Meet us under the stars in 29 Palms, California this summer for otherworldly stargazing experiences!
From viewing the Milky Way to watching the sky come to life during meteor shower peaks, to free programs at Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center and Ranger-led evening programs in Joshua Tree National Park, we’ve rounded up some of the best summer stargazing experiences! Plan your visit to 29 Palms and come discover the beauty of our night sky.
Marvel at the Milky Way
The Milky Way’s vast expanse of stars has captivated people’s attention for years and to stand beneath it is an experience that is both humbling and inspiring, and one that will stay with you for a lifetime!
A summer visit to the desert offers many their very first opportunity to see the Milky Way, something that nearly a third of the world’s population can no longer do. July and August are some of the best months of the year to come out to the desert to see the Milky Way as it’s farther away from the sun and is visible throughout the night, with its core shining bright. You need a dark night sky to see it, and there’s no better place in southern California than 29 Palms and Joshua Tree National Park. With such little light pollution, you can see the stars and constellations so clearly that it feels like you can reach out and touch them.
Watch as Meteor Showers light up the summer night sky!
Get ready, the Southern Delta Aquariids and Perseids meteor showers are coming this summer, and these offer some of the best meteor viewing experiences of the year!
First up is the Southern Delta Aquariids which begin to be active around mid-July, and last through to early August, just as the Perseids begin to shine. The Delta Aquariids can produce up to 20 meteors per hour, and get their name from the constellation Aquarius, where they originate from and where the radiance of the shower lies. Best viewed on a Moonless night and lucky for us this year, the Moon will be in its new phase and below the horizon line during the peak viewing period this summer. Mark your calendars – the peak this summer for the Delta Aquariids is expected to be in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, July 30.
With up to 100 meteors per hour during its peak, the Perseids meteor shower is considered one of the absolute best shows of the year! From their climatic builds right before their peak, to their quick fall off concluding their shower, the Perseid meteors are sights to see! As the night progresses into morning, Perseid meteors will typically increase in number, making the best time to view the shower a few hours before dawn, on August 13, just before the Moon sets.
Explore deep space at a Night Sky Program at Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center
Take in spectacular views of far away galaxies, star clusters, nebulae, and more, at an upcoming night sky program at Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center this summer!
Each month, on the Saturday closest to the new moon, Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center hosts a free night sky program and constellation tour lead by docents and visiting astronomers. These monthly programs typically last for two hours and start about an hour after sunset. Views from the observatory’s Celestron telescope are displayed on a 75″ monitor outside of the observatory’s dome, complimented by engaging commentary by the docents and visiting astronomers, offering a fun and educational experience for stargazing and astronomy enthusiasts of all ages!
Located at 9697 Utah Trail, right in front of the north entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center’s campus is one of the very best locations for stargazing during your visit to 29 Palms! The next night sky programs will be hosted on Saturday, August 19 and Saturday, September 16, and those wishing to bring their own observing and photography equipment are always welcome.
Learn more about Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center’s upcoming events and save the date – the 8th annual Night Sky Festival will be returning October 13-14!
Evening Programs at Jumbo Rock Campground in Joshua Tree National Park
Relax under the stars while enjoying an evening program with Park Rangers at the amphitheater in Jumbo Rocks campground and learn about the fascinating features of Joshua Tree National Park this summer!
This free, 45-minute weekly program starts at 8:00pm each Saturday in July and August, with topics ranging from astronomy, park wildlife, history, and more, offering a great opportunity to learn about the park while sitting back and watching the night sky come to life. Ranger programs are free and do not require reservation or registration – just simply show up and enjoy the program!
Learn more about all the great Ranger Programs offered in Joshua Tree National Park this summer and start planning your summer adventure to southern California’s iconic International Dark Sky Park! Visiting in the summer season requires extra preparations so be sure to read through the summer guide for helpful tips and planning resources.
Plan your stargazing adventure with us in 29 Palms
Book your stay in 29 Palms and stay in comfort and style this summer, choosing from the area’s biggest and best variety of lodging! You’ll find it all here, from unique and historic inn and motels, national brand hotels, the area’s largest RV resort, and a vibrant collection of vacation rentals. And no matter where you book, you’ll be minutes from the observatory and north entrance of Joshua Tree National Park!
Join us at Tortoise Rock Casino for their third annual Independence Day Celebration, hosted by The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians!
The festivities kick off at 6:00 PM with a special Retreat of Colors presentation by the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, followed by family-fun activities, games, and giveaways. Starting at 8:00 PM, there will be a special performance by two-time Arkansas Country Music Awards Male Vocalist of the Year, Blane Howard, with fireworks commencing at 9:00 PM!
The Tortoise Rock Casino fireworks show will air live on Z107.7 KCDZ-FM.
In conjunction with the Tortoise Rock Casino’s Independence Day Celebration, the City of Twentynine Palms will also be hosting a 4th of July celebration and fireworks watch party at the nearby Knott’s Sky Park, presented by Rocky’s Pizza!
Spend time with your family and friends at Knott’s Sky Park enjoying the fireworks as they light up the night sky from Tortoise Rock Casino. Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy great food, music, water slides, games, and activities, and so much more!
This year’s festivities will take place from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Party with family and friends until the last firework pops!
Book your long weekend getaway in 29 Palms!
We have everything from national brand hotels to historic inns and motels, the area’s largest RV resort, and a vibrant collection of vacation rentals to choose from. Whatever your style, or budget, you’ll find it here in 29 Palms!
Pack your swimsuits and join us for the Luckie Park Pool Party on Saturday, June 16 where we’ll be celebrating the grand re-opening of our community pool! Hosted by the City of Twentynine Parks & Recreation Department, this fun, family-focused event will include live music, fun giveaway, and a special Grilling with the Mayor event!
The Luckie Park pool is open daily all throughout the summer so be sure to bring the kids over during open swim hours to enjoy the newly renovated facilities and brand-new slide! For more information about entry fees and pool hours and schedules, visit 29palms.org or call the Parks & Recreation Department at (760) 367-7562.
As an important day of celebration for African Americans, and all Americans alike, the Women of Color Global 29 proudly present the Juneteenth Celebration, Saturday, June 17 at Knott’s Sky Park.
Join the community for a full day of free family fun, with music, food, games, and more, all happening between 12 PM – 8 PM! All are welcome to participate in a basketball tournament, play lawn games, and enjoy a talent showcase with poetry and storytelling.
Knott’s Sky Park is located at 701-6899 El Sol Ave, just south of Twentynine Palms Highway. For more information about this great community event, contact the Women of Color Global 29 by phone at (760) 272-0373.
Whether you and your kids are avid skateboarders, or just enjoy watching the sport, you’ll want to join us on Wednesday, June 21 for Go Skate Day, held at the Luckie Park skate park in 29 Palms!
Established in 2004 by the International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC), and now in its 19th year, Go Skate Day is celebrated annually as a fun way to bring people together to celebrate the sport, share tricks, learn from others, and enjoy a great day outside. Enjoy music and fun giveaways, skate games and best trick contests, all happening at the skate park between 6 PM – 10 PM.
Helmets are required for participants under 18, and registration forms are available on site at the skate park. To learn more about this locally organized event, call (760)936-8657.
Be sure to pack those lawn chairs and picnic blankets because Movies in the Park are back this summer! Hosted by the City of Twentynine Parks & Recreation Department, this summer’s movie series is full of comedy, action, heart, and a whole lot of fun for the entire family.
Movies are played outdoors, at the Luckie Park soccer field, starting at 8:30 PM every Thursday night starting on June 22 through to August 10, with the exception of July 6.
These weekly movie screenings are free, and all are welcome!
Plan your summer getaway with us in 29 Palms and choose from the area’s largest collection of lodging! From national brand hotels and historic inns and motels, RV resort, or any one of our vibrant vacation rentals, you’ll find it all here in 29 Palms. Book your summer stay today: https://visit29.org/lodging/hotels-motels-inn/
February 12, 2023 marks the seventh anniversary of Mojave Trails National Monument. Established by Presidential Proclamation in 2016, the Monument is managed by the Bureau of Land Management to protect its rare ecology, extraordinary geology and ineffable beauty. Mojave Trails spans 1.6 million acres and contains 350,000 acres of designated wilderness within the Mojave Desert.
While the expansive Monument is a place for solitude and reflection away from the noise of neighboring Los Angeles and Las Vegas, if you look closely you will see a dense community of life, from past and present.
Mojave Trails is named for the network of routes used by indigenous tribes for thousands of years and by early Spanish explorers in the 1830s. It also boasts the longest remaining stretch of Route 66 where Americans between 1926-1985 traveled in search of a better life. Five of the twelve Desert Training Center camps, or Patton camps, also reside within the Monument’s borders. Over one million soldiers prepared for the North African conflict during WWII in the harsh desert conditions.
Many relics from these locations and events remain. Please do your part in not moving or tampering with items of cultural and historical significance such as rocks, petroglyphs or anything resembling military equipment.
Rare species of animals and plants call the Mojave Desert home. Desert fauna includes birds like the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and the Burrowing owl, reptiles like the Chuckwalla lizard and even fish; the Bonytail chub resides in sparse desert riparian habitat. The Monument contains the northernmost assemblage of smoke trees within the California desert and the densest concentration of Bigelow Cholla cactus in the state. Ongoing research within Mojave Trails continues to reveal plant species not yet discovered by science.
Celebrate the anniversary of Mojave Trails by exploring the many recreation opportunities this national treasure has to offer. Drive on designated OHV routes, hike trails less traveled and visit historical sites. Please honor these fragile desert communities by recreating responsibly!
The City of 29 Palms is proud to be a official gateway community to Mojave Trails National Monument and Route 66, and hope you’ll make time this winter and spring season to get out there and explore this beautiful part of California’s Mojave Desert region! From Amboy Crater to the Cadiz Dunes Wilderness, and the Desert Training Center, incredible adventures await.
Learn more about visiting Mojave Trails National Monument and start planning your next trip to 29 Palms!
Get your telescopes and binoculars ready, 2023 is set to be another exciting year for celestial events! From meteor showers and supermoons, to fascinating planetary oppositions and a solar eclipse, there’s a lot to look forward to in the night sky in 2023, and no better place to take it all in than from 29 Palms, California.
Before we get into all the exciting upcoming celestial events to add to your calendar, here’s three reasons why 29 Palms is the perfect year-round stargazing destination in southern California:
1. Stay minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, an official International Dark Sky Park
As a proud recipient of the International Dark Sky Association’s prestigious Dark Sky Park designation in 2017, Joshua Tree National Park boasts some of the darkest skies in southern California and regardless of which hotel, RV resort, or vacation rental you book in 29 Palms, you’ll be staying just minutes from the park’s main north entrance and spectacular, year-round night sky viewing. With nearly 800,000-acres to roam, minimal light pollution, advantageous elevation gains, and clean, crisp air, the stars pop in the night sky, making this iconic national park a hotspot for stargazing and astronomy enthusiasts.
2. Take in the night from Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center, recently ranked by AAA as one of the Best Stargazing Locations in the West.
There’s no better place in 29 Palms to spend the evening under the stars than at Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center! Ranked by AAA as one of the Best Destinations in the West for stargazing and astronomy, and sharing a border with Joshua Tree National Park, this 15-acre campus features an observatory dome that houses a 14” Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, an Orrery representing a true-to-scale and position model of the Solar System at 20 billion to 1, a solar calendar/sundial that marks the hours as well as the solstices and equinoxes, plus a Meditation garden based on Zen design principles. To learn more, and start planning your visit, check out www.skysthelimit29.org
3. Discover the night sky the way it was meant to be seen with a private stargazing experience with the 29 Palms Astronomy Club.
Whatever time of year you plan your visit to 29 Palms and Joshua Tree National Park, the 29 Palms Astronomy Club is ready to bring the epic grandeur of the night sky to you, from the comfort and privacy of your campsite, hotel, vacation rental, or place of residence. The 29 Palms Astronomy Club offers private night sky presentations, led by passionate and expert astronomers who provide fun and interactive cosmic tours of the stunning night sky with high-powered telescopes, providing you with the opportunity to experience the night sky the way it was meant to be seen. To learn more, visit 29palmsastronomy.
January 3-4: Quadrantid Meteor Shower Peak
January 6: Full Moon (Wolf Moon)
January 21: New Moon
January 30: Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
February 6: Full Moon (Snow Moon)
February 20: New Moon
March 7: Full Moon (Worm Moon)
March 20: Spring Equinox
March 21: New Moon
April 6: Full Moon (Pink Moon)
April 11: Mercury at Greatest Easton Elongation
April 20: New Moon
April 22-23: Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak
May 5: Full Moon (Flower Moon)
May 5-6: Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peak
May 19: New Moon
May 29: Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
June 3: Full Moon (Strawberry Moon)
June 4: Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation
June 18: New Moon
June 21: Summer Solstice
July 3: Full Moon (Supermoon/Buck Moon)
July 17: New Moon
July 29-30: Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peak
August 1: Full Moon (Supermoon/Sturgeon Moon)
August 10: Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation
August 12-13: Perseid Meteor Shower Peak
August 16: New Moon
August 27: Saturn at Opposition
August 30: Full Moon (Supermoon/Blue Moon)
September 15: New Moon
September 19: Neptune at Opposition
September 22: Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
September 23: Autumn Equinox
September 29: Full Moon (Supermoon/Harvest Moon)
October 8-10: Draconid Meteor Shower Peak
October 14: New Moon
October 14: Solar Eclipse
October 20-21: Orionid Meteor Shower Peak
October 23: Venus at Greatest Western Elongation
October 28: Full Moon (Hunter’s Moon)
November 3: Jupiter at Opposition
November 5: South Taurid Meteor Shower Peak
November 13: New Moon
November 12: North Taurid Meteor Shower Peak
November 13: Uranus at Opposition
November 17-18: Leonid Meteor Shower Peak
November 27: Full Moon (Beaver Moon)
December 4: Mercury at Greatest Easter Elongation
December 12: New Moon
December 13-14: Geminid Meteor Shower Peak
December 21-22: Ursid Meteor Shower Peak
December 22: Winter Solstice
December 26: Full Moon (Cold Moon)
On May 7, 2022, Joshua Tree National Park proudly opened their new Visitor Center in downtown 29 Palms, in the newly completed Freedom Plaza. Made possible through partnership with the City of Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree National Park’s traditionally associated Native American communities, Joshua Tree National Park Association (JTNPA), and the Bureau of Land Management, the new Joshua Tree Visitor & Cultural Center is a must-see destination for park visitors.
In addition to the beautiful bookstore and information center, this new Visitor Center features an incredible museum space which will feature rotating exhibits celebrating the culture, history, and stories of the Native American communities. The new facility is located at 6533 Freedom Way, in the center of 29 Palms’ newly completed Freedom Plaza, and is open 7 days a week from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
The opening exhibition, Home Maintenance: Keys Ranch, tells the story of the park’s role in the preservation of cultural resources. This temporary exhibit was developed by Joshua Tree Art Innovation Lab (JTLab) and weaves the stories of people on the landscape in the present and the recent past. The next set of exhibits, scheduled to be installed in the fall of 2022, are being developed in partnership with the traditionally associated Native American communities. This more permanent exhibition will share the rich heritage of the many peoples who have stewarded this land for millennia. JTNP acknowledges these original stewards, and this exhibit will pay respect to the people, past, present and emerging who have been in this area for generations.
The Oasis Visitor Center (OVC) in Twentynine Palms closed its doors at 5:00 PM Monday, May 2, 2022 after 60 years of operation. The new Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center in 29 Palms replaces OVC in welcoming visitors and providing park information. Other park visitor facilities are Joshua Tree Visitor Center, Cottonwood Visitor Center, and Blackrock Nature Center and Art Gallery. These are open to welcome the public daily.
About Freedom Plaza
Formerly known as Project Phoenix, the Freedom Plaza site is dynamic downtown revitalization project along Highway 62 in the heart of 29 Palms that will serve to meet the community’s recreational, professional, and educational needs.
The multi-faceted complex features an 11,000 square foot Community Center with a gymnasium/multipurpose room and culinary arts kitchen, a 4,100 square foot Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, a 10,000 square foot entry plaza and a three-block long Paseo.
The Community Center will serve as a flexible athletics facility and recreational hub for the community’s youth and adults and can also be used for special events and conferences. Through the City’s new partnership with Copper Mountain College and the Morongo Unified School District, the culinary arts kitchen in this new Community Center will be used as a teaching space for the next generation of aspiring chefs.
A beautiful outdoor event stage graces the corner of Freedom Way and the Paseo parking lot between the Community Center and Joshua Tree Visitor Center. Freedom Way’s newly designed protected walkway also transforms into an event space that can be reserved for special events such as festivals, farmers markets, art shows, car shows and musical events.
A decade in the making, the City of Twentynine Palms proudly unveiled and officially opened Freedom Plaza on March 12!
It’s that time of year again! The annual Perseids meteor shower will be gracing our desert night skies once again this August in all its out-of-this-world glory. Boasting some of the darkest night skies in southern California and bordering Joshua Tree National Park, an International Dark Sky Park, 29 Palms is the ideal destination for observing the Perseids this summer!
Producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak and known for its massive fireballs which are larger explosions of light and color that last longer than the average meteor streak, the Perseids are a sight to behold and one of the most exciting meteor showers to observe. These fireballs leave “long ‘wakes’ of light and color behind them,” according to NASA. Named after the constellation Perseus, NASA reports the Perseids originate from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862 by astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle. With the meteors appearing in all parts of the sky, this shower will be easy to witness with the naked eye. Plus, with the waxing crescent moon setting in the early evening, viewers will be left with gorgeous dark skies for what is sure to be an excellent show!
There are a few things you’ll want to bring with you to make your meteor shower watch party a memorable experience, starting with a comfortable chair. A reclining lawn chair would be best as it allows you to sit back, look up, and enjoy the show.
Because it will be a late night, be sure to pack all your favorite late-night snacks and lots of water. We can’t emphasize the importance of water and staying hydrated enough, even for nighttime adventures! It’s easy to underestimate the effects of the summer heat at night and even if you don’t feel thirsty, it’s important to keep your water intake up. A gallon per day/per person is always recommended. It’s also a good idea to have a few extra layers of warm clothing handy as evening temperatures do drop and you’ll want to stay comfortable.
Another key item to have with you is a red flashlight. It is recommended that you do not use bright white flashlights, headlamps, or cell phones when getting ready to stargaze. It takes approximately 20-30 for the human eye to fully adjust to these types of low light conditions. Don’t have red lights? No problem! You can turn any regular flashlight into a red-light flashlight by covering it with red cellophane, tape, paper, fabric, or any other similar materials.
This red flashlight will also help you watch your step while getting settled at your viewing spot, and help you avoid stepping on cacti, desert critters, and uneven surfaces that can be difficult to see at night. Wearing closed-toe shoes is also highly recommended.
Plan on giving yourself at least one hour of viewing time as meteors are known to come in spurts with interspersed lulls. The optimal viewing time for the Perseids meteor shower will be between midnight and dawn, with the peaks expected on the mornings of August 11, 12, 13.
While many focus on this peak time, remember that meteor showers typically last weeks! According to EarthSky.org, the Perseids can be visible for up to 10 or more days following the peak, so if you can’t make it out to 29 Palms between August 11-13, you can certainly still plan a trip shortly after!
One of the common questions we get asked is where the best place to stargaze is, and fortunately, due to the lack of light pollution in our area, the opportunities are endless! Many of the hotels and vacation rentals in our city offer great views of the night sky so it can be as easy as pulling a chair out to the patio or backyard.
Designated as an official International Dark Sky Park in 2017, Joshua Tree National Park is the best (and most popular) place for stargazing in southern California, offering visitors incredible stargazing opportunities year-round. Do expect the park to be busy during the annual Perseid meteor shower and as always, take the time to plan out your visit in advance. With cell reception extremely limited in Joshua Tree National Park it’s important to download the new National Park Service mobile app as it provides the ability to download and save park maps and helpful visitor resources for offline use. Also, remember you can now purchase your park pass online and in advance by visiting www.recreation.gov.
*Please note, if you are planning on watching the Perseids from within Joshua Tree National Park, there is a temporary fire restriction in place, and all fires are banned until further notice. The restrictions include campgrounds, residential areas, and the backcountry, and bans campfires, barbeques, outdoor smoking, and other fire hazards.
Sustainable recreation and protection of cultural and natural resources have been significant issues for Joshua Tree National Park even before its designation as a national monument in 1936. In fact, Minvera Hoyt was motivated to preserve the area out of concern that increased automobile use was threatening the desert and its unique vegetation. The conservation issues that challenged early 20th century environmentalists are similar to the ones the park faces today. As visitation rapidly increases each year, instances of illegal off-highway vehicle incursions are increasing. These incursions have serious consequences on the park’s natural and cultural resources.
Things you should know before traveling on backcountry roads in Joshua Tree National Park:
-Joshua Tree National Park is covered in cryptobiotic soil, which holds the desert in place. It absorbs rainwater and is a source of nitrogen and organic matter that other life in the park depends on. It takes 5-7 years for it to even start to grow back. (https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/nature/cryptocrusts.htm)
-Illegal off-roading can introduce invasive plants through your car tires, which can carry invasive seeds or spores. The damage is further exacerbated because disturbing natural vegetation can encourage invasive species to spread rapidly.
-Joshua Tree National Park is rich with human history dating back to the 1500s. If you drive off an established route, you could disturb a cultural site that potentially holds important and fascinating information regarding the area’s cultural and natural resources.
-Driving off the legal route encourages other drivers to follow your path, causing even more damage from repeated use.
-If you want to pull over to take a photo or explore, make sure to pull over in an established pullout, which will be paved or lined with boulders.
-Illegal off-roading can put your safety at risk. Unestablished routes may have difficult 4WD terrain you are unprepared for.
-No one expects to run into trouble while off-roading, but sudden rainfall, an unexpected injury, car troubles could turn a fun drive into a crisis. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario.
-If you drive off the legal route and get stuck, it is unlikely that anyone would find you. There is little cell service in the park, particularly in remote areas where off-roading is most common.
-Stay with your vehicle if you get stuck. It may be your first impulse to search for help, but the people searching for you are much more likely to find your vehicle before they find you wandering alone in the desert.
-If you plan to use one of the park’s many legal 4WD routes, tell people where you’re going and when you plan on returning. Carry multiple forms of communication, such as a personal locator beacon in addition to your cell phone.
-Unauthorized off-road driving can incur you a $180 fine for each instance.
Learn more at: www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/backcountry-roads.htm
Guest post written by Nalini “Ash” Maharaj, owner/operator of Harmony Motel, a proud Visit 29 Palms Partner.
The refreshing cool breeze and the warm sunlight strokes my skin gently; this magically rejuvenates and uplifts my spirits, whispering to me—the appearance of my most favorite season of the year. Yes! Bright, beautiful, and blossoming, spring showcases, the awesome wonders of the creative spirit of Mother Nature. Spring’s creativity provides immense joy for all nature lovers.
In the desert, spring can be unpredictable with the climate. Some days, she is light and breezy, or she can be cheerfully sunny; sometimes she gets moody and places a damper on your day (rudely interrupting your plans), by showing up overcast, rainy, damp windy, and cold.
Spring generally glitters and glows in colors—bright greens, purples, warm pinks, oranges, and yellows as she paints the desert landscape with sweet smelling wildflower blooms. She rejuvenates the desert wilderness with blankets of green grass, fragrant smelling flowers with picture perfect butterflies, sweet sounds of chirping humming birds, merry quail families, and over protective fussing doves that are nesting high up in the trees.
This gorgeous spring morning I am relaxed and comfortable on my favorite chair on the harmony patio, as I view the energetic critter activity in the harmony desert garden. The garden is always a delightful picture of my favorite desert critters buzzing with joy and love, obviously happy to meet all their friends at their favorite play place, after a cold, dry and some what harsh winter that they had just experienced.
I hear chatting from the critters.
Mr. Tortoise whispers to Mr. Bunny. “Did you notice, Ash is so happy? She did not even shoo Mrs. Red Racer away, when she found her in the garden this morning.”
“Off course she is always full of joy and happiness in spring because her favorite guests will soon be arriving,” replied Bunny.
“And who may I ask are they?” squeaked Lizzie.
“Oh come on Lizzie, don’t you know them,” replied Mrs. Red Racer in her husky voice.
“The famous ‘Hang Town Hikers’ are the biggest fans of the Harmony. They adore Ash, love the desert wilderness, and totally appreciate critter land. They have been coming to the Harmony for the last fifteen years; they are a merry crowd that is full of laughter and always in the mood for their happy hour celebrations,” expressed bunny in a happy tone of voice.
“That’s right,” cried out Mr. Roadrunner. “I like them too; they love Joshua Tree National Park, always going on their long hikes, and they enjoy eating at their favorite restaurants in town. Every year they hike my favorite trail, the Boy Scout Trail,” explained chirpy Mr. Roadrunner.
“I wonder why they call themselves the Hang Town Hikers?” Whispered Tortoise to himself, to which Bunny chuckled.
“On the last trip I heard Bob, the leader, explain the history of their name to Ash.”
“So it’s time for a story Bunny,” shouted Roadrunner delightfully.
Mr. Roadrunner than proceeded to instruct everyone to find a seat on the comfortable dirt. Bunny cleared his throat and began to narrate the historical story of the name of the town Placerville—why it once was notoriously called Hang Town .
Bunny loved the attention from his friends, he squealed with laughter, as he began narrating the story with excitement in his voice. “As history explains, the discovery of gold in nearby Coloma, California by James W. Marshall in 1848 sparked the California Gold Rush, the small town now known as Placerville was then called Dry Digging’s —after the manner in which the miners moved cartloads of dry soil to running water to separate the gold from the soil.
Later, in 1849, the town earned its most common historical notorious name “Hang Town” because the miners quickly became short-tempered, and with the rising crime rate and the lack of readily-available law enforcement, they took the “law”—or lack thereof—into their own hands. Criminals were punished in short order, whether it be flogging or hanging, based on snap decisions made by impromptu courts with hastily-formed juries.
The first lynching in the camp, a triple hanging, came after a gang of five tried to rob a miner of his gold dust. However, someone in the crowd of 2,000 said he recognized three of the five—two Mexicans and one Yankee—that had been involved with a murder on the Stanislaus River.
The three suspects were hanged together from the huge oak tree in camp. The location of this well-used hangin’ tree is marked by an effigy dangling by his neck from the second story of the Hangman’s Tree Historic Spot in downtown Placerville. The stump is said to be in the cellar. That is how the Town Placerville acquired its historical notorious name “Hang Town” as there were many such hangings during this period in the town.”
Bunny continued, “So my dear critter land that is why our dear friends from Sacramento call themselves the “Hang Town Hikers.”
“I get it, they like the history of their town’s name,” whispered tortoise.
“Or maybe their name indicates that they will not tolerate bad behaviors from their hiking team, like the pioneers of their town,” suggested Roadrunner.
“Gosh I had better be on my best behavior the next time they are here,” stuttered anxious Mrs. Roadrunner .
“Yes, listen to Ash. You need to hide yourself when her guests are around because they are afraid of you,” Lizzie uttered naughtily.
Get the inside scoop on everything you need to know to plan your visit to Joshua Tree National Park this season and beyond!
This must-have collection of resources covers an array of topics and starts with a warm-hearted welcome from Park Superintendent David Smith who shares his own pro tips for visiting the park! Find helpful trip planning checklists, important links to the park’s hiking trails and campground maps, tips on hiking safely in the summer season, and knowing how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat related illness.
This Inside Scoop is also packed with great information about the park’s wildlife, and simple actions that you can take during your visit that will help to protect some of the park’s most iconic species like the desert tortoise and bighorn sheep. Wondering what to do if you encounter a mountain lion, tarantula, or rattlesnake? That’s covered too!
Plus, learn about the Dr. James Buckner Luckie Study Center and opportunities to volunteer in the park this spring break!
Looking for information or have questions that are not covered in this Inside Scoop? Plan a visit to one of Joshua Tree National Park’s Visitor Centers:
Oasis Visitor Center
74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Open daily from 7:30am to 5:00pm
Joshua Tree Visitor Center
6554 Park Blvd, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Open daily from 7:30am to 5:00pm
Cottonwood Visitor Center
Pinto Basin Road, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Open daily from 8:30am to 4:00pm
