Joshua Tree National Park is a large desert wilderness right on the edge of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Named for and protecting large groves of Yucca brevifolia, a strange, shaggy desert tree prevalent in the Mojave Desert, the park also protects the portions of the Colorado Desert, and several palm spring groves, strange granite rock formations and some human history from its mining and ranching days. On my first visit I arrived at 2 AM and wandered the desert aimlessly watching the stars gradually fade before the morning, before arriving at Keys View to see the sunrise. Unfortunately just before the sun did appear, a gigantic smog cloud arose from Cochella Valley tasting of car and drove me off the mountain. Nevertheless, the park remained a magical place with strange rocks and faded signs of human habitation popping up among the desert and it was an absolutely beautiful morning. The second time I visited a year later was more disappointing, with the sun beating down and the bright light clearly revealing how much human habitation had begun to surround the park. Still for one night at least, I found one of the most beautiful skies in Southern California.

BTW there's an interesting/strange musical history involving the Byrds artist Gram Parsons at Cap Rock here, https://www.desertusa.com/dusablog/.....shua-tree.html though if the rock was haunted I didn't see a thing lol.

I should stick to the mornings I guess.

Courtesy of  theroguez!

The Mountain Goats - Song for Tura Satana