7 Best Dark Sky Parks For Stargazing In Utah

Abstract

• Utah is a primary stargazing vacation spot with 19 Worldwide Darkish Sky Parks.
• Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park, Zion Nationwide Park, and different parks supply distinctive stargazing alternatives.
• These parks provide an opportunity to see the Milky Means and be taught in regards to the stars by collaborating of their academic applications.

The starry skies that shine above have captivated the human creativeness for time immemorial. In centuries previous, stargazing was a nightly ritual for a lot of households, who would stare up on the nightly celestial marvel above them, telling tales of gods, historical past, and nature. Within the twenty first century, the observe of stargazing has fallen out of every day observe for a lot of. Because the skies darken from mild air pollution, TV and the web have changed stargazing as nightly leisure and connection to tradition.

Nonetheless, many individuals lengthy for stargazing alternatives. Vacationers will journey far and large for the chance to search for at a pristine evening sky the way in which humanity’s ancestors did so many centuries and generations in the past. Within the US, some of the best stargazing can be found in national parks, notably these within the southwest, the place the deserts are seemingly infinite and the arch of the sky is unmarred by massive cities.

Out of all of the US states, Utah is without doubt one of the finest for stargazing: this state is home to at least 19 International Dark Sky Parks. On this checklist, you’ll uncover a number of the finest darkish sky parks in Utah to see pristine starry skies, ranked in ascending order.

7

Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park

See unbelievable views of the Milky Means at this 2019 designated Worldwide Darkish Sky Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its towering hoodoos that rise purple within the heat mild of the day at the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater. At evening, nevertheless, the park’s panorama is reworked. The as soon as vibrant hoodoos turn out to be darkened by shadows, and the brilliant lights of the Milky Means engulf the park.

Designated in 2019 as an International Dark Sky Park, this Gold Tier park is really probably the greatest locations in Utah for stargazing. Guests can catch glimpses of the excellent stars right here at locations like Bryce Level, Dawn Level, Inspiration Level, and Sundown Level. Throughout a brand new moon, this space’s stars are even clearer, so vacationers ought to plan their journey round that month-to-month date.

6

East Canyon State Park

By day, this park is nice for its leisure sports activities, however by evening, it is excellent for stargazing

Solely round 35 miles from Utah’s capital of Salt Lake Metropolis lies East Canyon State Park. This haven for mountaineering, fishing, tenting, and boating is a well-liked Utah location for individuals who need to absolutely benefit from the nice open air. Not solely is that this park extremely regarded for its sporting actions and unbelievable canyon vistas, however this park can be nice for stargazing.

As a 2020 designated International Dark Sky Park, vacationers will be capable of see clear views of the evening sky in all its glory. This park can be well-known for its nighttime wildlife viewing, so those that go to ought to maintain their eye out when touring at evening!

5

Jordanelle State Park

This park within the Wasatch Mountain Vary guarantees glorious views of the celebs

The 12,000-foot tall Wasatch Mountain Vary that passes by northern Utah is without doubt one of the most iconic sights on this area. After vacationers benefit from the splendor of those mountains at Jordanelle State Park throughout the day, they’ll spend a comfy evening at a secluded campsite wanting up on the stars.

As an International Dark Sky Park, Jordanelle State Park guarantees gorgeous views of the evening sky’s vibrant arch. Though this park has been a bunch of darkish sky occasions since earlier than 2014, it was solely designated in 2021. For the darkest skies within the space, guests ought to head to the park’s Nature Space.

4

Rockport State Park

Vacationers right here can go boating by day and stargazing by evening

Rockport State Park is a superb location for summertime enjoyable in Utah. From boating and fishing on the Rockport Reservoir to primitive tenting in Utah’s mountains, vacationers can have a blast at this state park.

As soon as nighttime falls, although, the actual splendor of Rockport State Park emerges: its good starry skies. Identified all through Utah as an acclaimed International Dark Sky Park as of 2021, that is the right location for tenting beneath America’s stars.

3

Fremont Indian State Park

People have been having fun with the pristine skies of this park for over 1,000 years

The place the Nice Basin and the Colorado Plateau meet is the attractive Fremont Indian State Park. Designated as an International Dark Sky Park in 2021, this space is a primary location for stargazing in Utah.

Stargazing right here is just not a brand new phenomenon. From 400 CE to 1350 CE, the world of the park was inhabited by the eponymous Fremont Native Individuals. These individuals have been good astronomers who spent lots of time attempting to grasp the attractive stars that shone unpolluted above them.

This love of astronomical our bodies is evidenced within the many pictograms and petroglyphs left behind by this tradition all through the park.

2

Goosenecks State Park

This state park boasts tens of millions of years of geologic marvel, but in addition boasts ageless starry skies

Vacationers come from far and large to see the traditional geologic formations at Goosenecks State Park. The canyons right here, minimize in a serpentine route by the San Juan River, reveal layer upon layer of 300 million years of geologic historical past.

Whereas many are drawn right here by the primordial geology, the rocks on this park aren’t the one historic pure marvel. Designated as an Worldwide Darkish Sky Park in 2021, Goosenecks State Park reveals off the ageless marvel of the celebs to all who go to.

1

Zion Nationwide Park

One in every of America’s hottest nationwide parks can be the primary place in Utah for stargazing

Culminating this checklist is the world-famous Zion National Park, thought-about to be one of the crucial stunning pure wonders in America. Residence to America’s most dangerous hike (Angels Landing), Zion National Park (which also has many other scary hikes), attracts guests from far and large who search the thrills of this rugged surroundings.

For vacationers who need to take pleasure in Zion Nationwide Park at a extra leisurely tempo, probably the greatest actions within the park is stargazing. Because the number-one spot for viewing the celebs in Utah, Zion National Park is truly the perfect International Dark Sky Park for individuals to go to. Designated in 2021, this park gives in depth schooling at its customer facilities, the place individuals can be taught in regards to the park’s brilliantly vivid star-studded skies.

Utah is a fortunate state, with a few of America’s top destinations for stargazing in 2024 being discovered there. Vacationers who journey to every of those Worldwide Darkish Sky Parks might be assured to search out a number of the nation’s most pristine starry skies. Guests can pack their telephoto digicam lenses, telescopes, and garden chairs and prepare to see some really unbelievable stars!