WHAT ARE THOSE?! 🤩 On rare occasions, the park’s temporary pools come alive with our tiny ancient crustacean friends: tadpole shrimp! These creatures who belong in the Triops genus and recognizable by having three eyes have been around for more than 200 million years! ✨ Their eggs lie dormant beneath the desert soil during the summer, waiting patiently. When rain finally arrives, the pools refill and those long sleeping eggs hatch, bringing these prehistoric creatures back to life for a short b

Travel to Southern California's high desert to see the twisted branches of Joshua trees up close. After the sunlight dims, gaze at the stars that illuminate the night sky over Joshua Tree National Park. | USA TODAY