Stargazing Forecasts for Dark-Sky Places
Each page has tonight's verdict, the hour-by-hour night, and the next run of moon-free nights for that spot. For anywhere else, search on the forecast or find dark skies on the map.
Texas
- Big Bend National ParkA remote International Dark Sky Park on the Rio Grande, often called the darkest place in the lower 48.Bortle 1–2
- Big Bend Ranch State ParkTexas's largest state park, next door to Big Bend and just as dark.
- McDonald ObservatoryA research observatory in the Davis Mountains with public star parties.Bortle 2
- Davis Mountains State ParkHigh-desert camping a short drive from McDonald Observatory.
- Enchanted Rock State Natural AreaA granite dome in the Hill Country, the closest dark-sky park to Austin and San Antonio.Bortle 3–4
- Copper Breaks State ParkA certified dark-sky park in North Texas, reachable from Dallas–Fort Worth.
- South Llano River State ParkA Hill Country river park with certified dark skies.
- Guadalupe Mountains National ParkWest Texas high country with the state's tallest peaks and very dark skies.
California
- Death Valley National ParkThe largest national park in the lower 48 and a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park.Bortle 1–2
- Anza-Borrego Desert State ParkCalifornia's largest state park, wrapped around the dark-sky community of Borrego Springs.
- Joshua Tree National ParkThe closest national-park dark sky to Los Angeles, with its darkest skies in the eastern half.
- Lassen Volcanic National ParkNorthern California volcano country and a certified dark-sky park.
- Pinnacles National ParkThe closest national park to the Bay Area, with certified dark skies.
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National ParksHigh Sierra skies above the giant sequoias.
- Mojave National PreserveA vast, lightly visited desert between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
- Mono LakeTufa towers under dark Eastern Sierra skies — a classic Milky Way foreground.
- Trona PinnaclesOtherworldly tufa spires in the Mojave, popular with night photographers.
Arizona
- FlagstaffThe world's first International Dark Sky City, home to Lowell Observatory.
- Grand Canyon National ParkAn International Dark Sky Park with a star party every June.
- Petrified Forest National ParkPainted Desert skies on the high plateau of northeast Arizona.
- Sunset Crater Volcano National MonumentA cinder-cone landscape just outside Flagstaff.
- Oracle State ParkA certified dark-sky park north of Tucson.
- Kartchner Caverns State ParkSouthern Arizona grassland skies above a famous cave system.
- Chiricahua National MonumentRock pinnacles in the far southeast corner of the state.
- Organ Pipe Cactus National MonumentSonoran Desert darkness on the Mexican border.
- Mount LemmonA 9,000-foot summit above Tucson with a public observatory program.
Utah
- Natural Bridges National MonumentThe world's first International Dark Sky Park.Bortle 2
- Canyonlands National ParkRemote canyon country with some of the darkest skies in the Southwest.Bortle 2
- Capitol Reef National ParkWaterpocket Fold skies, far from any city.Bortle 2
- Bryce Canyon National ParkHigh-altitude hoodoos and a long-running astronomy program.Bortle 2
- Arches National ParkSandstone arches that frame the Milky Way, near Moab.Bortle 3
- Goblin Valley State ParkHoodoo-filled valley and certified dark-sky park.
- Dead Horse Point State ParkA clifftop overlook above the Colorado River near Canyonlands.
Colorado
- Great Sand Dunes National ParkNorth America's tallest dunes under high, dry San Luis Valley skies.
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkA sheer, narrow canyon with certified dark skies.
- Jackson Lake State ParkAn eastern-plains dark-sky park within reach of Denver.
- Westcliffe & Silver CliffTwin towns that became a certified International Dark Sky Community.
- Florissant Fossil Beds National MonumentA mountain meadow dark-sky park west of Colorado Springs.
- Mesa Verde National ParkAncestral Puebloan cliff dwellings under Four Corners skies.