Top Locations to Stargaze on Public Lands

International Dark Sky Week is celebrated every April, and we’re here to help you take your stargazing to the next level by camping out on your public lands or embarking on an overnight backpacking trip. Parks, forests, refuges, and other conservation lands are some of the best places for viewing the night sky because they, and the incredible staff that manage these special places, actively work to protect dark skies from encroaching light pollution.

Many of these locations have been designated International Dark Sky Places by the International Dark Sky Association, from the most remote Sanctuaries to Urban Night Sky Places. Check this list to find a dark sky destination near you!

Celebrate dark night skies with a trip under the stars!

Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Idaho

Sawtooth National Forest (Ethan Johnson, Share the Experience)

You can spend your daylight hours hiking, backpacking, bicycling, fishing, boating, canoeing, or swimming in Sawtooth National Recreation Area. But don’t duck in your tent or RV just yet – the best is yet to come. Watch the darkness take over and the night sky come alive from your campsite or lakeside viewing spot. Much of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and the wilderness areas of the Sawtooth National Forest fall within the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, one of the last remaining naturally dark places in the country. Train your eyes or your camera lens on the sky and marvel at the collection of stars, planets, and galaxies before you. You’ll just have to see it to believe it!

Photographer Ethan Johnson submitted the photo you see above to the Share the Experience photo contest. In his submission, he recalls “after a long day of traveling and a late start on the trail, we finally arrived at our destination of Alice Lake along the Alice Toxaway Loop in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. After the sun had set, I found a rocky outcropping near the edge of the lake to take some pictures. I had never seen so many stars anywhere before.” Grab your friends and your cameras for an unforgettable night out and #BringHomeaStory!

Cape Lookout National Seashore

North Carolina

Cape Lookout National Seashore (Chris Roy, Share the Experience)

Cape Lookout National Seashore consists of a chain of barrier islands a three-mile (4.8 km) boat ride off mainland North Carolina, making it an ideal dark sky destination. Park staff work hard to preserve dark nights and keep these awe-inspiring opportunities available for all star-seekers. Here are some of their top stargazing tips!

• Check the weather forecast, bring your binoculars if you have them, a blanket, a red-filtered light, and maybe even a star chart.
• Find a comfortable spot! A good spot that is easily reached by car is the Harkers Island Visitor Center and picnic area parking lots at the end of the road on Harkers Island.

If you’re camping on the barrier islands during the summer months, not only are the stars visible, you may also get to experience the otherworldly blue glow of bioluminescence in the water!

Read more stargazing tips from our friends at the National Park Service in this article.

White Mountains National Recreation Area

Alaska

White Mountains National Recreation Area (Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management)

Our friends at the Bureau of Land Management want you to know… About an hour from Fairbanks, the White Mountains National Recreation Area offers more than a million acres of pristine wilderness, breathtaking scenery, and peaceful solitude. Plan your visit between September and March when winter’s short days provide ample opportunities for stargazing and a chance to see the Northern Lights.

Pro Tip: Before visiting these special places, remember safety first! A trip to remote BLM lands for night sky viewing requires careful planning and caution. Be sure to read the safety tips in this article to help you plan your trip.

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

Arizona

Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (Brian Warsa, Share the Experience)

While Kofa National Wildlife Refuge draws its name from a notorious gold mine, the name “King of Arizona” is certainly apt for this gold mine of recreational activities. Spend your daylight hours on the refuge on the lookout for burrowing desert mammals, chuckwallas, desert iguanas, and Sonoran pronghorn. Nighttime is truly when the refuge comes alive. The Fish and Wildlife Service allows car camping within 100 feet (30.5 m) of any designated road, and backcountry camping is permitted just about anywhere on the refuge, 80% of which is designated Wilderness.

The photo you see above was captured by Brian Warsa for the Share the Experience photo contest. In his submission, he notes, “In April 2021 my girlfriend and I set out with loaded backpacks seeking the top of Signal Peak for a night of camping in the backcountry - no small feat given the early evening heat and difficulty of the hike! But the payoff was absolutely worth it… An incredible night above distant peaks and under the stars.” 

Canyonlands National Park

Utah

Canyonlands National Park (Emily Ogden, National Park Service)

Canyonlands National Park is one of Utah’s premier dark sky destinations, and one of several International Dark Sky Parks in the region. Don’t miss this year’s Southeast Utah AstroFest, a daylong astronomy celebration that culminates in a star-studded Ranger Program and telescope viewing. As they say, “half the park is after dark!”

Can’t make it to Canyonlands? Over 100 national parks offer programs at night, including night sky viewing, full moon walks, wildlife viewing/listening, and culturally specific topics. Find an event near you and bring your kids along to enjoy a Night Explorer Junior Ranger program.

Mojave Trails National Monument

California

Mojave Trails National Monument (Jesse Pluim, Bureau of Land Management)

Mojave Trails National Monument is an otherworldly natural area characterized by mesmerizing sand dunes, ancient lava flows, stunning wildflowers, and rugged mountain ranges. What’s more, the night skies over the Mojave Desert are spectacular. The Monument bridges the gap between two other dark sky destinations, Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park. Mojave Trails National Monument is truly a wonder you have to see to believe. Developed camping is available on a first-come, first-served basis at Afton Canyon campground. Dispersed camping is also permitted – be sure to read the rules and regulations before planning to backcountry camp.

Gila National Forest

New Mexico

Gila National Forest (US Forest Service)

Located near the western border of the Gila National Forest, Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary is the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary located on National Forest System lands and the first in North America. It is also one of only 14 certified International Dark Sky Association Sanctuaries in the world.

Cosmic Campground is a primitive, first-come, first-served campground with minimal site amenities including a pit toilet and four concrete telescope/observation pads. Here are some tips from Forest Service staff to have the best night sky viewing experience:

• If you look at white light from either your flashlight or your cell phone, it will take 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.
• Use a red filter over your flashlight lens. Pro Tip: If you have a smartphone, you can change the display settings to make your screen red instead of white.
• Respect your fellow stargazers – try to arrive before dark so that your headlights won’t distort their night vision.

Explore Related Trips

• S'mores in Endless Ways
• Plan Ahead and Play It Safe for Your Next Outdoor Adventure
• 5 Places to See the Northern Lights

Bring Home a Story

• Stanley Lake Campground Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho
• Alaska Cabins White Mountains National Recreation Area, Alaska
• Needles District Campground Canyonlands National Park, Utah
• Hole-in-the-Wall Campground Mojave National Preserve, California
• Cosmic Campground Gila National Forest, New Mexico
• Great Island Cabin Camp Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina