One of the joys of discovering Joshua Tree National Park is learning how to photograph the night sky through night photography workshops and classes. “Half the Park is After Dark” is a National Park Service campaign slogan, after all. But this may be coming to an end.

Ambassadors and Partners to the National Park Service

I am one of many who lead night photography workshops in Joshua Tree. We consider ourselves ambassadors of the National Park Service. We work with the National Park Service and share mutual goals of educating, preserving, and conserving our public lands. We teach about International Dark Sky Parks such as Joshua Tree National Park, and about the importance of minimizing light pollution. Indeed, National Parks at Night has “National Parks” as part of their title.

My Spiritual Home for Night Photography

One of the main reasons that I moved near Joshua Tree National Park was as a result of the Desert Institute – Joshua Tree, the educational branch of Joshua Tree National Park Association. I took an introductory night photography class and several other hiking classes through them. This very sort of night photography class inspired me to jump in with both feet to night photography. I came out to Joshua Tree frequently. Eventually, I moved here, and go to the Park several times a month to photograph the beautiful landscape underneath the night skies. I frequently refer to Joshua Tree National Park as my spiritual home for night photography. I now pass on this inspiration from Desert Institute, teaching night photography workshops with Tim Little of Night Photography Tours.

Imagine my surprise, then, when night photographer and instructor Casey Kiernan of Joshua Tree Workshops brought Joshua Tree’s new policy changes to our attention in a logical, well-reasoned email, outlining many concerns that we will discuss shortly. As lucid as Casey’s email was, it felt like an unexpected gut punch to me.

Joshua Tree Quietly Changes their Terms and Conditions for Commercial Use Authorizations

Joshua Tree National Park has quietly added the following stipulations to anyone teaching night photography workshops in the Park:

Workshops are permitted to take place in Park listed night sky viewing areas, Echo T parking lot, Cap Rock parking lot, Twin Tanks parking lot, and scenic pullouts only.

Workshops are not authorized to use day use areas such as Barker Dam, Wall Street Mill, Arch Rock, and Heart Rock. Use of these areas during the night will result in administrative action.

Workshops are not permitted to enter any campground location, administrative area, and areas behind a locked gate. Use of these areas will result in administrative action.

Illuminating Park features and landscapes for the purpose of photography is strictly prohibited. This will disrupt wildlife and will result in administrative action.

During the day, the Park’s terms and conditions include some of the following: 

Trails – Workshops are not permitted to take place on trails. 

Concerns About the New 2026 Policies

Provisions Apply Only to the Very People Who Are Helping National Parks

The new guidelines apply only to trained, insured, CPR/First Aid–certified, fee-paying guides. These are the ones who have also received Leave No Trace and environmental impact training.

However, these same restrictions do not apply to the general public, including those people who come into the Park to teach without paying for permits or obtaining insurance or CPR and First Aid training.

My experience has been that the overwhelming majority of other workshop and tour leaders — again, the very ones who are trained, insured, and certified in First Aid — operate with the same goodwill and intentions as the Park. Invariably, when we do encounter people disrespecting the rules, it’s members of the public, not other permitted workshops or tours.

Ironically, it is these very groups of night photographers and instructors who inspire people to visit Joshua Tree National Park not only through workshops but also by sharing their enthusiasm and night photos. It seems to me that the very people who follow the rules, obtain the permits and insurance, and receive training in conservation, First Aid, and CPR are the ones being singled out.

Increased Crowding at Designated Night Sky Viewing Parking Areas

If night photography workshops are permitted to take place solely in the three Park-listed night sky viewing areas and scenic pullouts next to the main road, this would greatly increase crowding since night photography instruction groups and the public alike would be using the same few areas instead of spreading out throughout all of Joshua Tree National Park.

This would effectively ruin sky-viewing and night photography for many visitors. I don’t believe we can provide the experience our clients expect from parking lots and pullouts. These areas are close to cars with bright lights driving past and do not offer a positive experience in nature or ideal dark conditions. Staying on the pavement is no way to teach students about the magic of nature and our night skies.

If these new 2026 restrictions are left to stand, most night photography workshops and educators will no longer be able to operate in Joshua Tree.

Let’s Understand Joshua Tree’s Underlying Concerns

We would like to understand what issues or incidents prompted these changes, especially since many guides have long, incident-free histories in the Park. If the changes are in response to specific violations, we believe it would be more appropriate to address those individual cases rather than apply wide-ranging restrictions to the entire educational community.

No Opportunity for Review or Feedback

There was no advance announcement or opportunity for feedback or review by the public. Instructors only learned about the new rules when reading the updated CUA materials. And this occurred only after workshops had been scheduled, and in many cases, sold out for months. This will adversely affect our night photography workshop, forcing us to cancel should the new restrictions stand.

Request to Delay Implementation of the 2026 Terms and Conditions

Given the timing and the significant operational impacts, we have written to Joshua Tree National Park to respectfully request that implementation be paused for 2026 and revisited for 2027, with an opportunity for educators and guides to provide input and collaborate on a workable solution.

Final Thoughts

We respectfully hope that Joshua Tree National Park reconsiders these new restrictions, reaches out to Commercial Use Authorization and Special Use permit holders, and shares their concerns. We would love to be involved in helping to address them. Night photography educators want to be partners in stewardship and to be an asset.

If you would like to share your concerns politely, you may reach out to Joshua Tree National Park by emailing:

I urge you to be respectful, thoughtful, and understanding when writing. I again want to emphasize our wish as night photography workshop instructors and educators to be partners. Thank you very much for your consideration.