Dark Sky Parks in UT

List of darkest places in Utah for stargazing, astrophotography, star parties, and club events. Often these are national and state parks and forests that are either remote or "protected" against light pollution.

National parks often let you stay overnight under the stars, hence their motto - "Half the park is after dark".

The IDA column indicates if a site is IDA-certified. Bortle scale for sites is given where known. Also use your local astronomy club for guidance as they will know the darkest places.

NAME IDA BORTLE
Anasazi State Park Museum 1
Antelope Island SP park 2
Arches NP park 2
Bear Lake SP 2
Bryce Canyon NP park 2
Canyonlands NP park 1
Capitol Reef NP park 1
Cedar Breaks NM park 2
Coral Pink Sand Dunes SP 2
Dead Horse Point SP park
East Canyon SP park 2
Fremont Indian SP park
Goblin Valley SP park 1
Goosenecks SP park 1
Green River SP 2
Hovenweep NM park 2
Jordanelle SP park 2
Kodachrome Basin SP park 2
Monte Cristo
Natural Bridges NM park 2
North Fork SP park 2
Otter Creek Reservoir 1
Piute SP 2
Rainbow Bridge NM sanctuary 2
Rockport SP park 2
Steinaker SP park 2
Timpangogos NM UNSP
Wedge Overlook
Wolf Creek Pass
Yuba SP 2
Zion NP

NP = national park | SP = state park | NF = national forest | SF = state forest | NWR = national wildlife reserve | SRA = state recreational area

Light Pollution Map w/ Bortle

On the left is a 2019 satellite image of UT showing light pollution from the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center. On the right is a 2015 light pollution map showing sky brightness at the zenith from World Atlas data. Colors correspond approximately to the Bortle scale. Use as a guide to find the darkest sky locations near you.

UT night sky light pollution map