AMC Maine Woods
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, a Dark Sky Sanctuary
- How dark?
- Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
- Entry
- Free
- Food & town
- Patten · about 20 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Sanctuary · 2020
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 2, measured at 21.48 mag/arcsec².)
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 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Leonids) |
| Dec 5–11 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Geminids) |
| Jan 3–10 | Thin crescent, sets early | 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 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 2–9 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 31–Apr 7 | Crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 30–May 7 | Crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| May 30–Jun 6 | Crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–9 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 31–Aug 7 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core, and extra shooting stars (Southern Delta Aquariids and Perseids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 5 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 4 | Crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Mid Mar to early Sep. Out of season until mid Mar. In season now, through early Sep. Out of season until mid Mar.
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 (none · darkest skies)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 Katahdin Woods and Waters 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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Food, fuel, and supplies
North Entrance: Patten, ME, about 20 mi away, with groceries (Ellis Family Market), 3 gas stations, and 4 places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Moma Bears Kitchen, Weeze's Snack Bar, and North Gate Grill.
South Entrance (Katahdin Loop Road): Patten, ME, about 15 mi away, with groceries (Ellis Family Market), 3 gas stations, and 4 places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Debbie's Deli & Pizza, River Drivers, and Flatlander's BBQ.
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 2, measured (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
For a trip with more than one dark night: the only other place within 150 miles. The distance is straight-line, not driving.
Dark Sky Park