The Lyrid meteor shower set to peak on April 22nd, and searches for the celestial event have surged by more than 5,000% in the past month alone. Yet, most people are missing out on the cosmos, as reports found that 80% of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way, and 99% of Americans live under light-polluted skies.
With this in mind, SpinBlitz analyzed light pollution, elevation, and other key metrics to reveal the darkest night sky hotspots in the U.S. for stargazing enthusiasts.
The results: Darkest Night Skies in the US
| # | Location | State | Bortle Scale | Average
Stars |
Elevation (ft) | Temperature (F) | TripAdvisor
/5 |
Score
/10 |
| 1 | Canyonlands National Park | Utah | 1 | 6000+ | 6,100 | 48.6 | 4.7 | 9.22 |
| 2 | Grand Teton National Park | Wyoming | 2.4 | 4000 | 6,700 | 42 | 4.8 | 8.27 |
| 3 | Great Sand Dunes National Park | Colorado | 2.4 | 4000 | 6,800 | 45 | 4.7 | 8.07 |
| 4 | Cosmic Campground | New Mexico | 2.1 | 4000 | 5,700 | 53.4 | 4.4 | 7.33 |
| 5 | Crater Lake National Park | Oregon | 2.2 | 4000 | 3,300 | 48.4 | 4.8 | 6.96 |
| 6 | Big Bend National Park | Texas | 1 | 6000+ | 1,700 | 64.8 | 4.7 | 6.81 |
| 7 | Badlands National Park | South Dakota | 2.4 | 4000 | 2,200 | 45.2 | 4.8 | 6.71 |
| 8 | Grand Canyon National Park | Arizona | 2.1 | 4000 | 4,100 | 60.3 | 4.9 | 6.49 |
| 9 | Black Mesa State Park | Oklahoma | 2.1 | 4000 | 1,300 | 59.6 | 4.3 | 5.58 |
| 10 | Cherry Springs State Park | Pennsylvania | 3.2 | 4000 | 1,100 | 48.8 | 4.7 | 5.56 |
- Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Canyonlands National Park is a stargazing enthusiast’s dream, with a TripAdvisor rating of 4.7/5 and a score of 9.22/10, higher than any other U.S. national park. The park is designated as a Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. Boasting a Bortle Scale of 1 and very low light pollution, it offers some of the darkest skies in the US, where visitors can witness up to 15,000 stars on a clear night.
The Milky Way is visible in detail, and the park’s 6,100 ft elevation and average annual temperature of 48.6°F provide crisp, clear viewing conditions. Utah’s commitment to preserving dark skies is unparalleled, with over two dozen International Dark Sky Places, including five national parks and nine state parks, making it a leader in astro-tourism.
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- Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower: The most unmissable celestial event at Canyonlands National Park is the Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower. Peak viewing on May 4th, expect a chance to see shooting stars in more than 50 meteors per hour.4
- Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park ranks second with a score of 8.27/10and a Bortle Scale rating of 2.4, meaning the park has very low light pollution. The park provides a canvas where visitors can observe approximately 4,000 stars, with the Milky Way stretching across the sky, backed by its 4.8/5 Tripadvisor rating. The park’s high elevation of 6,700 feet and an average annual temperature of 42°F contribute to clear, crisp nights ideal for skywatching.
Wyoming’s commitment to preserving its dark skies is evident, with minimal light pollution and unobstructed views, making the stars seem within reach.4
- Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
Great Sand Dunes National Park is a haven for stargazers, boasting a Bortle Scale rating of 2.4 and an overall score of 8.07/10. Visitors can witness the Milky Way in its full glory, with the park’s high elevation of 6,800 feet and average annual temperature of 45°F providing optimal viewing conditions.
Certified as an International Dark Sky Park, Great Sand Dunes offers a combination of dry air, minimal light interference, and expansive vistas, making it one of the premier stargazing locations in Colorado.6
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- Perseid Meteor Shower: Great Sand Dune National Park is another place to view the Perseid Meteor Shower. Ideal viewing at the Medano Pass Road.7
- Cosmic Campground, New Mexico
Cosmic Campground ranks fourth as one of the darkest skies in the US, with a score of 7.33/10. The park has a Bortle Scale rating of 2.1 with an elevation of 5,700 feet and an average annual temperature of 53.4°F, it offers clear skies ideal for stargazing. Cosmic Campground provides 360-degree unobstructed views of the night sky, with the nearest significant source of artificial light over 40 miles away.
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- Lyrid Meteor Shower: One of the oldest meteor showers can be seen at the Cosmic Campgrounds. Known for its fireball-like appearance of meteor showers, the ideal viewing times is between 2-5AM. 9
The study was commissioned by https://www.spinblitz.com/
