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Best Stargazing Destinations in America
The first time I really saw stars I screamed. I ran out onto the beach calling my travel companion to come look. We had found ourselves a small tent placed in a straw hut on the coast of the Peninsula de Osa in Costa Rica's south region. As a child I remembered seeing stars, but never like this - they were everywhere. Millions of tiny lights fighting to out shine the other. They were fighting to illuminate the deep, dark, night sky. A surge of emotions filled my body along with the cool, salty, breeze off the ocean's water. I couldn't have stumbled upon a more romantic place on Earth and there I was spending it with one of my best friends and travel companions. For the first time on our entire vacation I wished to curl my knees up to my chest and be left alone. If I couldn't share the moment with a handsome stud then I wanted to have it all for myself. Selfish - I know. That night I wished on not one star, but many. One of my wishes was for more places to see stars the way I did on that very night, so when I saw the latest Nat Geo Adventure magazine featuring some of the best stargazing in America I snatched it off the shelves. Their June/July issue covers the best and top 50 in North America's National Parks. Before you discover where to go to sleep, trek, raft or gaze underneath the stars, the article titled Night Rangers discusses a unit of National Park Service folk who are out to protect the night time sky. Their duties are incredible and the story in full is packed with mind-boggling facts. According to the article 99 percent of peoplein the U.S. live under a sky that is considered polluted, which means none of us are seeing the stars for what they're worth. In addition to light-pollution the article also states, Scientists at the Thiene, Italy - based Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute have predicted that the last truly dark areas in the contiguous U.S. will be gone by 2025. If such is true then we haven't very long.
Here are some of the best stargazing destinations in America and how to experience them:
- Lake Tahoe - Take off on a full moon paddle excursion.
- Bryce Canyon - Spend your summer nights hiking the canyon.
- Pennsylvania's Lehigh River - Raft through whitewaters under the stars.
- Chaco Culture National Historical Park - Use powerful telescopes to stargaze.
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Check out some 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bats as they fly away from the caves and back.
Filed under: Biking, Hiking, Learning, Paddling, Festivals and Events, Stories, North America, Costa Rica, United States, Hotels and Accommodations
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Shawn Harstad Jun 6th 2006 10:03PM
http://www.nebraskastarparty.org/
Adrienne Jun 9th 2006 7:59PM
Shawn -
Cool link! If I were anywhere near Nebraska I'd be down for something like this. After reading the Nat Geo piece and thinking back on my memories of when I really did see them I came to realize how more travelers should try to embrace events and outings like those mentioned and the one you have provided as well. Awesome stuff.
Sharon Jul 29th 2006 8:08PM
We were lucky enough to catch a night hike at Bryce earlier this month. Simply amazing even with the cloud coverage that night! Of course Bryce Canyon is a favorite destination anyway, but this was the first time we'd been night hiking. It won't, however, be the last!
real1pk Jul 29th 2006 8:10PM
what about norther Arizona huh?????????????????
Julie Jul 29th 2006 8:21PM
The most stars I have ever seen was on top of Haleakala on the island of Maui. I had live here for a year and half and had been meaning to go up and watch the sunrise because I had heard it was really a spectacular sight. Not knowing how long the drive would take, we arrived way too early. I gasped when I got out of the car and saw all of the stars. I am guessing that is way NASA has an observatory up there. The Hawaiian Islands are the most geographically remote islands in the world. That means we are the farthest away from any major land mass. Less light pollution, less air pollution and being so high up, less atmospheric interference.
Amazing!
Suzi Jul 29th 2006 8:23PM
Another wonder place with miles and miles of area without light is Big Bend National Park. The stars seem so close that you want to reach up and pick them out of the sky.
chris Jul 29th 2006 8:27PM
chrck out lake hudson dark sky perserve in southern mich.
Sylvia Jul 29th 2006 8:28PM
The stars at Crater Lake in Oregon are the most incredible I have ever seen. I had no idea that there were that many stars in the sky.
Alissa P Jul 29th 2006 8:29PM
I think you missed one of the most hidden jewels of our nation - West Virginia. There is no better place than on top of a mountain with a fully unobstructed view of the stars to take in, especially with the natural beauty surroundings.
Lindy Jul 29th 2006 8:31PM
The best starry sky I've seen was while walking on the beach on the island of Kauai.......velvety black sky and millions of stars, the air was soft, the surf gentle....I will never forget it.
Michael Jul 29th 2006 8:34PM
Surely one of the best star gazing points in the United States is the Cedar Pocket camping area in the Virgin River Gorge of Arizona, though taking the ranger guided midnight walk at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is a close second.
Jody Jul 29th 2006 8:35PM
Every year from June to August...we have monthly star parties at Oak Flats Picnic Grounds in the Monzano Mountains SE of Albuquerque, NM. I have seen some amazing telescopes and some amazing thing through the scopes. My favorite was a ring nebula a few years ago. What wonderful things the night sky holds...makes a person feel very small in this large universe!!
Mary Jul 29th 2006 8:37PM
Anywhere in Idaho!! There aren't many people living there, therefore it doesn't have the pollutants and lights that interfere with the night views.
Sandra Cronin Jul 29th 2006 8:40PM
Out in the middle of the ocean, the clear sky shows layers upon layers of stars. It is the most beautiful and most stars that I have ever seen. I loved it there.
jeffrey jakmides Jul 29th 2006 8:41PM
The night sky above Channel Islands National Park off SoCal.Never have I seen more and longer shooting stars.
Sedona Bound Jul 29th 2006 8:44PM
How about Sedona, AZ? Sedona Night Skies and an ordinance in which no business or homeowner is allowed anything but the dimmest ground-facing lights, so the skies are nice and dark. I saw my first shooting star there, and the skies are awesome with all sorts of astronomical sightings all the time.
Charles Whitaker Jul 29th 2006 8:46PM
Anyplace in far West Texas -- Alpine, Ft. Davis, the McDonald Observatory on Mt. Locke down to the Big Bend country and many other spots. The canyon country south and east of Amarillo is also great if you are far enough away from the glow of the city itself. Also the Hill Country of West/Central Texas, particularly the hills of the Frio River near the Baptist encampment where the nearest town is tiny Leakey. There the Milky Way looks like a huge river of stars. There are many, many scantily populated areas in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Montana and Wyoming where light pollution is not a problem and the air is clear and clean. Try a 12,000 ft. mountain pass like Engineer Pass near Ouray Colorado where the stars literally seem to be in reach of your hand.
Alene Jul 29th 2006 8:46PM
In my backyard in the Ocala National Forest in Florida.
Lisa Jul 29th 2006 8:46PM
If you are in Iowa and have a chance to go to Jester State Park. The view of stars on a summer night is amazing and they seems to glow off the water's surface. Surrounding by nature and clear skies is amazing.
Mark Miles Jul 29th 2006 8:48PM
To Sylvia: We have also experienced the night sky at Crater Lake, and we were just blown away. We were there in late August '03, and got to see Mars through a ranger's telescope, along with the Milky Way, and thousands of other stars. The sky from the north rim of the Grand Canyon from the lodge's terrace is pretty cool too.