Dark sky parks in Minnesota
Two certified places protect Minnesota's night, with 6 stays listed nearby.
At a glance
- Darkest
- Dark, at both placesBoundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park. Bortle 4, all estimates.
- Next moonless nights
- Nov 5–13
- Dec 5–11
- Jan 3–9
- Feb 1–8Dark at both places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Mar 1–9
- Mar 30–Apr 7
- Apr 29–May 7
- May 29–Jun 7Dark at both places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- May 29–Jun 8The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jun 30–Jul 10Dark at both places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 30–Aug 8
- Aug 29–Sep 6
- Sep 27–Oct 4
- Stays nearby
- 6 listedThree near each place.
- Milky Way core season
- Early Apr to mid AugLongest at Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness; shortest at Voyageurs National Park, mid Apr to early Aug.
Compare the 2 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 | Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Elyabout 25 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 | Voyageurs National Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | International Fallsabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–13Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Jan 31–Feb 8Mar 1–9Mar 30–Apr 7Apr 29–May 7May 29–Jun 8Jun 29–Jul 10Jul 30–Aug 8Aug 29–Sep 6Sep 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.