Zion National Park
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Springdale, Utah Dark Sky Community
The gateway town to Zion, set inside Zion Canyon with the national park on three sides and a town code that keeps outdoor lights shielded.
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Food & town
- Springdale · in town
- Certified
- Dark Sky Community · 2023
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).
Email me before the next dark window at Springdale, Utah.
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
Springdale sits inside Zion Canyon at the entrance to Zion National Park, with the park on three sides and the North Fork of the Virgin River running through the middle of town. It's far from any large city, and its residents have worked for years to keep it dark. Town code limits outdoor lighting and requires every fixture to point down and be shielded, and on a clear night the sky over town is full of stars, Milky Way included. Springdale was certified as an International Dark Sky Community in 2023.
In town, watch for telescope events held seasonally at the Canyon Community Center. For darker skies, head into the park, which is open all night. Zion suggests the Pa'rus Trail and the Human History Museum patio in the canyon, or the east side and Kolob Terrace Road for the darkest views. Much of the year Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is open only to the park shuttle, so check the schedule if you want to go up canyon after dark.
Zion has no food available at night, and the park says not to count on cell service inside it, so pick up what you need in town before you drive in.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Springdale, UT is right here, with groceries (Sol Foods, Happy Camper Market, Sol Foods Cafe and Deli), 2 gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Oscar's Cafe (under 1 mi), Deep Creek Coffee (under 1 mi), and MeMe's Cafe (under 1 mi).
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Night sky tours near Springdale, Utah
Stargazing Experience with Powerful Telescopes in Utah
Stargazing Zion · starts in Virgin, about 20 min · checked Sep 2026
Dark Sky UTV Tour with Stargazing in Greater Zion
Mad Moose Rentals and Tours · starts in Hurricane, Sand Hollow, about 35 min · checked Sep 2026
Zion Dark Sky Stargazing Tour
Zion Ponderosa · starts in Zion Ponderosa, East Zion, 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) · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Springdale, Utah
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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