Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a Dark Sky Park
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Entry
- $35 per vehicle, 7 days · enter any time
- Food & town
- West Glacier · in town
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2017
How dark is it, really?
Dark enough to see the Milky Way overhead on a clear night, though glow from nearby towns washes out the sky near the horizon. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 4, an estimate.)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 5–13.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5–13 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 31–Feb 8 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 1–9 | Crescent, rises late | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 30–Apr 7 | Crescent, rises late | A sky full of stars |
| Apr 28–May 7 | Crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| May 28–Jun 8 | Crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 3–10 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 8 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 6 | Crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars |
| Sep 27–Oct 4 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Late Apr to late Jul. Out of season until late Apr. In season now, through late Jul. Out of season until late Apr.
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 (none · darkest skies)Perseids on Aug 12–13 (bright moon for most of the night).
Email me before the next dark window at Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
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 Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park a few days before each dark window, with the Dark Sky Trip Calendar.
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Getting in after dark
Visitors can enter the park at any time; when an entrance station is unstaffed, a self-registration area sells 7-day passes. A permit is required for wilderness camping year-round.
Food, fuel, and supplies
West Entrance: in West Glacier, MT, with groceries (Food Market), 2 gas stations, and 4 places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: West Glacier Cafe, Belton Grill, and Glacier Highland.
St. Mary Entrance: Browning, MT, about 25 mi away, with groceries (Teeple's IGA), 2 gas stations, and 5 places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Frog’s Cantina, Park Cafe, and Rising Sun.
Many Glacier Entrance: West Glacier, MT, about 30 mi away, with groceries (Food Market), 2 gas stations, and 4 places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Ptarmigan Dining Room, Italian Gardens Ristorante, and Cattle Baron Supper Club.
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 and after-dark access from National Park Service (Sep 2026) · night permits from National Park Service (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
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 Sanctuary