Fremont Indian State Park
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →Great Basin National Park, a Dark Sky Park
A high, dry Gold Tier Dark Sky Park where the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy show to the naked eye from nearly anywhere.
- How dark?
- Exceptional darkness · Milky Way obvious
- Entry
- Free · open all night
- Food & town
- Ely · about 40 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2016
How dark is it, really?
Dark enough that the Milky Way is obvious the moment you look up, with no town glow worth mentioning on any horizon. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 1–2, an estimate.)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 5–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5–12 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Leonids) |
| Dec 5–11 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Geminids) |
| Jan 3–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | 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 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 2–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| May 1–7 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| Jun 1–6 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–6 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 6 | Mostly none · crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 4 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 3 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Mid Feb to early Oct. Out of season until mid Feb. In season now, through mid Oct.
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 (thin crescent, rises late)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 Great Basin National 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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What it's like
Great Basin is a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park, and low humidity, high elevation, and very little light pollution make it one of the darkest places in the lower 48. On a clear, moonless summer night the Milky Way arcs across the whole sky, and with well-adjusted eyes you can pick out the Andromeda Galaxy. Winter brings the Pleiades and Orion. The park uses red exterior lights, switches white lights off overnight, and measures its sky brightness every month.
You can stargaze from almost anywhere. Popular spots are the Astronomy Amphitheater by the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, Mather Overlook on the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, the Baker Archaeological Site outside the town of Baker, and the Ranching Exhibit on Highway 488. None of them allow overnight camping, so head back to a campsite when you're done.
From about Memorial Day to Labor Day, astronomy rangers lead free two-hour programs at the amphitheater Thursday through Sunday: a short talk, then telescope viewing. There's no reservation, but you'll be turned away once the visitor center lots fill. White lights, camp chairs, and personal telescopes aren't allowed during programs. The park's Astronomy Festival is in September.
Getting in after dark
The park grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round, to hiking, stargazing and camping.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Ely, NV is about 40 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Ridley's Family Markets), 12 gas stations, and 13 places to eat on the map. The nearest gas is closer: Baker Fuel and RV, about 8 mi away in Baker, NV. Nearest places to eat on the map: Great Basin Cafe (about 5 mi), Lectrolux Cafe (about 8 mi, in Baker, NV), and Sugar Salt & Malt (about 9 mi, in Baker, NV). Nights get chilly even in summer, so bring a jacket and something to sit on.
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) · entry fee from National Park Service (Sep 2026) · after-dark access from National Park Service (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 1–2, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Great Basin National Park
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Dark Sky Park Dark Sky Park Cedar Breaks National Monument
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
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Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
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