Welcome to Joshua Tree National Park!
It’s been an exciting year with a fall visit in October to join up with a scheduled photo workshop to explore Joshua Tree National Park.
The Mission
Led by two seasoned photographers, Beth Ruggerio and Jason Eldridge, who both have extensive experience with night photography and long exposure techniques, our main objective was to capture stars and star trails featuring the silhouettes of the park’s unique trees as our rockstar heroes.
The Park
JTNP sits just above the town of Twentynine Palms and lies at the meeting point of two distinct desert ecosystems—the Mojave and the Colorado.
The park is home to desert wildlife, rugged sculptural landscapes, and its namesake Joshua trees. These trees, with their twisted Dr. Seuss-like silhouettes, stand among massive granite boulders and wide-open basins.
The park’s history stretches from Indigenous habitation—particularly the Serrano, Cahuilla, and Chemehuevi peoples—to 19th-century miners and ranchers.
First declared a national monument in 1936, Joshua Tree has become a celebrated destination for rock climbers, photographers, stargazers, and travelers seeking quiet desert beauty.
Twentynine Palms
Just outside the park’s north entrance lies the City of Twentynine Palms, a small desert community that blends military-town practicality with an increasingly creative, free-spirited identity.
Twentynine Palms hosts many of the park’s visitors, offering a jumping-off point with hotels, campgrounds, and a modest but growing array of amenities.
The town’s restaurant scene ranges from casual cafés with Southwest comfort food, to barbecue spots, Mexican eateries, and a few newer bistros serving elevated desert cuisine.
Sights to See
Local museums—such as the 29 Palms Art Gallery and the Old Schoolhouse Museum—offer glimpses into regional art, natural history, and the area’s pioneer past. Nearby tourism sights include historic murals, nature trails, and visitor centers that orient travelers to both the city and the park. There’s even a map!
Creative and Quirky
Twentynine Palms is also known for its quirky, highly individualistic public art.
Scattered throughout the outskirts of town, visitors may find unexpected installations: hand-painted signs, metal sculptures, colorful yard displays, and other ad hoc creations that locals put up simply because they felt inspired.
This spontaneous creativity—part folk art, part desert eccentricity—adds a sense of whimsy when wandering around town.
When to Visit
I recommend visiting in fall or spring when the desert heat eases and evenings become pleasantly cool (even cold), which makes exploring the park, local artistic nooks and character-filled landscapes especially enjoyable.
New Friends
I want to give a big shoutout to my fellow travelers! It was an absolute blast meeting such a talented and enthusiastic group of photographers. We had an amazing time together, exploring the stunning starry skies, breathtaking landscapes, and each other’s company.
This unique area on the outskirts of Palm Springs was truly unforgettable, and I’m so grateful to have shared it with such wonderful people. You guys are the best!
