Catching a glimpse of California’s Joshua Tree National Park in the snow is a magical sight, and one that not many visitors experience. How often does it happen?

Two lucky early risers managed to capture a glimpse of snow at sunrise on Sunday morning (January 7th). The moment was fleeting and the snow didn’t stick virtually for very long.

The couple were visiting from New York and shared some eerily trappy images on Reddit. Their photos show the iconic trees with a light dusting of white powdery snow. A magical sight in the wilderness of southern California.

“Only here for one morning (< 24 hour trip) and we were greeted by a snowy park this morning! We saw maybe two other cars in the park between 7- 8am, it was incredible having this frosty wonderland to ourselves,” they shared in the post.

Joshua Tree National Park is a place where two deserts meet: the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert. Two unshared ecosystems, the park is home to a fascinating variety of diverse plant life, including the iconic spiky Joshua Trees. It is moreover famous for its visionless skies and incredible geology. Here are five things you didn’t know well-nigh Joshua Tree National Park.

How Rare Is Snow in Joshua Tree?

According to the Joshua Tree National Park, snow can occasionally be seen at higher elevations, but usually only once or twice a year. In the winter, the park experiences potation days, virtually 60°F (15°C), and freezing nights. The couple were excited to be the first to see the snow, they shared “It started virtually 4000 ft or so, and well-nigh 1 – 2 cm on the ground at Keys View (5,185 ft)!”.

The Joshua Tree National Park shared a post from February 2019, the last time the park experienced a significant snowfall.