Joshua Tree National Park is a National Park in California. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 4 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Joshua Tree
We matched 4 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Joshua Tree. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Natural Arches (1)
Mountain Peaks (1)
Rock Formations (1)
Dark Sky Places (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Joshua Tree the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 80° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:49 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:21 PM | 4:58 PM | 245° | 10h 09m |
| February | 6:29 AM | 7:03 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:28 PM | 256° | 10h 59m |
| March | 6:55 AM | 7:28 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:52 PM | 268° | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:13 AM | 6:47 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:15 PM | 283° | 13h 02m |
| May | 5:43 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:38 PM | 294° | 13h 55m |
| June | 5:33 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:57 PM | 299° | 14h 24m |
| July | 5:44 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:56 PM | 297° | 14h 12m |
| August | 6:06 AM | 6:40 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:32 PM | 288° | 13h 26m |
| September | 6:27 AM | 7:00 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:51 PM | 274° | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:49 AM | 7:23 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:11 PM | 260° | 11h 22m |
| November | 6:17 AM | 6:53 AM | 4:05 PM | 4:41 PM | 248° | 10h 25m |
| December | 6:42 AM | 7:20 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:37 PM | 242° | 9h 55m |
Computed for the park's reference point (33.9142, -115.8398); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Joshua Tree, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:21 AM – 5:01 AM | 0.7 | 16° |
| March | 3:34 AM – 5:24 AM | 1.8 | 24° |
| April | 1:32 AM – 4:42 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| May | 11:35 PM – 3:55 AM | 4.3 | 27° |
| June | 9:41 PM – 3:41 AM | 6.0 | 27° |
| July | 9:37 PM – 2:17 AM | 4.7 | 27° |
| August | 9:03 PM – 12:13 AM | 3.2 | 27° |
| September | 8:15 PM – 10:15 PM | 2.0 | 24° |
| October | 7:33 PM – 8:13 PM | 0.7 | 16° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
Days are typically clear with less than 25% humidity. Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with an average highs around 85°F (29°C) and average lows around 50°F (10°C) respectively. Winter brings cooler days, around 60°F (15°C), and freezing nights. It occasionally snows at higher elevations. Summers are hot, over 100°F (38°C) during the day and not cooling much below 75°F (24°C) at night.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 15% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (39%). July is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $25.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
From I-10, take exit 117 for CA Hwy 62 toward 29 Palms/Yucca Valley. This will allow you to access the West Entrance, the North Entrance, Black Rock, and Indian Cove. Take exit 168 off I-10 to come in at the park's South Entrance.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horse Camping (see also camping)
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
Nearby parks
AZ/CA
CA
CA
CA