Dark sky parks in Utah
28 certified places protect Utah's night, with 84 stays listed nearby.
At a glance
- Darkest
- Exceptional darkness, shared by six placesCanyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Goblin Valley State Park, Goosenecks State Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Bortle 1–2, all estimates.
- Next moonless nights
- Nov 6–12Dark at all 28 places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Dec 5–11
- Jan 3–9
- Feb 1–8
- Mar 3–9Dark at all 28 places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Apr 1–7
- May 1–7
- Jun 1–6Dark at all 28 places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 1–6Dark at all 28 places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 1–7The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 31–Aug 6Dark at all 28 places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Aug 29–Sep 4Dark at all 28 places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Aug 29–Sep 5The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Sep 27–Oct 3
- Stays nearby
- 84 listedThree near each place.
- Milky Way core season
- Mid Feb to mid OctLongest at Rainbow Bridge National Monument; shortest at North Fork Park, late Feb to early Oct.
Compare the 28 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 | Canyonlands National Park | Exceptional darknessMilky Way obviousBortle 1–2 · estimate | Moababout 15 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 2 | Capitol Reef National Park | Exceptional darknessMilky Way obviousBortle 1–2 · estimate | Loaabout 20 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 3 | Goblin Valley State Park | Exceptional darknessMilky Way obviousBortle 1–2 · estimate | Green Riverabout 40 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 4 | Goosenecks State Park | Exceptional darknessMilky Way obviousBortle 1–2 · estimate | Oljato-Monument Valleyabout 20 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 31–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 5 | Natural Bridges National Monument | Exceptional darknessMilky Way obviousBortle 1–2 · estimate | Blandingabout 30 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 6 | Rainbow Bridge National Monument | Exceptional darknessMilky Way obviousBortle 1–2 · estimate | Pageabout 30 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 7 | Bluff, Utah | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Blandingabout 25 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 31–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 8 | Bryce Canyon National Park | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Tropicabout 6 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 9 | Dead Horse Point State Park | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Moababout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 10 | Dinosaur National Monument | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · measured | Vernalabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 11 | Fremont Indian State Park | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Monroeabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 12 | Hovenweep National Monument | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Blandingabout 25 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 31–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 13 | Torrey, Utah | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Loaabout 15 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 14 | Town of Castle Valley, Utah | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Moababout 9 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 15 | Arches National Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Moababout 5 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 16 | Cedar Breaks National Monument | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Cedar Cityabout 15 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 17 | Helper, Utah | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Helperin town | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–7Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 18 | Springdale, Utah | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Springdalein town | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 19 | Steinaker State Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Vernalabout 4 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 20 | The City of Moab, Utah | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Moabin town | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 21 | Zion National Park | DarkMilky Way overhead, hazy lower downBortle 4 · estimate | Springdaleunder 1 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 22 | Antelope Island State Park | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Syracuseabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–7Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 23 | East Canyon State Park | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Heneferabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 24 | Jordanelle State Park | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Park Cityabout 5 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 25 | North Fork Park | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | North Ogdenabout 6 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 26 | Rockport State Park | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Park Cityabout 9 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 27 | Snow Canyon State Park | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Santa Claraabout 4 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 3–9Apr 1–7May 1–7Jun 1–6Jul 1–6Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 29–Sep 4Sep 27–Oct 3 |
| 28 | Timpanogos Cave National Monument | Some light pollutionConstellations, not much Milky WayBortle 5–6 · estimate | Cedar Hillsabout 4 mi | 3 stays | Nov 5–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Apr 1–7May 1–7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–7Jul 30–Aug 6Aug 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.