a great introduction to the park’s bounty of cactus, pinyon, juniper, and—naturally—Joshua trees!
For a sunrise or sunset hike, the summit of Ryan Mountain (5,456 feet) has the best view in Joshua Tree National Park—a sweeping panorama spanning desert to mountains, including three valleys, the Pinto Basin, Mount San Jacinto, and the Little San Bernardino Mountains.
The trail to the top is 1.5 miles (one-way) which is short, but the ascent is still a workout!
With names like Badwater, Hell’s Gate, and the Funeral Mountains, Death Valley sounds unwelcoming. But visit in winter or early spring and you’ll find the lower 48’s largest national park to be a place of ancient beauty and amazing solitude, not to mention being ideal for dark-sky shows. The park has the highest ranking of darkness by the International Dark-Sky Association, meaning eminent stargazing opportunities.
Combine sunset viewing and stargazing at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, located 2 miles east of Stovepipe Wells. These marquee dunes of Death Valley are truly ahhh-mazing. Bring a flashlight or headlamp and arrive at least an hour before sunset. Put some picnic provisions in your backpack and from the parking area start hiking north to the dune of your desire. It’s a workout as you climb the spine of a dune, but the reward is stunning as the sun sinks below the horizon and the surrounding mountains are bathed in lavender light. Stay awhile for some stargazing, (just not too long, and use that headlamp as you head back to your car. Full moon nights shine a good light for you). Keep an eye out for nocturnal regulars like the desert fox or coyote.
TIP: Check in at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center to find out about their full moon and dune walks, as well as starry-night cosmos programs.
BONUS: Visit the California Academy of Sciences’ new exhibition, California: State of Nature and explore the dynamic Mojave Desert through sight, sound, and touch. Learn all about this landscape of rare wildlife (like the “new to science” playa scorpion), wildflowers, and wondrous dark skies.
