Joshua Tree National Park

Silver Tier certified by DarkSky International in 2017. The park sits at the intersection of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, and the eastern reaches away from the western entrance are the darkest. Bortle 2 at its best. The Joshua trees themselves are extraordinary foreground subjects for astrophotography, the twisted silhouettes against the Milky Way are some of the most recognizable images in American dark sky photography. The park borders Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley to the south, which creates a light dome on the southern horizon. Go deep into the park and face north or east for the darkest views. Summer temperatures can exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit at lower elevations. The Hidden Valley campground is the most popular overnight option.