Joshua Tree: ‘Layer up’ and other tips for winter camping

With camping options year-round, we Southern Californian campers have it pretty good. When the coast is too soggy and the mountains too snowy, we can head to the desert for gorgeous scenery, sunny days and starry nights.

It’s a great time to visit Joshua Tree National Park, for instance, being past the fall season and still a ways before the spring camper crowds. But don’t venture out lightly: The typical winter day might be around 60 degrees F, but under that big, light-pollution-less night sky, you can freeze your tush off.

The park’s largest campgrounds, Black Rock, Indian Cove and Jumbo Rocks, are at 4,000, 3,200 and 4,400 feet respectively, and no hookups for recreational vehicles are available. “You need to come prepared,” said park ranger Laureen Lentz during a telephone conversation. “If you’re not prepared, it can be a miserable camping experience.”

Ranger Lentz offers the following tips, if you’re coming out to Joshua Tree to camp this winter:

- Ensure your sleeping bag is up to the task; it should have a 0°F temperature rating.
- Make sure your tent adequately secures because nights can get windy.
- Bring layers of clothing and socks: “Those wool socks you have? Break them out,” says Lentz.
- Call the park before coming out, so you can get an idea of the current weather.

Contact: Joshua Tree National Park, (760) 367-5500

- Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Photo: Joshua Tree’s night sky. Credit: Wally Pacholka / AstroPics.com

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This entry was posted on Monday, December 8, 2008 at 1:30 pm by Susan Derby and is filed under California, National Parks, Outdoors & Adventure, Palm Springs, Weekend Getaways, Winter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.