- Utah has the most International Dark Sky Association-certified areas in the world.
- Bryce Canyon National Park Zion National Park and hidden gems such as Goblin Valley State Park offer great opportunities to observe the night sky.
- Plan your visit to coincide with a new-moon, when the sky will be darker.
There is light pollution. dark skies Unfortunately, they are becoming more and more rare across the country. However, some places are doing their best to protect the night skies. Utah is an American state. renowned for its natural wonders, has the highest concentration of International Dark-Sky Association-certified areas in the world.
The International Dark Sky Association is a non-profit dedicated to protecting communities from light pollution, and of the 31 places recognized by the organization across the Beehive State, we have a few favorites—and some advice, too. On the night or days before a new moon, the skies are the darkest. The stars are also more visible. Plan to gaze at the stars before or after the moon’s rise or set if the new moon does not coincide with your travel plans.
These are the best places in Utah to see stars.
Bryce Canyon National Park
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Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its otherworldly landscape of vibrant red rock hoodoos—tall spires of rock sculpted by millions of years of erosion. Bryce Canyon, in addition to being the largest concentration of hoodoos, is also a Dark Sky Park, with the coveted “Gold Tier”, which means that it has the darkest sky possible.
Join the “ranger-led” tour to experience Bryce Canyon at night.Night Sky Telescope ProgramThe park also hosts an annual “Festival of Lights” from Memorial Day until Labor Day. The park hosts an Astronomy Festival The Milky Way is best seen in June at Bryce Canyon.
Moab
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Moab is not only a beautiful city a Dark Sky communityThis is also the gateway for two Dark Sky National Parks as well as one state park. It is for this reason that Moab is a top destination Stargazers will enjoy this place. The area is also popular with outdoor enthusiasts who like to hike, bike or boat along the Colorado River and the surrounding red-rock canyons.
From Moab, it is less than 10 minutes to Arches National Park, 30 minutes to Canyonlands National Park, and 35 minutes to Dead Horse Point State Park—all of which are Dark Sky Places.
Antelope Island State Park
The following is a list of the most popular ways to contact us island and state park It is located in the Great Salt Lake – the largest saltwater reservoir in the Western Hemisphere. The size of the Island fluctuates according to the level of water, which is at its deepest in spring and early Summer due to the melting snow.
On the western half, the dark skies of the park are best enjoyed. This is because it is protected from the artificial lights and the metro of Salt Lake City. Primitive campsites on the island are an excellent way to experience unpolluted darkness in a peaceful atmosphere.
Zion National Park
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Zion National Park The area is known for its steep sandstone canyons and lush river valleys. Angels Landing or The Narrows are popular hiking spots, particularly at sunset when the cliffs glow a vibrant orange. There’s still plenty to see even after the sun has set.
There are several popular places to view the stars in the park, including the Pa’rus Trail and Wildcat Canyon Trailheads on Kolob Terrace Road. Also, there is the Timber Creek Parking Lot, which is located in the Kolob Canyons.
Goblin State Park
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As Bryce Canyon. Goblin Valley State Park has thousands of hoodoos and is a certified, gold-tier Dark Sky Place—but Goblin Valley is often overlooked. The otherworldly terrain and clear night skies can be enjoyed by visitors with less crowds. You can also find out more about us on our website. It’s cool to see a hoodoo or “goblin” surrounded by shining stars.
