Zion National Park
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Cedar Breaks National Monument, a Dark Sky Park
A natural amphitheater of colorful hoodoos at the edge of the Colorado Plateau, in one of the largest dark regions left in the lower 48.
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Entry
- $25 per vehicle, 7 days
- Food & town
- Cedar City · about 15 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2017
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 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 3–9 | None · darkest skies | 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 1–6 | 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).
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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
Cedar Breaks is a natural amphitheater of brightly colored hoodoos carved from old lake sediments at the edge of the Colorado Plateau. It sits in one of the largest areas of natural darkness left in the lower 48, and it's a small park that has done a great deal to keep it that way. It became an International Dark Sky Park in 2017.
You can stargaze here year-round from any of the park's overlooks. Camping, including sleeping in your car, is allowed only in the campground, so plan where you'll spend the night. Rangers lead astronomy programs, listed on the park calendar, and there's a Junior Night Explorer program for any age.
The park has its own advice for enjoying the dark. Try walking a little way with your flashlight in your pocket. If you do use one, keep it small and cover it with red cellophane or a filter. Find a comfortable spot and give your eyes 20 minutes, and you may be surprised how much you can see by starlight alone. Listen, too; sounds seem louder at night. Watch for owls, bats, deer, and bobcats. On a full moon night, the park suggests a moonlit hike; once your eyes adjust, the moon gives enough light to see by in most places.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Cedar City, UT is about 15 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Smith's, Lin's Marketplace, Natural Grocers and 1 more), 20+ gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. The nearest gas is closer: Phillips 66, about 10 mi away. Nearest places to eat on the map: Milts Stage Stop (about 8 mi), DC Pub & Grill (about 10 mi), and Rusty's Ranch House (about 10 mi). Snow usually arrives between late October and early December and stays until late May or early June, so check road access before planning a night here outside summer.
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) · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Cedar Breaks National Monument
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Dark Sky Park Dark Sky Community Springdale, Utah
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
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