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- More Of The Best Places To Watch Meteor Showers In Southern California
Summary
- Southern California offers a range of stunning locations to view meteor showers, from desert to mountain to beach settings.
- Death Valley National Park and Red Rock Canyon State Park provide ideal conditions with minimal light pollution for an unforgettable stargazing experience.
- Rancho Palos Verdes Overlook and Laguna Beach offer scenic viewpoints with lower light pollution, making them excellent spots to witness meteor showers.
Southern California is one of the few places where one can soak in the sun at the beach, snowboard the snowy mountains, and camp in its hot deserts - all within the same day. With its fantastic year-round weather and numerous locations to get some of the best views, Southern California offers some of the best sites to watch meteor showers. However, with the amount of light pollution, finding the perfect place to witness the universe's wonders might take time and effort. Here are the ten best places to watch meteor shower in Southern California that can leave everyone with cherishable memories.
UPDATE: 2023/08/17 01:46 EST BY REENA JAIN
More Of The Best Places To Watch Meteor Showers In Southern California
There are many beautiful places to see the dancing light streaks in Southern California, from the desert to the mountains to the beaches. This list has been updated with four new places to enjoy the Perseid meteor shower 2023, California for a spectacular evening outing and memorable experiences.
14 Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park
Known for salt flats, hiking trails, and stunning sunsets, Death Valley National Park also has the lowest light pollution in California. Located a four-hour drive from LA, this national park is the best location to view the Perseids this year if one is up for going this far. While there are many beautiful places for stargazers to experience this captivating show, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are unquestionably a wonderful option due to their proximity to the park's main road and the incredibly smooth sand. Harmony Borax Works is another nice choice for those who prefer to spend the night in the park, as Furnace Creek Campground has quality camping sites.
- Campground: Furnace Creek Campground
- Camping cost per night: $22 per site
13 Red Rock Canyon State Park
Nothing can beat the thrill of witnessing a celestial flaming meteor shower smack in the middle of a terrestrial canyon with its own fiery rocks. Red Rock Canyon State Park in Southern California (2 hours from downtown Los Angeles) is undoubtedly the best place to watch meteor shower in California and have many remarkable experiences all at once. This surreal desert setting is noted for its pollution-free, darkest sky, offering ideal conditions for stargazing. Additionally, 50 rustic campsites at Ricardo Campground at the base of spectacular desert cliffs are available for stargazers to spend the night, allowing them to enjoy unforgettable experiences.
- Campground: Recardo Campground (50 primitive sites, first-come, first-served)
- Camping cost per night: $25 per site
12 Rancho Palos Verdes Overlook
Photo by Alan Rovira on Unsplash
Visit Scenic Outlook - Vistapoint in Rancho Palos Verdes for the upcoming meteor shower in Southern California and enjoy mesmerizing scenery up close. It is among the few public stargazing locations to see the Perseid meteor shower in the wee hours of the night. This place is an excellent location to enjoy this beautiful show because of its comparatively lower light pollution than other coastal LA cities. Arrive at the viewpoint shortly before dawn to first capture the changing scenery of the sky with the setting sun and then witness a spectacular shower of meteors and be mesmerized.
- Location: Scenic Outlook, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
- Hours: 5 AM to 10 PM, daily
11 Ojai Valley
Photo 3426713 © Eugene Everett | Dreamstime.com
Still wondering where to watch Perseid meteor shower in southern California? Ojai, a charming hamlet, is another great location as it has passed legislation for a dark sky, making it the nearest town to Los Angeles to have this policy. The ultimate purpose of the regulation is to preserve stunning vistas of the night sky by reducing light pollution while also cutting energy usage and expenditures. With minimal pollution and a pristine dark sky, this hamlet is the best place to watch the meteor shower in South California, offering the ideal stargazing retreat for people who enjoy spending their evenings under a sparkling sky.
- Campground: Dennison Park
- Camping cost per night: $20 per site
10 Crescent Bay, Laguna Beach
Crescent Bay of Laguna Beach, Orange County, California USA
Heading to Southern California's beaches is one of the ways to escape light pollution and get an excellent sky view. Crescent Bay Beach in Orange County is a great observation point to view the night sky. The best location to observe a meteor shower is at Crescent Bay Point Park, which provides a high point overlooking the ocean and a beautiful coastal view.
- Location: 31130 Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
- Hours: 6 AM to 10 PM, daily
9 Joshua Tree National Park, Joshua Tree
Known for its rock formations and Mojave Desert climate, Joshua Tree is one of the best places to stargaze. Due to its secluded location, Joshua Tree provides a night sky with some of the least light pollutions in Southern California. This park has excellent spots to watch a meteor, with campgrounds and picnic benches for comfort and convenience. There are also many Joshua Tree National Park locations to hike and find the best site. This national park is pretty big. Quail Springs, Skull Rock, and Tanks Trailhead are good areas for a fantastic night sky view.
- Campground: Indian Cove Campground
- Camping cost per night: $20 per site
8 Top Of The World, Laguna Beach
View of mountains from Top of the World, in Laguna Beach, California.
Laguna Beach, California, has some of the best-hidden gems in Southern California. From the viewpoints to the hidden pools at Thousands Steps Beach. Located at the north end of Alta Laguna Blvd, Top of the World offers some of the best views in Orange County. This scenic look point and hiking ground offer high elevations with minimal light pollution, making it a great location to catch a meteor shower.
- Location: Alta Laguna Blvd, Laguna Beach, 92651, California
7 Palomar Mountain, San Diego
Palomar Mountain is known for its clear sky views in the Northern San Diego Peninsula ranges. It is far away from city lights and is a prime location to watch meteor showers. Palmar mountain is a unique place to visit because it offers a campground and an astronomical observatory. This is a great place to see the famous Hale Telescope and catch the next meteor shower!
- Campground: Observatory Campground
- Camping cost per night: $15 per site
6 Santa Monica Mountains, Calabasas
The Santa Monica Mountains are a National Recreation Area with many open spaces and parks. It stretches over Los Angeles County to the Simi Hills in Ventura County. This location is excellent for those close to Los Angeles, California, looking for a nearby viewpoint that illuminates the city's light pollution.
- Campground: Circle X Ranch Group Campground
5 Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is one of Southern California's greatest charms because it is a location in a mountain range. It gives many locals the space to go fishing, skiing, camping, hiking, and so much more. Big Bear Village is one of Southern California's most fun winter destinations. Its high elevation makes it a great spot to both star gaze and watches meteor showers while enjoying the mountainous greenery.
- Campground: Yellow Post Sites, Serrano Campground
4 Black Star Canyon
Photo by Dex Ezekiel on Unsplash
Located in the Santa Ana Mountains in Eastern Orange County, Black Star Canyon is a perfect location to watch meteor showers in Southern California. It's secluded from the city, which gives visitors amazing sky night views. Black Star Canyon requires a hike to go further into the canyon to find the darkness for the best meteor shower viewings.
- Campground: Camping not allowed
- Location: Orange County, LA, California
3 Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego
There are many magnificent locations to view meteor showers. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is located within the Colorado Desert in Southern California. Finding desert regions in Southern California is one of the best ways to find a location suitable for viewing a meteor shower.
- Campground: Borrego Palm Canyon
- Camping cost per night: $20 per site
2 Turtle Rock Viewpoint, Orange County
This trail is located in the city of Irvine in Orange County. It provides a high-elevation viewpoint, one of the closest locations to Orange County and the Los Angeles area. The view requires a hike up the mountain, which can be a changing trip. However, it is an excellent alternative for those who want to avoid driving out to Socal's deserts.
- Location: Turtle Rock Dr, Irvine, Ca 92603
1 Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles
There are many proven spots to stargaze worldwide; however, finding an urban forest close to the city is excellent for those who need something nearby to catch the next meteor shower. Angeles National Forest provides many locals a space to go outdoors and escape the city. It is also a great place to escape light pollution and get a good sky view for watching meteor showers.
- Campground: Bear Campground
- Camping cost per night: $12 per site