Dark sky parks in New Mexico
Nine certified places protect New Mexico's night, with 19 stays listed nearby.
At a glance
- Darkest
- Exceptional darkness, shared by three placesCapulin Volcano National Monument, Clayton Lake State Park, and Cosmic Campground. Bortle 1–2, all estimates.
- Next moonless nights
- Nov 6–12
- Dec 5–11
- Jan 3–9
- Feb 2–8Dark at all nine places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Mar 3–9
- Apr 2–7Dark at all nine places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Apr 2–8The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- May 2–7Dark at all nine places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jun 1–5Dark at all nine places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jun 1–6The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 1–6
- Jul 31–Aug 5Dark at all nine places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Aug 29–Sep 4
- Sep 27–Oct 3
- Stays nearby
- 19 listedNear eight of the nine places.
- Milky Way core season
- Early Feb to late OctLongest at Cosmic Campground; shortest at Clayton Lake State Park, mid Feb to mid Oct.
Compare the 9 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 | Capulin Volcano National Monument | Exceptional darknessMilky Way obviousBortle 1–2 · estimate | Ratonabout 25 mi | 1 stay | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 31–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 2 | Clayton Lake State Park | Exceptional darknessMilky Way obviousBortle 1–2 · estimate | Claytonabout 10 mi | None yet | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 31–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 3 | Cosmic Campground | Exceptional darknessMilky Way obviousBortle 1–2 · estimate | Morenciabout 40 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 2–8Mar 3–9Apr 2–8May 2–7Jun 1–5Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 4 | Chaco Culture National Historical Park | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · measured | Crownpointabout 25 mi | 1 stay | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 5 | El Morro National Monument | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Milanabout 25 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 2–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 6 | Fort Union National Monument | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Moraabout 20 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 2–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 7 | Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Mountainairabout 20 mi | 2 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 2–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 2–7Jun 1–5Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 8 | Valles Caldera National Preserve | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Los Alamosabout 15 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 2–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 9 | Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | South Valleyin town | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 2–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 5Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
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.