Wilderness State Park
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area, a Dark Sky Sanctuary
- How dark?
- Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
- Food & town
- St. James · about 7 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Sanctuary · 2024
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, 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 | 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 3–9 | None · darkest skies | 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 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–8 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| 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 Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area.
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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Almost there. Check your email for a link to confirm your address. Once you confirm, we'll email you the dates at Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area a few days before each dark window, with the Dark Sky Trip Calendar.
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Food, fuel, and supplies
St. James, MI is about 7 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Mcdonough's Market) and 1 gas station on the map. The nearest gas is closer: Island Energies, about 5 mi away. Nearest places to eat on the map: Paradise Bay Coffee Shop (about 2 mi), Circle M Bar & Restaurant (about 5 mi), and Trillium Woods Coffee (about 25 mi).
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
✓ Certification verified Jul 2026 against DarkSky International registry (Internet Archive capture) · darkness: Bortle 3, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
State Dark Sky Preserve Dark Sky Park Headlands
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Park Newport State Park
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →State Dark Sky Preserve Thompson's Harbor State Park
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →