Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge
Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
3 stays nearby →Valles Caldera National Preserve, a Dark Sky Park
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Entry
- $25 per vehicle, 7 days · open dawn to dusk
- Food & town
- Los Alamos · about 15 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2021
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 6–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–12 | Thin crescent, sets early | 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 3–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| May 2–7 | None · darkest skies | 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 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 5 | Thin crescent, rises late | 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 | Thin crescent, sets early | 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 mid 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 Valles Caldera National Preserve.
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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Getting in after dark
Pedestrian gates are open dawn to dusk every day; the vehicle entrance is open 9 am to 5 pm (8 am to 6 pm Memorial Day to Labor Day). The preserve offers no camping.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Los Alamos, NM is about 15 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (LA Market, Natural Grocers, Smith's and 1 more), 3 gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Pajarito Lodge (about 8 mi), Hot Rocks Café (about 10 mi), and Otowi Cafeteria (about 10 mi).
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 from National Park Service (Sep 2026) · after-dark access from National Park Service (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Valles Caldera National Preserve
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Urban Night Sky Place Dark Sky Park Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
1 stay nearby →Dark Sky Park Fort Union National Monument
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Park Chimney Rock National Monument
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →