Torrey, Utah
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →Capitol Reef National Park, a Dark Sky Park
The Waterpocket Fold under near-pristine skies, with some of the best night sky viewing among the western national parks.
- How dark?
- Exceptional darkness · Milky Way obvious
- Entry
- $20 per vehicle
- Food & town
- Loa · about 20 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2015
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 | 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 Capitol Reef 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
Capitol Reef became an International Dark Sky Park in 2015, and its skies are near pristine; the National Park Service counts it among the best night sky viewing in the western parks. Any spot with an open view of the sky will do, but the park names a few.
Near Fruita, try Panorama Point on State Route 24, two miles west of the visitor center, Danish Hill or Slickrock Divide on the Scenic Drive, or the Fruita Campground amphitheater parking lot. In the south, the Waterpocket District, there's Cedar Mesa Primitive Campground and the picnic area at the top of the Burr Trail switchbacks. In the north, the Cathedral District, there's Cathedral Valley Primitive Campground.
Visit your spot in daylight first to find drop-offs and uneven ground. Pull completely off the road and park in a marked space, wear something bright or reflective, bring a friend, and use a red light. Never stand in the road for a photo, and don't light paint; it isn't permitted here. The park is busy after dark, too, with ringtails, kangaroo rats, owls, and 16 species of bats. Heritage StarFest, with ranger talks and star parties, is held each year, usually in September.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Loa, UT is about 20 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Royals Market), 3 gas stations, and 1 place to eat on the map. The nearest gas is closer: PetroUS, about 7 mi away. Nearest places to eat on the map: The Rim Rock Patio (about 7 mi), The Rim Rock (about 7 mi), and The Pioneer Kitchen (about 7 mi). It's colder at night, so check the forecast and dress for it, and bring a few extra light sources, since a phone doesn't count as one.
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Night sky tours near Capitol Reef National Park
Stargazing and Milky Way Portrait in Capitol Reef National Park
Meridian · starts in Torrey, about 15 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 National Park Service (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 1–2, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Capitol Reef 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 Community Dark Sky Park Goblin Valley State Park
Exceptional darkness · Milky Way obvious
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Park Fremont Indian State Park
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Park Bryce Canyon National Park
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →