A brief time-lapse of a Joshua Tree and the night sky - from Joshua Tree National Park. Video by Brad Sutton, National Park Service. | Sierra Club

When we think of dark, desert nights, we can’t help but think about the stars too. In 2017, Joshua Tree National Park was designated an International Dark Sky Park, joining many other parks worldwide as a space dedicated to protecting its starry skies. Dark Sky designation not only means preserving true darkness for our visitors, but also providing darkness for the various animal and plant species that call this park home. Did you know that light pollution can negatively affect our desert ecosys