Living in the city, I often find myself wondering where to go stargazing in the area. Los Angeles is such a huge city and light pollution makes it incredibly difficult to see the night sky to its full potential. I like being able to see all the bright pin prick dots of a gazillion stars, the annual Perseids meteor showers in August, the glowing planets of Jupiter and Saturn, plus the incredible Milky Way of our galaxy. These are just some of the most “astronomical” wonders of the night sky! (See what I did there. haha) The best places to go stargazing are:
- Out of the city or
- Go to a higher elevation.
I’ve listed some of the best places below where you can go star gazing in the Los Angeles area, ranging between 1-4 hours away from the city.
Keep in mind that in order to enjoy a starry night sky to the fullest, you’ll need to remember a few key tips.
- You need good, clear, cloudless weather.
- Summertime is best to view the Milky Way.
- Avoid days that the moon is full or bright, no moon is best and
- Use apps and gadgets to improve your viewing pleasure. I’ll list a few I recommend at the end of the article.
Due to the 2020 Covid-19 restrictions, some locations’ status may vary. Closures and hours of operation may be different from their regular schedule. Please check websites for any of the listed locations for the most up-to-date information. Stay safe, healthy and Happy Travels!
Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Borrego Springs
The Anza Borrego Desert State Park is located about 2.5 hours out of Los Angeles. It is actually East of San Diego and a great spot for camping, dirt biking and other desert activities. Plus, who wouldn’t want a dinosaur in the backdrop while stargazing into the sky? HAHA There are dozens of various iron artworks setup in the Borrego Springs area of a giant T-Rex, a Chinese Dragon, a Scorpion and more. They are amazing to see during the day, and just as interesting at night.
Where to go Stargazing in Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is a popular destination for Los Angelenos. It’s about 2 hours away high up in the mountains. It is a self-sufficient city so it’s actually got a nice little population up there. There is a beautiful lake for fishing, boating and swimming during the day. One of the world’s Solar Observatories is located in Big Bear next to the lake and makes for a perfect spot for star gazing. There are also numerous campsites and other quiet areas all over the mountain, away from any light pollution, that is ideal for mapping the skies.
Death Valley National Park
One of my favorite places in California is Death Valley. It is one of the many Dark Sky destinations in the world, and it’s located right in Southern California, about 3.5-hours away from Los Angeles. And it is an incredible place to visit during the day as well as at night for an amazing night sky. (Although during the Summer, the weather can be a scorcher!) You can go star gazing all over Death Valley, you will never be disappointed. The terrain and landscape is so unique and different, it makes a perfect backdrop to the night sky. Make sure to visit my guide for Death Valley to learn all about where to visit.
Where to go Stargazing in Idyllwild
Idyllwild is a small New Age town located in the hills of the Mt. San Jacinto in the desert outside of Los Angeles about 2-hours East. It’s often overlooked and not mentioned as a star gazing location but it’s a great hidden spot. Just the drive up the short mountain roads to the town, you can already see the Milky Way in the sky. The photo above, we took by simply pulling our car over on the side of the road! We didn’t even go all the way to the town. We hope to go here to view the Perseids meteor shower this year
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is an incredible destination in the desert, close to Palm Springs. It is about 3 hours away from Los Angeles and is a popular spot for camping and Summer recreational activities. It’s also one of the best locations to go star gazing. The terrain here is absolutely “out of this world!” (I’m feeling very punny today.) It is world-reknown for some very interesting and unique trees. Part of the Agave family, with their dagger-like leaves and sprawling, zig-zaggy branches…the Joshua tree looks like it belongs in a Dr. Seuss book. They also make the perfect backdrop for star gazing.
Sequoia National Park
Located North of Los Angeles about 3.5 hours into the Sequoia National Forest, you’ll get to enjoy giant Sequoia trees by day, and an incredible starry sky by night. It’s known for its huge sequoia trees, notably the General Sherman Tree dominating the Giant Forest. The underground Crystal Cave features streams and striking rock formations. It is also located at a higher elevation so temperatures will drop by about 20-degrees Fahrenheit.
Other Notable Locations to go Star Gazing in Los Angeles
Here are a few additional spots for where to go stargazing in the Los Angeles area. There will be some light pollution since these area areas are still fairly close to the city.
Best Apps & Gadgets to Use for Star Gazing
Smartphone Apps to make Star Gazing Easier
We are total amateurs when it comes to Star Gazing and Astrophotography but hey, everyone was a beginner once, right? I’m here to help you enjoy this super cool hobby the cheapest and easiest way possible. Three of the most important Apps that I highly recommend you download on your smartphone for the best Star Gazing experience are the following:
These Free apps will help you figure out the phase of the Moon cycle so you can plan and schedule for the darkest night to go star gazing in the area you choose. My favorite app is the Star Walk 2. It basically maps the entire sky and will move with your smartphone’s GPS as you shift your phone around pointing at the sky and the horizon. It will tell you exactly what you’re looking at by the name of the stars and constellation. It’s quite “magical.” And finally the Weather app is obviously to check on Cloudy or Rainy conditions in the area. A clear sky is best for wherever you go star gazing.
Convenient Gadgets for Star Gazing
Tactical 3000 Lumens Flashlight
You’re going to be trudging around in the dark on uneven terrain if you’re adventuring out somewhere to gaze at the night sky. So I highly recommend a good lightweight, but powerful flashlight. My friend took this amazing photograph and I asked him what he used to create that super cool light beam and he said he used a simple Tactical 3000 Lumens Flashlight. I have now added it to my own collection of gadgets as well. It’s super cheap and powerful for the low price. And it does double duty with helping you light the way. PLUS the light beam looks cool in photos.
Portable Smartphone Selfie Ring Light
This is an odd item that I know you’re wondering why you would need it. But trust me, it’s cheap, portable and lightweight and I’ll explain why. Instead of purchasing an expensive item like the professional Lume Cube, using a simple Smartphone Selfie Ring Light that costs less than $20 will help you illuminate the foreground in your photos, or to light your way when you’re trekking to your destination, or to adjust camera settings or simply to find your gear. You can also easily clip it to your smartphone to take a selfie photo. HAHAHA To diffuse the light for photos, simply put it under a thin piece of fabric light your T-Shirt or a thin towel. Or even a sock! Yes, a clean sock is recommended.
Rechargeable USB Head Lamp
If you’re not looking to take photos but just want to head out for good old fashioned star gazing, then I recommend a simple Head Lamp. It will light your way and keep your hands free and it’s also handy for camping and doing other things in the dark.
Skymaster Binoculars
Binoculars are always handy if you want to zoom in to look at a particular star or constellation. Instead of lugging around a high-power and expensive star gazing telescope, a pair of binoculars is portable and ideal for beginners. This particular Skymaster pair is highly recommended for avid star gazers for night time use. And it’s also functional during the day as well for bird watching or other uses.
Recommended Camera Gear for Astrophotography
Not every one likes to take photos of the night sky, it can be very difficult and confusing. And require a lot of post production work in Photoshop. So it’s totally okay if you’re not into night photography. But just in case you are, I highly suggest the below gear for astrophotography beginners.
The most important thing to have for photographing the night sky is the camera. A good DSLR, digital single-lens reflex, camera. We have had an old Canon EOS 5D Mark III for close to 10 years but we recently upgraded to a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV finally. Both are DSLR cameras that lets you control your settings and your focus manually which gives you the ultimate control over shutter speeds, F-Stop and aperture. And also lets you change your lenses which is super important. We have had better luck learning about astrophotography when using the Mark IV.
You’ll for sure need a wide angle with wide aperture lens for shooting the stars. A wide angle will capture the expanse of the sky and a wider range of landscape in the foreground or background. The Sigma Art 35mm f1.4 for the Canon is our favorite lens to use. It is a fixed lens so we mostly use it for night sky astrophotography. You can use it during the day but just remember the angle is fixed and not adjustable.
Another important item to have is a steady tripod due to the longer exposure times used for night sky photography. I suggest the Manfrotto Element MII Aluminum Tripod with Ball Head. It packs light, small, and it’s quick to set up. I appreciate the ball-head for great mobility of the camera. It doesn’t keep your camera restricted in only moving in certain directions.
This little plastic “filter” device has been a godsend actually. The SharpStar has helped us a lot in learning how to manual focus our lens on a dark night sky to make sure all our shots are in focus as much as possible. It is a special kind of mask that mounts in front of your camera lens. In astronomy, it’s also known as a Bahtinov Mask. SharpStar uses the properties of optical diffraction to create a set of three fine spike lines around a bright star. Visit their website to find out more about it.
For additional astrophotography tips,
I recommend visiting Sweet Little Journey’s Night Sky Photography Tips.
Here is also a great Astronomy & Telescope Guide for Beginners .
These photos are absolutely incredible! I’m so envious there are so many great places for stargazing near LA. Where I live it’s near impossible due to all the light. I’ve only seen amazing stars twice – in Jamaica and in the middle of nowhere in South Africa. So memorable. I’d definitely be out all the time in LA soaking in the views!
I WISH I had gotten photos like this when I visited Big Bear and Joshua Tree. Big Bear is one of my favorite places, and I never considered going to see stars on my trips there! And when I visited Joshua Tree, the sky was just not having it 🙁 This guide is wonderful, though – next time I go to Big Bear, I might actually be able to star gaze!!
I love that you did this post. It is hard to find the stars when you live in the city! Your recommendations look great!
My husband loves to do star photography and has visited lots of spots but not many near LA so this info is very useful! Great tips!
Death Valley and Joshua Tree are two of my favorite places to be in the evenings. It is seriously so gorgeous there! I really need to visit Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I keep hearing about it!
Ohhhh wow I absolutely love the pictures in this blogpost. I have never taken the time to stargaze in the past but this blogpost convinced me to do it in the future. I love all of these places even though I’ve never been to LA before. Will go back to this blogpost if I plan a trip to LA in the future!
I love seeing the stars but yes, city lights often get in the way. A beautiful night sky is definitely worth a drive, and I’d 100% visit any of these sites! I’m especially curious about the iron sculptures… I want stargazing pictures with dinosaurs! 😉
Your photos are absolutely stunning! Finding spots to stargaze around big cities is not easy – your tips are great!
O-M-G…. these photos! I am so inspired to do this. I go to California a lot & never even thought about hittin’ the outskirts of the city for stargazing. Pinned & saved this blog for my next LA trip.
WOW! These photos makes me want to come all the way to Los Angeles just to see the stars. Thanks for sharing!