Steinaker State Park
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Dinosaur National Monument, a Dark Sky Park
One of the darkest places left in the United States, with summer ranger stargazing at Split Mountain Campground.
- How dark?
- Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
- Entry
- $25 per vehicle, 7 days
- Food & town
- Vernal · about 10 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2019
How dark is it, really?
Dark enough to see the Milky Way stretch across the sky on a clear night, with only a faint glow from distant towns low on the horizon. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 3, measured at 21.99 mag/arcsec².)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 5–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5–12 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Leonids) |
| Dec 5–11 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Geminids) |
| Jan 3–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | A sky full of stars, and a meteor shower peak (Quadrantids) |
More dark windows, through Oct 2027
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1–8 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 2–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| May 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| May 31–Jun 6 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–7 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 6 | Mostly none · crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 4 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 3 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Late Feb to early Oct. Out of season until late Feb. In season now, through early Oct. Out of season until late Feb.
Meteor showers ahead: Leonids on Nov 17–18 (half moon, sets around midnight), Geminids on Dec 13–14 (thin crescent, sets early), Ursids on Dec 22–23 (full moon, up all night), and Quadrantids on Jan 3–4 (thin crescent, rises late)Lyrids on Apr 22–23 (bright moon for most of the night)Eta Aquariids on May 5–6 (none · darkest skies)Southern Delta Aquariids on Jul 30–31 (thin crescent, rises late)Perseids on Aug 12–13 (bright moon for most of the night).
Email me before the next dark window at Dinosaur National Monument.
About one email a month, a few days before the moon goes dark: the dates here, the moonlight, and what's worth staying up for. Unsubscribe in one click.
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What it's like
Dinosaur National Monument is one of the darkest places left in the United States, and with so little light pollution the stars of the Milky Way stand out with startling clarity. Most of the monument makes a fine place to look up, whether with your eyes alone or with binoculars or a telescope.
The easiest place to start is Split Mountain Campground, which has a designated stargazing spot. In summer, rangers hold stargazing programs at the back of the campground, often with red lamps, sky charts, and telescopes; the park calendar lists them.
Check the weather and sky clarity before you head out. Moon phase matters too. Once the moon is more than half full, its light can wash out fainter stars and galaxies, so aim for a crescent or no moon at all. Give your eyes 30 minutes in the dark, and avoid looking at anything bright, including your phone, which resets the clock. A red headlamp, or a flashlight covered with red film, lets you find your way without losing that night vision. If you use a stargazing app, switch on its red mode. Binoculars or a telescope will show things your eyes can't, such as the moons of other planets, and a printed monthly star chart helps you know what to look for.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Quarry Visitor Center (Utah): Vernal, UT, about 10 mi away, with groceries (Davis Food & Drug, Smith's, Walmart Supercenter), 14 gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Dinaland Cafe, Country Grub, and Naples Country Cafe.
Canyon Visitor Center (Colorado): Vernal, UT, about 35 mi away, with groceries (Davis Food & Drug, Smith's, Walmart Supercenter), 14 gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Giovanni's Italian Grill, Subway, and Country Grub.
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
✓ Certification verified Jun 2026 against DarkSky International registry (Internet Archive capture) · entry fee from National Park Service (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 3, measured (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Dinosaur National Monument
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Dark Sky Park Dark Sky Community Helper, Utah
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Park Jordanelle State Park
Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Park Rockport State Park
Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
3 stays nearby →