The USA is a great place for stargazing: particularly where its many National Parks are concerned.

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Published: Monday, 24 June 2024 at 14:00 PM


If you’re going stargazing in the USA, American National Parks offer some of the darkest skies under which to get fantastic views of the cosmos.

Whether you’re observing deep-sky objects with a telescope, or capturing the night sky with a spot of astrophotography, or observing naked-eye sights such as meteor showers and conjunctions, the darkness afforded by these expansive sites far from light pollution makes National Parks a great option.

Here are 10 American National Parks – most but not all official Dark Sky Parks – that are free from urban light pollution, and which offer some of the darkest and clearest night skies in the world for stargazing.

If you want to bring your telescope with you, you’ll need something compact and portable. Read our guide to the best travel telescopes for astronomy.

For more general advice, read our guide on how to stargaze.

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah. Credit: NPS/Jacob W. Frank

The first Dark Sky Park is a favourite of astrophotographers who like to image the Milky Way streaming through the famous Owachomo Bridge.

For more info, visit www.nps.gov/nabr/index.htm

Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Arizona

Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Arizona. Credit: NPS/Miller
Credit: NPS/Miller

Not to be confused with Grand Canyon National Park, this Dark Sky Park is one of the most remote in the US. It spans 1.05 million acres, in the region north of the Colorado River.

For more info, visit www.nps.gov/para/learn/nature/lightscape.htm

Arches National Park, Utah

Milky Way and starry night sky over Arches National Park, USA. Photo by: Xavi Talleda/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Photo by Xavi Talleda/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Arches is another iconic location for astrophotographers – not to mention a designated Dark Sky Park where ‘night-sky rangers’ give regular talks and lead stargazing sessions. Head to the Delicate Arch viewpoint for a great panoramic.

For more info, visit www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/stargazing.htm

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Canyonlands National Park, Utah, at night. Credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Canyonlands National Park, Utah, at night. Credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Designated in 2015, this Dark Sky Park in southeast Utah now has almost 100% night sky-friendly lighting. Island in the Sky is a great vantage point where a regular night-sky rangers programme in summer is followed by stargazing and telescope viewing.

For more info, visit www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/stargazing.htm

Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico

The Milky Way galaxy sets over Fajada Mesa at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Credit: Eric Lowenbach / Getty Images
Credit: Eric Lowenbach / Getty Images

This Dark Sky Park offers evening night-sky programmes that include constellations of the native Chacoan people, as well as telescope viewing at Chaco Observatory and two annual star parties. Drive three hours south and you can tour the Very Large Array facility.

For more info, visit www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/nightsky.htm

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Jupiter and Venus around the Ballerina Tree, Bryce Canyon © Jamie Carter
Jupiter and Venus around the Ballerina Tree, Bryce Canyon © Jamie Carter

Utah has some of the best National Parks for stargazing in the USA, and Bryce Canyon is one of its most famous.

Bryce has a long tradition of night-sky education, with 100 astronomy lectures per year held at the visitor centre, followed by guided telescope observing in the car park. A star party is held each June.

For more info, visit www.nps.gov/thingstodo/stargazing-at-bryce-canyon.htm

Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

Cedar Breaks National Park at night. Credit: Dwith Chenna / 500px / Getty Images
Credit: Dwith Chenna / 500px / Getty Images

This stunning geologic amphitheatre hosts an award-winning summer star party at Point Supreme each Saturday night between Memorial Day and Labor Day (the last Monday in May and the first Monday in September). The 3,000m altitude really helps clarity. Stay in Brian Head or nearby Cedar City.

For more info, visit www.nps.gov/cebr/planyourvisit/experience-dark-night-skies.htm

The Headlands, Michigan

Headlands International Dark-Sky Park, Michican. Credit: Diana Robinson Photography / Getty Images
Credit: Diana Robinson Photography / Getty Images

This Dark Sky Park, an area of undeveloped land along Lake Michigan, is best visited in conjunction with nearby, car-less Mackinac Island. There’s no camping here, but there is a dedicated dark sky viewing area on the shoreline.

For more info, visit www.midarkskypark.org

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

Milky Way at Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands, Moab, Utah, USA. Credit: Kristina Bills / Getty Images
Milky Way at Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands, Moab, Utah, USA. Credit: Kristina Bills / Getty Images

An hour from Arches, Dead Horse Point offers fantastic views from above a gooseneck in the Colorado River.

The campgrounds are excellent, and night-sky rangers also run a programme of stargazing talks and events.

For more info, visit stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse/night-sky

Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania

The Milky Way over Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania. Credit: Credit: demerzel21 / Getty
The Milky Way over Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania. Credit: Credit:demerzel21 / Getty

One of the few Dark Sky Parks in the eastern US, but still one of the best National Parks for stargazing, Cherry Springs has its own night-sky viewing area located north of Route 44.

Stargazing benches are provided, as well as a summer sky map backlit in red light. Two major star parties are hosted each year.

For more info, visit www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/CherrySpringsStatePark/Pages/Stargazing.aspx

What are your favourite places to stargaze in the USA? Let us know by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com

This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.