Joshua Tree National Park, a frequent retreat for stargazers escaping the bright lights of California cities, is bracing for a surge in visitors during the Perseid meteor shower this month.
The Perseid meteor shower is visible every year in August as Earth ventures through the trail of debris left behind by the ancient comet Swift-Tuttle. Spectators often flock to national parks such as Joshua Tree and other outdoor areas to catch a glimpse of the celestial phenomenon.
And this year is no exception. Park officials anticipate heavy traffic heading into Joshua Tree on August 10 and 11.
“Due to the park’s proximity to major cities, traffic can be heavy and can cause delays of up to several hours,” officials wrote in a news release this week.
During the Perseid meteor shower last year, thousands of visitors arrived at Joshua Tree on the same night, with cars lined up for miles on Highway 62. The Northern Lights sighting in March created similar heavy traffic, according to park officials.
“We expected some crowds, but we didn’t anticipate the amount that decided to come to the area” in 2023, park spokeswoman Meg Rockwell said.
The park will have additional staff on site during meteor showers, she said.
Mother Nature put on one in particular spectacular show last year when the peak of the Perseid meteor shower fell on a Saturday with a new moon. The peak is expected to land this month on a Monday night with a first quarter moon, meaning showers could be coming not be quite as visible.
Officials suggest that visitors intending to experience the meteor shower in the national park purchase entrance tickets in advance, which can minimize delays. Spectators should also consider downloading the park’s app to use offline while visiting because cell service can be spotty, officials said.
Joshua Tree National Park is one of five places in California that is a certified dark night sky area through DarkSky International, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting communities and wildlife from light pollution.
Julian, Borrego Springs, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Death Valley National Park are also on the organization’s list approved dark night sky regions.
“There’s only so much room in our not-so-small park,” Rockwell said.