Dark sky parks in Michigan
Ten dark sky places protect Michigan's night: four certified by DarkSky International and six designated by a state authority, with 30 stays listed nearby.
At a glance
- Darkest
- Keweenaw Dark Sky ParkExceptional darkness · Milky Way obvious. Bortle 1–2, an estimate.
- Next moonless nights
- Nov 6–12Dark at all ten places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Nov 5–13The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Dec 5–11
- Jan 3–9
- Feb 1–8
- Mar 2–9Dark at all ten places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Apr 1–7Dark at all ten 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 1–7Dark at all ten places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- May 31–Jun 6Dark at all ten places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- May 29–Jun 7The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 1–7Dark at all ten places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jun 30–Jul 9The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jun 30–Jul 10The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 31–Aug 6Dark at all ten places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 30–Aug 7The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 30–Aug 8The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Aug 29–Sep 5Dark at all ten places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Aug 29–Sep 6The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Sep 27–Oct 4
- Stays nearby
- 30 listedThree near each place.
- Milky Way core season
- Late Feb to early OctLongest at Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park; shortest at Keweenaw, late Mar to late Aug.
Compare the 10 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 | Keweenaw Dark Sky Park | Exceptional darknessMilky Way obviousBortle 1–2 · estimate | Lauriumabout 30 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–13Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 1–9Mar 30–Apr 7Apr 29–May 7May 29–Jun 7Jun 30–Jul 10Jul 30–Aug 8Aug 29–Sep 6Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 2 | Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | St. Jamesabout 7 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Mar 31–Apr 7Apr 30–May 7May 30–Jun 6Jul 1–8Jul 30–Aug 7Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 3 | Thompson's Harbor State Park | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Rogers Cityabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Mar 31–Apr 7Apr 30–May 7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–8Jul 31–Aug 7Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 4 | Headlands | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Mackinaw Cityabout 2 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Mar 31–Apr 7Apr 30–May 7May 30–Jun 6Jun 30–Jul 9Jul 30–Aug 7Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 5 | Negwegon State Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Alpenaabout 15 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Mar 31–Apr 7Apr 30–May 7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–8Jul 30–Aug 7Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 6 | Port Crescent State Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Casevilleabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Mar 31–Apr 7Apr 30–May 7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–8Jul 30–Aug 7Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 7 | Rockport State Recreation Area | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Alpenaabout 9 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Mar 31–Apr 7Apr 30–May 7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–8Jul 31–Aug 7Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 8 | Wilderness State Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Mackinaw Cityabout 8 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Mar 31–Apr 7Apr 30–May 7May 30–Jun 6Jun 30–Jul 9Jul 30–Aug 7Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 9 | Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Three Riversabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–8May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 31–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 10 | Lake Hudson Recreation Area | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Hudsonabout 6 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–8May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 31–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
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.