Dark sky parks in California
Five certified places protect California's night, with 15 stays listed nearby.
At a glance
- Darkest
- Death Valley National ParkVery dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights. Bortle 3, an estimate.
- Next moonless nights
- Nov 6–12Dark at all five places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Dec 5–11
- Jan 3–9
- Feb 2–8Dark at all five places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Mar 3–9
- Apr 2–7Dark at all five places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Apr 1–8The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- May 2–7Dark at all five places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jun 1–5
- Jul 1–6
- Jul 30–Aug 5
- Aug 29–Sep 4
- Sep 27–Oct 3
- Stays nearby
- 15 listedThree near each place.
- Milky Way core season
- Early Feb to late OctLongest at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park; shortest at Death Valley National Park, mid Feb to mid Oct.
Compare the 5 parks
Sorted darkest first; places with the same rating are A to Z. The numbers match the map.
| Number | Place | How dark | Nearest town | Stays | Next moonless nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Death Valley National Park | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Pahrumpabout 40 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–5Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 2 | Anza-Borrego Desert State Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Borrego Springsabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 2–8Mar 3–9Apr 2–8May 2–7Jun 1–5Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 3 | Borrego Springs, California | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Borrego Springsin town | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 2–8Mar 3–9Apr 2–8May 2–7Jun 1–5Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 4 | Joshua Tree National Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Joshua Treeabout 5 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 2–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–8May 2–7Jun 1–5Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 5 | Julian, California | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Ramonaabout 15 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 2–8Mar 3–9Apr 2–8May 2–7Jun 1–5Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
Darkness ratings are estimates from satellite data unless marked measured (how we rate darkness). Moonless nights are computed for each place's coordinates; weather isn't included (how). A town has at least 250 people and a grocery store on the map; distances are straight lines, so the drive is longer (how). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.