Get ready for an awesome sight as the Full Hunter’s Moon rises above Joshua Tree National Park! The Full Hunter’s Moon (October’s full moon) is set to rise on October 28, 2023. Because Joshua Tree is a certified Dark Sky Park, meaning the International Dark-Sky association has spotlighted Joshua Tree for its exceptionally dark skies, there are plenty of opportunities around the park to catch sight of October’s Full Hunter’s Moon.
The moon begins to rise at 5:55 p.m from the east-northeast and will reach an altitude of 71.6 degrees (for context, 90 degrees is straight overhead). While the sun sets at 5:56 p.m. in Joshua Tree National Park, twilight follows, and the skies will be dark at 7:20 p.m.
It’s important to note that certain areas of the park are day-use only (usually to protect sensitive wildlife habitats), so head for the areas earmarked for stargazing for convenient ways to view the skies’ wondrous phenomena.
Stargazing areas in Joshua Tree National Park include:
1. Quail Springs – The parking area for Quail Springs is located off of Park Boulevard, 6 miles southeast of West Entrance Station. The parking area is on the west side of Park Boulevard.
2. Hidden Valley – The parking area for Hidden Valley is located off of Park Boulevard, at the end of the turnoff on the southwest side of the road, about 600 feet north of the intersection of Park Boulevard and Barker Dam Road, near the Hidden Valley Picnic Area.
3. Skull Rock – Skull Rock is located along the east side of Park Boulevard, about 2.8 miles southwest of the intersection of Park Boulevard and Pinto Basin Road.
4. Twin Tanks area – The Twin Tanks parking area is located on the west side of Pinto Basin Road, between Belle Campground and White Tank Campground.
5. Cap Rock – Find the Cap Rock parking area on the east side of Keys View Road, .2 miles from the intersection of Keys View Road and Park Boulevard.
Find your favorite dark-sky spot and enjoy the moonrise!
Pudgy Buffalo 
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