Contributor: Lucy Spicer
An International Dark Sky Park is a conservation space that has received an official designation by the International Dark-Sky Association in recognition of its mindful outdoor lighting and educational programming. If you can’t remember the last time you saw the stars, consider reconnecting with the universe at one of the following stellar travel destinations.
It’s a trek to get here no matter where you’re coming from, but camping in Big Bend National Park will reward you with some of the darkest skies in the lower 48 states. Hugging the west Texas border with Mexico, Big Bend covers a large and diverse part of the Chihuahuan Desert. Its remote nature and extremely sparse population mean that very little light pollution is able to interfere with the night sky.
The park encourages visitors to set up their tripods, lawn chairs and telescopes in undeveloped areas so they can enjoy meteor showers and views of the Milky Way. Contact park staff to learn about guided moonlight walks, interpretive programs and star parties throughout the year.
For residents of heavily populated Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park is one of the closest and best places to visit to experience dark skies. The western half of the park has been affected by light pollution, but the eastern half boasts a wilderness with some of the darkest skies in the area.
Rangers regularly offer programs and events to educate visitors about preserving dark skies, so keep an eye on the park’s calendar for schedule updates. Joshua Tree also hosts an annual autumn Night Sky Festival, complete with constellation tours, music, astronomy lectures, telescopes and youth crafts.
Situated in north-central Pennsylvania, Cherry Springs State Park presents exceptional opportunities for east coast stargazers. This 82-acre park is surrounded by the Susquehannock State Forest, whose 265,000 acres of trees create a remote environment conducive to dark skies.
Cherry Springs’ Night Sky Public Viewing Area is for stargazers with only a short time to spare, while the Rustic Campground is for casual overnight watchers. The Overnight Astronomy Observation Field is for serious stargazers—the only artificial light allowed here must be fully shielded or equipped with a red filter. Feel compelled to celebrate the cosmos further? Check out Cherry Springs’ calendar for details about the park’s two annual star parties.
The only national park in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Eifel National Park is one of the few places in Germany where the Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye. The park’s dark sky designation is a real achievement considering the fact that Cologne, one of Germany’s largest cities, is just 40 miles northeast.
Despite the area’s population density and encroaching light pollution, Eifel has retained its starry skies and benefits from tourism. The park’s Vogelsang observatory offers an astronomy workshop called Stars Without Borders, where guided star tours are available in both German and English.
Approximately 185,000 acres of vast plains make up Hortobágy, Hungary’s first and largest national park. Since this sprawling landscape in eastern Hungary comprises mostly flat grasslands and marshes, visitors can experience unobstructed views of an unpolluted night sky. Shepherds used the stars to navigate this land for thousands of years, and traditional pastoralism is still present today.
Park regulations ensure that the effects of any artificial lighting are minimized. A public observatory is located within the park’s Field Study Center, where astronomy is a part of the curriculum. Staff-organized stargazing walks and educational programs are popular with visitors.
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