Cottonwood Campground restrooms

Cottonwood Campground is one of the best places in Joshua Tree National Park for stargazing and wildflower viewing. Located in the southern park of the park at lower elevation, it has little shade from vegetation.
Cottonwood campground has individual and groups sites, including an amphitheater for evening ranger programs.

The landscape around Cottonwood is that of the Colorado Desert, which encompasses the southern edge of the park and a large portion of Southern California. Rather than being surrounded by large rock formations and uniquely-shaped Joshua trees, like campgrounds in the northern section, this facility overlooks flat, open-desert shrubland. It is also further from towns or cities that would contribute light pollution. As a result, it offers wide, dark and uninterrupted views of the night sky that draw astronomers and amateur sky watchers alike.