Topic: Places to star watch?

[Kyle J. Thompson]

So i am looking for some good places to star watch with in resonable distance.

I know joshua tree is always a solid fall back but im not sure on the camping facilities (im actually not looking for a developed site, just a place i can set up a stove and cook and sleep)  there since its a park. is (forgive spelling) Berdoo canyon  visited alot by party people?

Im looking more in the area of Palm springs-ish, or closer to the north part of the county since I will be leaving from riverside. Also it will only be an over nighter fri/sat otherwise id go up north to like owens valley or such a similar place.

If you'all could post up lat/long of locations that id help. thanks alot

Thank guys in advance!

[FrankB]

Kyle,

This website may help.  It lists over 300 spots in California for which they track the sky on a regular basis. You can check to see how clear it is supposed to be in advance of heading out.  It may also give you some ideas of places to go. I noticed that there are several places in Joshua Tree listed.

http://cleardarksky.com/csk/prov/California_charts.html

Little Blair Valley in Anza Borrego is a popular spot for people coming from San Diego, but I've been told that it's not always that dark out there.

[Soylent Yellow]

I don't think there are is a lot of activity up in  Berdoo Canyon at night.   If you camped up at Berdoo Camp there is probably less chance of having anyone camping or hanging out nearby.  Another option is to drive out Black Eagle Mine Road in JTNP.  You'll end up ouside the park boundries on public lands so camping is pretty much wide open.  And it will undoubtedly be dark.

[slantyshanty]

If you DO end up coming all the way out to Joshua Tree, you can just go to the dry lakebed on the North side of Hwy 62 (behind Copper Mountain College).

Head north on Sunfair (Coyote Valley Rd.) until you get to either Cypress Ave. (Reagan Rd.) or I usually go to Aberdeen Dr. Take a right on either of those two roads until you run out of road. Now you are in the lakebed.

If you took Cypress Ave. then there should be a noticeable dirt road just to your north that heads up the mountain to:

34.186117,-116.213073 <--- good place to camp, look at stars, whatever.


If you took Aberdeen, head South East across the lakebed. You will pass a LARGE blackish rock at:

34.184961,-116.220036 <--- good place to shoot guns.


If you REALLY want to get away... after you make it up to 34.186117,-116.213073, hang a left and go up that pretty steep dirt road. There is a great viewpoint at the barrels (34.185145,-116.215809) but if you want to camp up there keep following that trail until you get to 34.192143,-116.220288.


This MAY work? Never shared a "my maps" before...

[AV Xterra]

I saw that girl in the new series Mad Love at LAX a couple of weeks ago. But I don't think you can camp there.

[Soylent Yellow]

I saw that girl in the new series Mad Love at LAX a couple of weeks ago. But I don't think you can camp there.

Tell that to the people who were stuck there while some dumbass got his hair cut.

[AV Xterra]

Tell that to the people who were stuck there while some dumbass got his hair cut.

HaHa. I remember that.

[Paul]

The BLM property north of Barstow and south of Redstone.

[leons240s]

Ive always had good luck with Onyx Summit heading up hwy 38 towards Big Bear. You're up past 8,400 ft. and its just a short hike to get away from the road. Not completely sure bout camping but Im sure you can find somewhere really close or on the summit, just ask forestry. Great place to take a date!  

[jamiedubs]

We did a night ride one night a couple of years ago in plaster city out in Supersticion which is right outside of El Centro. It is pretty quiet out there and has some good off roading but had some crazy stars that night.