When was the last time you were starstruck? No place has the stars quite like Joshua Tree, California—and we’re not talking A-listers and celebrities. Look up! Because here, it’s the stars in space that get all the attention at night.
You’ll quickly see why stargazing is one of the top things to do in Joshua Tree.
Joshua Tree National Park is an official International Dark Sky Park. The remote park has the perfect conditions for the darkest skies possible. It’s in the middle of the desert in Southern California, away from any city lights. Plan stargazing tours, astrophotography, or major galactic events with your trip plans when hosting in our Joshua Tree vacation homes.
While there are a handful of epic spots in Joshua Tree to visit for stargazing, one of the best places to do so is from the comfort of your own vacation rental home. A telescope and remote location is the perfect combo for incredible views without needing to drive anywhere.
If you are eager to venture into the dark though, here are the best locations to see stars in Joshua Tree.
Best Spots for Joshua Tree Stargazing
Hidden Valley
Time reveals all that’s hidden in this valley. It was once a hiding spot for cattle thieves who snuck here with looted livestock. Today, the best thing you’ll find is hidden in the sky, awaiting the night to reveal its beauty.
Hidden Valley is one of the top hiking spots in Joshua Tree National Park. It’s also popular for viewing the night sky, with its big sky landscape and signature vistas, which you can only capture at this park. Scout your viewing location on this one-mile trail. Choose the perfect angle to frame the valley’s Joshua Trees against the star-studded sky or capture the Milky Way peeking from behind a giant boulder pile.
Quail Springs
When viewing from the summit of Quail Mountain, you’ll get as close as possible to the night sky. Quail Springs Trail takes stargazers up 5,813 feet above sea level to the highest point in Joshua Tree National Park.
You’ll have a direct view of the vast sky above you. Witness panoramic night sky views over the Mojave Desert and capture long-exposure star trail photography to see the entire star cycle uninterrupted.
The trail ends at the summit, 9.1 miles from the trailhead. Get a head start while it’s still light out to navigate to the mountain summit or find other viewing spots near the trail picnic tables.
Ryan Mountain
Spot star constellations from atop Ryan Mountain. This 5456-foot-tall mountain gives you enough elevation to get a breathtaking view. It’s one of the most challenging hikes in the park, and your reward for the challenge is reaching one of the best spots for stargazing in Joshua Tree.
Bright star clusters illuminate the dark sky above Lost Horse Valley, Pleasant Valley, and Queen Valley. Trace the Big Dipper and Little Dipper to pick out the North Star—hint: It’s not the brightest star in the sky. During the winter, see the Orion constellation. In the summer, see the vibrant Antares red star at the heart of the Scorpius constellation.
Cap Rock
Hat’s off to one of the best night sky views at Cap Rock. Explore the astros from the center of Joshua Tree National Park, where light pollution is nowhere to be found.
This location has a flat trail less than a half-mile long, so it’s great for all ages. At night, all you can see are the dark silhouettes of stacked boulders reaching up towards the sky. The pitch-black setting gives you the best opportunity to spot Jupiter and Saturn with your naked eye— the brightest stars in our Solar System they’re more than 500 million miles away from Earth!
Jumbo Rocks
Sit on top of boulders formed millions of years ago and look at stars floating millions of miles away. The Jumbo Rocks section of the park gives you a front-row seat to the nightly show.
Jumbo Rocks is a centrally located area littered with gigantic boulders and boulders piles. Bring your night photography to this location to capture shots of the dark boulders against the bright sky.
This spot is located near the Jumbo Rocks campgrounds, so you won’t be alone at night.
Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center
Attend the Night Sky program at the Sky’s The Limit Observatory to gaze into the depths of the universe. On a Saturday near the month’s new moon, it’s open to the public to use its facilities for stargazing and learning.
Nerd out with the stargazing experts. Use a telescope to see close-ups of planets, colorful nebulae, and other ‘astrobodies’. The guided experiences are run by volunteers who are happy to highlight the most interesting things in the sky. The center’s facilities also feature an Observatory Dome and information about outer space.
Telescopes are optional. Even outside the center, you’ll get a clear view of the stars in the sky.
Bonus: Pullouts on Pinto Basin Road
With skies this dark, you can see an abundance of stars from most places in the park. Head over to Pinto Basin Road to find the darkest skies in the entire park. You can find pullouts on the road between Cholla Cactus Garden and Cottonwood. It’s a convenient way to ensure you don’t miss the celestial show for time-sensitive events like meteor showers, shooting stars, and eclipses.
Use caution when stopping on the side of the road at night. There may be other vehicles on the road.
Best Time to Go Stargazing in Joshua Tree
Stars are visible year-round in Joshua Tree National Park. The Earth’s rotation and orbit are why the night sky constantly changes. Whether it’s a different season or time of night, you won’t see the same stars in the same place. For example, you can see the Milky Way any time of year, but the Milky Way Core, the center of the galaxy, only appears between March and October.
Clear nights always give the best night sky viewing opportunity. A ’new moon’ is when there is no moon in the sky. Reduced light pollution from the moon provides a better experience of the stars (compared to a Full Moon with lots of moonlight and reduced visibility). Check the weather before you go out for the night to monitor for clouds.
Joshua Tree Stargazing Events
The stars in the sky change every night. And ever so often, we’re treated to a natural phenomenon that’s truly out of this world! Joshua Tree hosts annual stargazer events to give you an excuse to revisit the park every year.
Here are the annual events for stargazing in Joshua Tree.
Night Sky Festival
Hosted by the Sky’s the Limit Observatory, this two-day event happens every year around the time of the Fall Equinox. The center hosts events during the day and gives plenty of opportunities to view the sky through its telescopes. In addition to the center, other events are hosted in venues nearby in Twentynine Palms.
Perseid Meteor Shower
Visit any of the park’s designated stargazing areas for the best viewing experience of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. It’s one of the rare space events we can count on every year, and it never disappoints in the park. You can see up to 100 meteors shooting across the sky every hour.
Things to Know Before Stargazing in Joshua Tree
Pick a location. The park gets dark—pitch black—at night. Decide on a viewing location during the day and know how to get there so you don’t get lost when it’s dark outside, especially if exploring backcountry areas.
- Use a night sky ar app. The latest augmented reality apps work as a sky guide to preview the night sky and see what stars will be present. These are helpful when mapping out the location of specific stars.
- Bring a red light flashlight. This works better than a regular flashlight to help your eyes adjust to night vision.
Stargaze from Your Joshua Tree Vacation Home
The best spot for stargazing in Joshua Tree is closer than you think! Stay in one of our Joshua Tree vacation rentals, where the dark sky is featured as an amenity. Our unique luxe homes let you enjoy the park’s stargazing experience from the comfort and privacy of your own vacation home.
Check out our Joshua Tree vacation rentals and book your getaway today.