Tips and Tricks for Camping in the Heat of Summer
Part I – Why Camp in Joshua Tree in the Summer? Isn’t it hot?
Well, yeah, it does get pretty hot. That being said, there are several compelling reasons you might want to camp in Joshua Tree in the summer, namely: less people, brilliant night skies, and cool nights.
Less People
Less crowding is a huge reason many come to visit desert nature in the hotter months. Over the last ten years or so, Joshua Tree National Park has become extremely popular – and for good reasons! The Park is mind-bogglingly beautiful! Joshua Tree is also close to Los Angeles, San Diego and a variety of other desert cities. Palm Springs is an international airport, so access to the Park is worldwide, even not considering the proximity of some of the largest cities in the country. So having less tourists around is a tempting draw to coming out in the soaring Mojave temperatures, generally with highs around 100°F in the summer months.
Night Skies
Another reason people venture the scorching heat to camp in Joshua Tree is the star gazing. The night skies are phenomenal in the summer, for a number of reasons. First, July, August and September are statistically the least windy months.1 Less wind means less dust in the air for clearer vision of the stars, and also less smog blown in from Los Angeles. Also, the Milky Way view is brighter in summer months, making for a spectacular wash of cloud-like light overhead across the night sky. It’s brighter because in the summer months you are looking into the center of the galaxy, while in the winter months, you are looking out and away from the center into the less star-dense spiral.2 Finally, the Perseid Meteor Shower in mid-August is one of the more consistently amazing meteor showers of the year, lasting for about 10 days, peaking around August 12th.3
Cool Nights
Finally, many people forget that the Mojave Desert temperature variations are quite drastic. We generally have a 30°F temperature variation between night and day. So on a 100°F degree day, by the break of dawn, you would be likely to see temperatures around 70°F.1 Keep in mind that it can get to 115°F or even hotter rare occasions. That means morning temperature could be around 90°F. Generally, the average high in July and August is 99°F and the average low is 73°F.
Alright! Are you ready to pack up the car or jump on the plane and camp out in Joshua Tree this summer? Great! Let’s get on to a few basics, and then we’ll cover some more advanced yet strongly recommended tips!
Coming up Next:
Essential Knowledge for Camping in Joshua Tree During the Summer
References:
- https://weatherspark.com/y/2133/Average-Weather-in-Joshua-Tree-California-United-States-Year-Round
- https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/star-seasonal-appearance-brightness
- https://earthsky.org/?p=165416