Dark sky parks in Montana
Three certified places protect Montana's night, with 6 stays listed nearby.
At a glance
- Darkest
- Medicine Rocks State ParkVery dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights. Bortle 3, an estimate.
- Next moonless nights
- Nov 5–12Dark at all three 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 1–8Dark at all three places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Mar 2–9Dark at all three places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Mar 31–Apr 7Dark at all three places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Apr 30–May 7Dark at all three places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- May 30–Jun 6Dark at all three places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- May 28–Jun 8The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 3–9Dark at all three places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jun 30–Jul 10The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 30–Aug 7Dark at all three places on these nights. 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 three 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
- 6 listedNear two of the three places.
- Milky Way core season
- Mid Mar to early SepLongest at Medicine Rocks State Park; shortest at Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, late Apr to late Jul.
Compare the 3 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 | Medicine Rocks State Park | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Bakerabout 25 mi | None yet | Nov 5–12Dec 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 |
| 2 | Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Kalispellabout 25 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Jan 31–Feb 8Mar 1–9Mar 30–Apr 7Apr 29–May 7May 29–Jun 7Jun 30–Jul 10Jul 30–Aug 8Aug 29–Sep 6Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 3 | Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | West Glacierin town | 3 stays | Nov 5–13Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Jan 31–Feb 8Mar 1–9Mar 30–Apr 7Apr 28–May 7May 28–Jun 8Jul 3–10Jul 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.