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Hiking, biking and daytime ogling of natural wonders at state and National Parks make for a great, all-ages vacation as we all continue to maintain some degree of social distancing. But consider taking your plans to the next level by visiting a dark-sky park.
The International Dark-Sky Association currently designates 93 places worldwide as International Dark Sky Parks (IDSPs) and 67 of them are in the United States. These are public or privately-owned places “possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.” In other words, optimal conditions for some out-of-this-world stargazing.
Here are 10 IDSPs across the U.S. to see awe-inspiring light shows hosted by Mother Nature herself. (Note that because dark-sky parks are typically in remote locations, lodging options other than campgrounds are often an hour or more away.)
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EAST
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park: Okeechobee, FL
Kissimmee Prairie is blissfully far from the hustle, bustle and night pollution of the rest of the state. Visitors often spot the Milky Way with their naked eyes against the backdrop of a jet-black sky here. It’s home to many of the state’s endangered plants and animals, and features more than 100 miles of dirt roads accessible only to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders during the day.
While the park, like all state parks in Florida, closes at sunset, you can reserve a campsite or astronomy pad site (these come with telescopes) to take in the star show. State Park annual-pass holders can also apply for after-hours permits.
STAY: Work on your golf game while your little ones swim in the kiddie pool and play a game of mega-sized outdoor chess at Sheraton PGA Vacation Resort Villas in Port St. Lucie.
Cherry Springs State Park: Coudersport, PA
One of the darkest spots in the congested Northeast, 82-acre Cherry Springs State Park (150 miles southeast of Erie) sits within the largely undeveloped Susquehannock State Forest and is surrounded mainly by valley-based communities, shielding it from light pollution. Stargazers here have spotted everything from asteroids and meteor showers to Venus and even the Northern Lights on clear nights.
Stargazing takes center stage at the park: There’s a night-sky public viewing area geared to short-term stargazing and a campground for casual stargazers to spend the night. But serious astronomy buffs with equipment can opt for the overnight astronomy observation field, which sits atop a 2,300-foot-high mountain and offers 360-degree views. Amenities here include a light-block tarp, electricity, WiFi and concrete telescope pads.
Cherry Springs also offers family-friendly private stargazing tours with a professional astronomer and photography workshops to capture the magic of an illuminated sky. Amateur astronomers have a chance to come together at the park for an annual Star Party (scheduled this year from June 10–13). Get more details and register on the event’s Facebook page.
STAY: Rough Cut Lodge is about a 30-minute drive from the park and offers cabins and suites with gas fireplaces and kitchens, plus outdoor amenities including porch swings, grills, and firepits.
James River State Park: Gladstone, VA
A local Girl Scout worked for two years to get James River State Park—located halfway between Charlottesville and Lynchburg—an IDSP designation by teaming with park staff to improve outdoor lighting and promote stargazing events. BYO binoculars or use telescopes provided by local astronomy groups to see Mars, the moons of Jupiter, and more. Check the park website for dedicated astronomy events and take advantage of its location on the James River’s shoreline for fishing, boating, and kayaking.
STAY: The Babcock House is a charming B&B in a restored home built in 1884 that’s a 30-minute drive from the park. Guests love its screened-in porch, warm service, and on-site restaurant.
MIDWEST
Headlands International Dark Sky Park: Mackinaw City, MI
Camping isn’t permitted on the grounds of Headlands International Dark Sky Park on the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, but the entire park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to maximize stargazing opportunities. Headlands hosts loads of astronomy-themed events throughout the year, including nighttime storytelling, night-sky cruises, and astrophotography nights to take advantage of the stellar front seats to see everything from Orion to the Northern Lights.
During daylight, families can take advantage of the easy, one-mile Dark Sky Discovery trail, where docents explain the human relationship with the night sky throughout history and across cultures.
STAY: The beachfront Best Western Plus Dockside Waterfront Inn has a pool and is within walking distance of downtown attractions, including the ferry to Mackinaw Island.
Newport State Park: Ellison Bay, WI
The 2,400-acre Newport State Park hugs 11 miles of shoreline on the tip of Wisconsin’s popular Door County vacation hub. Still, in the dark of night, it feels worlds away from just about everything, with a virtually unobstructed view of the eastern horizon.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison astronomy department and local park rangers often host stargazing programs here. Check the park website for information. If you plan to stargaze on your own, the park advises coming before sunset to familiarize yourself with your surroundings, as there are few paved roads or light sources. The end of Europe Bay Road, which has parking and a picnic area, is considered the park’s most optimal viewing location.
STAY: The modern, Scandinavian-inspired Dörr Hotel in nearby Sister Bay is scheduled to open in May 2021. All rooms have private balconies and flat-screen TVs, and some have fireplaces.
WEST
Death Valley National Park: Death Valley, CA
After dark is the best time to visit the notoriously hot and dry Death Valley National Park, when the temps go down and the sky lights up with endless stars twinkling in the inky darkness. The most popular viewing spots are Harmony Borax Works, where there is little obstruction from the mountains, and Ubehebe Crater, which provides a basket-shaped vantage point of the sky. Check the website for dates of the next Death Valley Dark Sky Festival, an all-ages event usually held in February or March that features loads of stargazing events, photography sessions, and celebrations once the sun goes down, plus ranger talks, guided hikes, and more during the day.
STAY The Inn at Death Valley, built in 1927, was a popular spot for Hollywood royalty who would take the train to this desert getaway before cars were commonplace. It remains an upscale choice for tourists, who can continue their Milky Way viewing party with a nightcap on the Stargazers Deck. Its sister property, the Ranch at Death Valley, has a more budget-friendly, family vibe.
Canyonlands National Park: Moab, UT
The sky is literally the limit for astronomy buffs who visit Utah, where there are currently 16 designated IDSPs—more than any other state. Canyonlands National Park is a favorite among them; the complete darkness during moonless nights here means you need nothing more than the naked eye to see roughly 2,500 stars in normal weather conditions. Add a pair of simple binoculars, and you might see the rings of Saturn.
In spring and fall, park rangers in Canyonlands’ Island of the Sky district team with rangers from nearby Dead Horse Point State Park and Arches National Park to offer stargazing programs with telescope viewing opportunities. Ranger programs are also available at both the Needles and the Maze districts of the park.
STAY: Red Cliffs River Lodge in Moab has the Moad Museum of Film and Western Heritage on site, plus tennis courts and horseback riding.
Dinosaur National Monument: Dinosaur, CO
See the same stars the dinosaurs roamed under at this park in the Uinta Mountains on the Colorado-Utah border. The area contains more than 800 paleontological sites and petroglyphs that suggest earlier cultures once resided here.
The high elevation and remote location make Dinosaur National Monument particularly optimal for stargazing. Take advantage of ranger-led telescope viewing events and night hikes or bring your own equipment to see countless constellations and maybe even the International Space Station. Favorite spots to get the best views include the Split Mountain Campground and on float trips down the Green and Yampas Rivers.
STAY: Blue Mountain Inn & Suites in Rangley has an indoor heated pool, an outdoor hot tub, and is located on the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway, a 512-mile highway loop that links Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument and other sites.
Craters of the Moon National Monument: Arco, ID
You’ll feel like you’re walking on the moon while looking up at it at Craters of the Moon where other-worldly volcanic terrain is its most striking feature. Hike a volcanic trail and go caving in lava tubes during the day, and watch the sky light up with what feels like a kazillion stars at night.
The Idaho Falls Astronomical Society provides telescopes at star parties every spring and fall, and rangers lead full-moon hikes in summer. But coming here any time of year with your own binoculars or just your own eagle eyes will guarantee nighttime views you won’t soon forget.
STAY: About 60 miles from the park is The Arco Inn in Arco, Idaho, a clean-and-simple motel with free wi-fi and picnic tables.
Canyonlands National Park: Moab, UT
The sky is literally the limit for astronomy buffs who visit Utah, where there are currently 16 designated IDSPs—more than any other state. Canyonlands National Park is a favorite among them; the complete darkness during moonless nights here means you need nothing more than the naked eye to see roughly 2,500 stars in normal weather conditions. Add a pair of simple binoculars, and you might see the rings of Saturn.
In spring and fall, park rangers in Canyonlands’ Island of the Sky district team with rangers from nearby Dead Horse Point State Park and Arches National Park to offer stargazing programs with telescope viewing opportunities. Ranger programs are also available at both the Needles and the Maze districts of the park.
STAY: Red Cliffs River Lodge in Moab has the Moad Museum of Film and Western Heritage on site, plus tennis courts and horseback riding.
Chaco Culture National Historic Park: Nageezi, NM
This on-site observatory at Chaco Culture National Historic Park once inhabited by the Chacoans, a Pueblo Indian tribe, hosts astronomy programs that reflect how these ancient people interpreted the night sky as well as modern interactions with it.
There are night sky programs offered at sunset every Friday and Saturday from April through October that include telescope viewings, plus programs to mark both the spring and autumn equinox, and winter and summer solstice. There’s also an annual astronomy festival every September.
STAY: The Fairfield Inn & Suites in Farmington, about 70 miles from the park, has 80 rooms and an indoor pool.
Judy Sutton Taylor
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