Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Mammoth Cave National Park, a Dark Sky Park
The world's longest known cave system by day and a Dark Sky Park by night, with open fields by the visitor center for looking up.
- How dark?
- Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
- Entry
- Free; cave tours ticketed
- Food & town
- Cave City · about 9 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2021
How dark is it, really?
The Milky Way is hard to make out here, though the main constellations and bright planets are easy to find. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 5–6, an estimate.)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 6–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–12 | Thin crescent, sets early | 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 3–9 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 1–8 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core |
| May 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| Jun 1–6 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–6 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 31–Aug 6 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core, and extra shooting stars (Southern Delta Aquariids and Perseids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 4 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 3 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Mid Feb to mid Oct. Out of season until mid Feb. In season now, through mid Oct.
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 Mammoth Cave National Park.
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
After a day of hiking, paddling, or touring the cave, stay for the other half of Mammoth Cave: the night. The park is a certified International Dark Sky Park, and the simplest place to start is right by the visitor center, where grass fields and parking lots open a wide view of the sky. Elsewhere, tall trees and hills close in overhead, so look for open ground.
Step away from car headlights and building lights, and bring a flashlight with a red setting so you can find your way along walkways without losing your night vision. You don't need a telescope. Many planets and constellations show to the naked eye, and a pair of binoculars adds more. Watch for the International Space Station, a bright white dot that moves quickly across the sky without changing direction.
Rangers lead stargazing programs through the year and bring telescopes for viewing planets and other sights; the park calendar lists dates. Kids can become Junior Ranger Night Explorers. The park's campgrounds near the visitor center keep you close to the fields after dark.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Cave City, KY is about 9 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Bi-Rite Grocery, Save-A-Lot), 3 gas stations, and 16 places to eat on the map. The nearest gas is closer: Park City Shell, about 7 mi away in Park City, KY. Nearest places to eat on the map: Green River Grill & Bar (under 1 mi), Lantern Cafe (under 1 mi), and Anna's Kitchen (about 6 mi).
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 5–6, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Mammoth Cave National Park
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 Park Obed Wild and Scenic River
Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
3 stays nearby →