Oh Ryan
Stargaze in Joshua Tree National Park
Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains, hulking boulders, and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California. Designated an International Dark Sky Park, Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, including Ryan Mountain.
If you time it right, you can take a hike to its summit for some sunset viewing, then make your way down to the parking area where you can bring out lawn chairs and catch a celestial show in the sky. Note: For stargazing, you have to be in the parking area (not on the summit) and within 20 feet of your car. Also, remember to pick a moonless night and check the park website for best viewing dates. The other parking areas designated for stargazing are Hidden Valley, Cap Rock, and Quail Springs.
BONUS: About 7.6 miles north of Joshua Tree’s North Entrance is Sky’s the Limit Observatory and Nature Center. On certain nights they offer free viewing through their 14-inch telescope, and sometimes there are informal gatherings of fellow stargazers with telescopes.
See the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter, or gaze up at the Milky Way stretching across the sky as meteors streak through the heavens. You’ll need an advance reservation.
Night sky photos courtesy National Park Service, Joshua Tree National Park.
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