Travel

Callalily

(15,418 posts) Sun Mar 29, 2026, 07:05 AM Mar 29

I've Stargazed Across the U.S.--This National Park Has the Best Night Skies

I have been lucky and have seen the Northern Lights on several occasions. Simply beautiful!

There are many "dark sky" parks throughout the USA.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/capitol-reef-national-park-stargazing-11926402?

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I've Stargazed Across the U.S.--This National Park Has the Best Night Skies (Original Post) Callalily Mar 29 OP

I have been there but not at night, so beautiful in the daytime and in the nighttime too. Thanks for posting... wcmagumba Mar 29 #1

Capitol Reef National Park in Utah WestMichRad Mar 29 #2

I've watched the dark sky at Yosemite. It's a near religious experience. lamp_shade Mar 29 #3

Not a park, but.... lastlib Mar 29 #4

This message was self-deleted by its author wcmagumba Mar 29 #5

Great Basin NP is just as good mike_c Mar 29 #6

Chappaquidick Island CTyankee Apr 1 #7

wcmagumba

(6,632 posts)

1. I have been there but not at night, so beautiful in the daytime and in the nighttime too. Thanks for posting...

Reply to Callalily (Original post)

Sun Mar 29, 2026, 07:09 AM

Mar 29

WestMichRad

(3,389 posts)

2. Capitol Reef National Park in Utah

Reply to Callalily (Original post)

Sun Mar 29, 2026, 08:14 AM

Mar 29

lamp_shade

(15,520 posts)

3. I've watched the dark sky at Yosemite. It's a near religious experience.

Reply to Callalily (Original post)

Sun Mar 29, 2026, 08:19 AM

Mar 29

lastlib

(28,603 posts)

4. Not a park, but....

Reply to lamp_shade (Reply #3)

Sun Mar 29, 2026, 08:32 AM

Mar 29

I've done stargazing at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico at 12,400 feet. It truly was a religious experience for me. "When I behold the heavens, the moon and the stars....what is Man...?" (Psalm 8:3, one of the few bible verses I like)

Response to lastlib (Reply #4)

wcmagumba This message was self-deleted by its author.

mike_c

(37,132 posts)

6. Great Basin NP is just as good

Reply to Callalily (Original post)

Sun Mar 29, 2026, 12:54 PM

Mar 29

CTyankee

(68,471 posts)

7. Chappaquidick Island

Reply to Callalily (Original post)

Wed Apr 1, 2026, 11:48 PM

Apr 1

My daughter and her family have a summer house there. There are no street lights at all on the island. Walking on the beach at night there is wonderful. Star filled sky like I have never seen, ever.

Reply to this discussion

Kick in to the DU tip jar?

This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.

As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.