East Canyon State Park
Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
3 stays nearby →Antelope Island State Park, a Dark Sky Park
The largest island in the Great Salt Lake, an hour north of Salt Lake City, with its western side facing out over the lake, away from city light.
- How dark?
- Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
- Entry
- $15 per vehicle · day use until 10 pm
- Food & town
- Syracuse · about 10 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2017
How dark is it, really?
The Milky Way is hard to make out here, though the main constellations and bright planets are easy to find. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 5–6, 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 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| Jun 1–6 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–7 | Thin crescent, sets early | 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 | None · darkest skies | 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: Late Feb to early Oct. Out of season until late Feb. In season now, through early Oct. Out of season until late Feb.
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 Antelope Island State 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
Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake and an easy dark sky park to reach, about an hour north of Salt Lake City. Being an island with no development on or right next to it has kept its nights dark. Its eastern half faces one of the biggest metro areas in the West, but the western half looks out over the lake and sees little artificial light, which has made it a favorite with local stargazers escaping the city glow. It became an International Dark Sky Park in 2017.
The park is open 6 am to 10 pm all year, which shapes how you visit. In winter the sun sets early, leaving several hours of dark before the park closes to day use. In summer, the best ways in are camping or an organized after-hours event. There are more than 80 campsites, from primitive backcountry sites to partial-hookup RV sites, and weekend reservations are strongly recommended.
In summer the park partners with the Ogden Astronomical Society on public star parties, and through the year staff offer astronomy programs, night sky photography classes, and evening guided hikes; the park's events page lists them.
Getting in after dark
The park is open daily 6 am to 10 pm.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Syracuse, UT is about 10 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Walmart Supercenter, Smith's), 5 gas stations, and 20 places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Island Buffalo Grill (about 7 mi), Hug-Hes Cafe (about 10 mi), and Stellas Bistro (about 10 mi).
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Night sky tours near Antelope Island State Park
Salt Lake Antelope Island Dark Sky Experience
Southwest Adventure Tours · starts in Salt Lake City, about 45 min · checked Sep 2026
These are affiliate links: we earn a commission if you book a tour through them.
✓ Certification verified Jun 2026 against DarkSky International registry (Internet Archive capture) · entry fee from Utah State Parks (Sep 2026) · after-dark access from Utah State Parks (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 5–6, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Antelope Island State Park
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
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