Badlands National Park Stargazing
Please just drop by. Everyone is given an opportunity to see impressive objects of the night sky. The dark night skies out here aren’t muddled by light pollution coming from any nearby city and it seems only fitting that one might experience such a night sky experience in an already other-worldly landscape like the Badlands. The nearby tiny town of Lone Pine population around 2, is a common base for stargazers — despite its remote location, it can be reached in under four hours by car from both Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Badlands Astronomy Festival

Light pollution from nearby electricity-guzzling settlements. Flagstaff, then, is a bit of an Badlands National Park Stargazing. This city of around 74, has worked hard to keep its skies dark and the local Lowell Observatory temporarily closed even discovered Pluto in Visitors can see constellations from their doorstep or window ledge and, around 20 miles 32km southeast of Flagstaff, Ashurst Lake reflects glittering skies on its glassy surface. Balmy, star-filled nights.
And with some areas reaching 5, feet 1,m above sea level, this IDA International Dark Badlands National Park Stargazing Park is indeed a prime spot for stargazing. The Milky Way often makes an appearance over the Cottonwood Campground open for the season and pullouts along Pinto Basin Road are another window to the stars.
The park typically offers a range of public astronomy programs too, but check the NPS website for up-to-date schedules. The same, of course, goes for the elusive aurora borealis. With the incredible skies come snowfall, unpredictable weather and freezing temperatures, but the nighttime spectacular is worth it. The park typically offers plus annual astronomy programs involving stargazing expeditions with telescopes, and though the annual Astronomy Festival is canceled for this year, Bryce Canyon hopes to restart some of its dark-sky events this month.
Double check the NPS website for details. Fittingly, given its name, it’s also a Badlands National Park Stargazing place to view the actual moon: due to low levels of light pollution, it was designated an International Sky Park in The Idaho Falls Astronomical Society usually unite professional and amateur astrologers for star parties in the spring and fall months check its website for details.
And they also serve as an ethereal spot for stargazing, enjoying a Bortle class 2 dark sky score. The nearby tiny town of Lone Pine population around 2, is a common base for stargazers — despite its remote location, it can be reached in under four hours by car from both Las Glacier National Park To Great Falls Mt and Los Angeles.
The rolling Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are a popular spot for night-sky photographers, as well as the Harmony Borax Works, with its evocative historic mule cart. Ranger-led ‘Starwalks’ typically take place each month, with the next event Badlands National Park Stargazing scheduled for October. The State Park website shares information on conditions too. At the time of writing, the Badlands Astronomy Festival, with its expert presentations and nighttime telescopes, is scheduled for 14 August — be sure to check for updates before planning Badlands National Park Stargazing trip.
While the next event isn’t scheduled untilstargazers can go it alone, overnighting in campsites such as Bingham Springs Campground with its glorious night skies. The Oregon Observatory currently open is also around a two-hour drive west in Willamette National Forest. And due to this tiny town’s low levels of light pollution, Sedona and its Rock are excellent spots for studying the night sky.
Astronomy club Sirius Lookers currently have a tentative schedule of events — check its website for details. Optimally located cabins allow star-lovers to overnight nearby and private guides also operate around the park — check with individual tour operators for updates and availability.
The Astronomy Festival is scheduled for 17—19 September keep an eye on the site for updates.
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At the time of writing, the Badlands Astronomy Festival, with its expert presentations and nighttime telescopes, is scheduled for 14 August — be sure to check for updates before planning a trip. These events are free and open to the public. Double check the NPS website for details.