10 MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO CAMP UNDER EXTRAORDINARY STARRY SKIES

Sleeping out under the stars is one of best and most beautiful parts of camping. Most people rarely get to see stars at night because of light pollution. Light from cities and urban sprawl has gotten so bright and so widespread, that it is virtually impossible to see even the closest stars in the Milky Way.

The network of US National Parks is a stellar resource for both camping and stargazing. Some parks have been designated as International Dark Sky Parks by the International Dark-Sky Association, indicating that they are among the darkest places on earth, offering the best views celestial sparkles.

And the National Park Service has its own Night Sky Team to help keep them dark and sparkling.

We’ve gathered a collection of 10 of the best places to see stars to add to your travel and camping bucket list. Check them out below.

1. NATURAL BRIDGES NATIONAL MONUMENT -- UTAH

Natural Bridges National Monument, in Utah, was the first international dark-sky park in the world. You can see up to 15,000 stars in one night, according to astronomers’ estimates. The park hosts astronomy programs each summer and autumn, through October.

Added to the drama, of course, are the monument’s incredible sandstone arches and dramatic rock formations.

You can camp right there in the park. Here’s some campsite info to get you started.

2. DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK -- CALIFORNIA

Death Valley National Park, in California, is an international dark-sky park with its own unique beauty -- the big stark desert topped by an even bigger sky offers a clear view of meteors, constellations, galaxies, and more. Check out the Las Vegas Astronomical Society’s annual Cathedral Gorge Fall Campout and Star Party. This year it will be held September 22 and 23.

For camping info, check here.

3. CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK -- NEW MEXICO

Almost 100% of Chaco Culture National Historical Park is a “natural darkness zone.” It’s a great place to see stars overhead -- and if you want to see them a lot more closely, the park has its own observatory for deep-space viewing and a digital imaging system so you can see real superstars: nebulas, supernovas, and even distant galaxies. Check out the ranger-led night sky programs which connect the stars you see today with indigenous Chaco ancestry.

Here is where you can set up camp.

4. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK -- MAINE

Acadia National Park, in Maine, is the best place to see stars in the eastern part of the US. While the east is mostly flooded with light pollution from its many cities, this 47,000-acre park sits on Mount Desert Island, far from the madding crowds.

Excellent ranger programs add to your star-gazing experience on the beach. And check out the Astronomical League’s Annual Night Festival in Bar Harbor 9September 21-24, 2017).

There are beautiful places to camp right on the island.

5. GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK -- NEVADA

Great Basin National Park is an International Dark Sky Park thanks to its high elevation and arid climate. The basin offers 360-degree views of the horizon. The park’s highest point, Wheeler Peak is a great vantage point.

Check out the Star Train, which takes you even deeper into darkness for even brighter star shine. The park’s “dark rangers” offer lots of educational programs

This year, the park’s annual Astronomy Festival will be held September 21 - 23 (2017). You’ll be treated to 3 days and nights of star-filled events and get a chance to see stars through 30 different telescopes.

6. BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK -- SOUTH DAKOTA

There’s nothing bad about the star gazing at Badlands National Park, in South Dakota. This super-dark place serves up thousands of stars each night. It’s an especially good place to see our own Milky Way galaxy. Check out the park’s dark sky astronomy programs cool telescopes.

Camp out near the magnificent land formations that give this park its character, with its striking pinnacles and spires.

Cedar Pass Campground is a perfect place to pitch your tent.

7. DENALI NATIONAL PARK -- ALASKA

Denali National Park, in Alaska, offers an extra-special night show. Not only does it give you a spectacular spread of stars across its night sky, but because it is so far north, you’ll get the added beauty of the aurora borealis if you venture there in autumn, winter, and spring.

Here’s some camping info to consider.

8. BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK -- UTAH

Bryce Canyon National Park takes its stargazing opportunities seriously. It offers more than 50 telescopes and weekly astronomy programs with some of the world’s top astronomers.  

The geologic peculiarities of this place, with fairytale-like rock formations, called hoodoos, make this place even more magical.

Camping here is a beautiful thing!

9. PARASHANT NATIONAL MONUMENT -- ARIZONA

Parashant National Monument, just west of Grand Canyon National Park, is an International Dark Sky Province. With over a million acres of pristine wilderness, this is a perfect place for stargazing camping adventure.

While there are no developed campgrounds within the monument lands, you can pitch a tent pretty much anywhere you fancy. Here’s more info to help you plan.

10. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK -- TEXAS

Big Bend National Park, in Texas, is an international dark-sky park. Low humidity means no clouds to ruin the view. And its remote location isolated it from light pollution. You can see the Andromeda galaxy from here, which is pretty amazing given that it is 2 million light years away.

Campsites are quite limited. Check out the options here.

Check out more National Park beauty on BeautifulNow. Just search “National Parks” posts on our homepage to find stories like this.

Search “dark skies” posts on our homepage to find more stories about dark sky stargazing, like this.

Read more about Beautiful Camping in 10 Most Beautiful Glamping Spots in France & UK, 10 Gorgeous Place to Camp, Kayak, & Canoe too,  Waterfalls Make Camping More Beautiful Now, and 10 Most Beautiful Extreme Glamping Now.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of the National Park Service. A starry night at Canyonlands National Park.
2. Image: Courtesy of the National Park Service. Star-filled sky over Great Basin National Park.
3. Image: by Jacob W. Frank. “Night sky at Owachomo Bridge.” Courtesy of Natural Bridges National Monument. Natural Bridges National Monument. Utah.
4. Image: by Diana Robinson. “Star Trails over the Racetrack Playa moving stones, Death Valley National Park, California.” Death Valley National Park. California.
5. Image: Courtesy of National Park Service. “Orion Nebula taken from the Chaco Observatory.” Chaco Culture National Historical Park. New Mexico.
6. Image: by Jason Corey. “Life.” Acadia National Park. Maine.
7. Image: Courtesy of Acadia Night Sky Festival. Night sky over Maine.
8. Image: by Sydney Martinez, Travel Nevada. “Great Basin National Park. Dark Skies.” Great Basin National Park. Nevada.
9. Image: by tsaiproject. “Badlands under the Milky Way.” Badlands National Park. South Dakota.
10. Image: by Andy Putnam.” Northern Lights.”  Denali National Park. Alaska.
11. Image: by Paul Weeks. “Hoodoos at Night.” Bryce Canyon National Park. Utah.
12. Image: by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management. “My Public Lands Magazine, Summer.” Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument. Arizona
13. Image: by Vincent Lock. “Milky Way from Big Bend.” Big Bend National Park. Texas.
14. Image: by Dave Hensley. “Milky Way over Cerro Castellan.” Big Bend National Park. Texas.
15. Image: by Dave Hensley. “Milky Way over Casa Grande.” Big Bend National Park. Texas.
16. Image: by niemand und nichts. “Milky Way - Death Valley National Park.” Death Valley National Park. California.
17. Image: by BN App - Download now!
18. Image: by Dan Duriscoe. “Mitten Park Fault frames this night sky view of the Milky Way and constellations at Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado.” Courtesy of National Park Service.