Chasing Stars and Northern Lights: Top 8 Dark Sky Destinations in the U.S.

A sky filled with glittering stars or the dancing ribbons of the aurora borealis might have you dreaming of a cosmic adventure pairing earthly landscapes with celestial wonders. Across the United States are dark-sky sanctuaries, observatories and parks. These places are prime for stellar planet sightings, mind-blowing views of the Milky Way and wonders of galaxies far, far away. Here are eight best destinations to see stars, where you can hike and explore by day and marvel at the stars at night.

Amy Jimmerson

Nicknamed “Big Sky Country,” Montana could also be called “Big Star Country” with Glacier National Park as its dark-sky crown jewel. Montana’s Trail to the Stars has some of the darkest skies in the Lower 48, and it connects 45 locations across the eastern two-thirds of the state, including campgrounds, guest ranches and historic landmarks.

Don’t miss Medicine Rocks State Park, an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, in eastern Montana, where the landscape looks like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie. During the day, hike the multiple short trails to marvel at the sandstone pillars, arches and buttresses sculpted by wind and erosion. Look for petroglyphs, pictographs and inscriptions while exploring the pockmarked rock towers. At night, the geologic formations frame constellations, the Milky Way and other celestial sights in the park’s dark skies.

Jennifer Broome

With mountainous terrain, an arid desert climate and minimal light pollution, Tucson is one of the prime places in the country to gaze at the night sky. Tucson’s Astro Trail connects observatories, star parties and dark-sky sites like Saguaro National Park, one of 14 of the world’s Urban Night Sky Places. As a meteorologist and starry-sky fan, I geeked out on this self-guided trail connecting the region’s stargazing spots.

During the day, gaze at the giants of the Sonoran Desert in Saguaro National Park’s two districts. In the park, enjoy a relaxing drive on Cactus Forest Scenic Loop (east) and Scenic Bajada Loop (west). Both have access to numerous hiking trails. For a short hike in the east district, enjoy Mica View Trail. My favorite trail in the park, though, is Signal Hill Trail in the west district. Hike up the short and moderately steep trail to marvel at over 200 petroglyphs carved about 550 to 1550 years ago. Because both districts are less than 30 minutes from downtown Tucson, it’s easy to access and enjoy a phenomenal desert sunset as it turns into a night sky of sparkling stars over cactus-studded hills. The park also offers guided experiences, including full-moon hikes and dark-sky parties.

Sitting at just over 9,100 feet in the Santa Catalina Mountains, the University of Arizona Mount Lemmon SkyCenter is one of the premier astronomical observatories in the country. Allow at least 90 minutes to drive from downtown Tucson, so you can enjoy the winding switchbacks and stunning views as you drive through the dramatic scenery changes of the 28-mile drive up the mountain. Take layers; it gets cold fast after the sun goes down.

Part of the star party experience is looking at nebulae, planets and other celestial wonders through the 32-inch Schulman telescope, one of the largest public telescopes in the country. Don’t miss Tucson’s other “stars” — food and music. Tucson was the first city in the United States to be designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy (one of only two). Devour authentic cuisine at El Charro Café, America’s oldest Mexican restaurant continuously run by the same family, then dance the night away at one of the three music venues in Hotel Congress. The historic and eclectic hotel is a unique base camp for your Tucson Astro Trail adventure.

Jennifer Broome

While you might catch a glimpse of the northern lights in the contiguous United States, for the best odds, head to Alaska in winter. Given its location within the auroral oval, where geomagnetic activity is strongest, Fairbanks is the top spot in the United States to see the northern lights from late August through April.

Aurora Pointe is just 15 minutes from downtown Fairbanks. I couldn’t stop saying “Wow!” as I saw green, red and purple waves and ripples dance across the night sky. While you wait for the northern lights to appear, sip a hot drink and nibble on cookies in their warming building.

For something a little steamier, catch the northern lights while soaking in the outdoor pools at Chena Hot Springs, about 45 minutes from Fairbanks. Take their Aurora Viewing Tour up to Charlie Dome for a 360-degree, unobstructed view of the aurora borealis show. Stay in one of their lodge rooms, cabins or yurts, and don’t miss touring their Aurora Ice Museum for a cool experience. Top it off with an appletini served in an ice glass at their ice bar.

For daytime fun in Fairbanks, go on a walk with reindeer at Running Reindeer Ranch and take the short 20-minute drive to North Pole, where “the spirit of Christmas lives year-round.”

Jennifer Broome

If you want to experience the largest Dark Sky Certified place in the world, head to the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve in West Texas. The reserve covers 15,000 square miles in Texas and northern Mexico. I’ve done a road trip looping the historic Gage Hotel in Marathon, quirky town of Marfa and the mysterious Terlingua ghost town multiple times. As a repeat visitor to this vast and rugged region, I find it mystical and magnetic. As the song lyrics go, “the stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas.”

Nestled in the rugged Davis Mountains, McDonald Observatory is one of the top centers for astronomical research in the world. It’s home to the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, one of the world’s largest. Attending a star party in this remote location is an out-of-this-world experience. The parties are popular, and it’s not uncommon to share the experience with several hundred other stargazers. Make your reservation well in advance to enjoy a tour of the night sky constellations and other celestial objects.

Book a room at the historic Hotel Limpia and take a self-guided tour of Fort Davis National Historic Site. Head west to the artsy town of Marfa, which has a phenomenal culinary scene. Just outside of town, mysterious glowing orbs, dubbed the Marfa Lights, flicker on the horizon. They don’t happen every night, and scientists can’t quite explain them. I got lucky and caught the mysterious phenomenon shortly after sunset on one of my trips.

My favorite place to stay in Marfa is The Lincoln, a boutique hotel with 14 one-of-a-kind rooms, including an underground bunker. If you’re a fan of the 1955 movie "Giant," stay at the historic Hotel Paisano.

As the only national park with a mountain range entirely within its borders, Big Bend National Park is one of my favorite national parks. It also has the least light pollution of any national park in the United States. Go for a backpacking hike on the South Rim to soak in the stars as you camp.

If luxury glamping is your style, book at The Summit at Big Bend. For a more budget-friendly option, I love to stay at Terlingua Nights Cabins. Don’t miss breakfast at La Posada Milagro, dinner with live music at Starlight Theatre and Saloon, or taking a self-guided historic walking tour of the ghost town, including the cemetery. By day, hike and explore the vastness of Big Bend. By night, gaze at the Milky Way arching over desert peaks.

Jennifer Broome

Between A.D. 850 and 1250, the Ancestral Puebloans of present-day Chaco Culture National Historical Park (and UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places to see stars) built a city guided by the sky. They aligned their “Great Houses” so precisely that sunlight still slices across the Sun Dagger petroglyph on Fajada Butte during solstices and creates a “corridor of light” through Casa Rinconada during equinoxes.

Since the park’s loop road is closed at night, the only way to experience Chaco Canyon’s celestial sights is camping overnight. Under a canopy of stars, it’s easy to imagine ancient astronomers charting constellations from the same desert floor. The park hosts seasonal night-sky programs with public telescope viewing. During the equinox and solstice, the park also hosts events to watch sunlight move across the stone structures just as the Ancestral Puebloans designed.

For a luxurious way to experience Chaco Canyon’s ancient astronomy, take the glamping excursion hosted by Inn of the Five Graces in Santa Fe. It aligns with the new moon for prime stargazing, followed by a sunrise hike with views over the ancient San Juan Basin of the Four Corners region.

Add soaking under the night sky in New Mexico’s mineral-rich waters to your visit. Ojo Caliente and Ojo Santa Fe are two of my favorites for spring-fed pools, desert hiking and spa experiences during a rejuvenating stay. Jemez Hot Springs is a quieter, off-the-beaten-path soak in red-rock country with ancient ruins nearby.

For a unique retreat, overnight at Ghost Ranch and hike Chimney Rock Trail. You’ll be rewarded with the same pastel landscape that inspired artist Georgia O’Keeffe.

Jennifer Broome

Utah’s canyon country is famous for its red rock formations and for some of the darkest skies on earth. In 2007, Natural Bridges National Monument became the world’s first International Dark Sky Park. The cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans surround three sandstone bridges, the Kachina, Sipapu and Owachomo. There are overlooks for each.

If you’re a hiker, you can take down-and-up hikes to each one or hike the 12-mile loop passing all three natural bridges. After dark, the silhouettes of the natural bridges framing the Milky Way are one of the most iconic astro-landscapes in America.

My favorite place to stay in the area is Bluff Dwellings Resort. Desert Rose Resort & Cabins is also an excellent option. You can also find accommodations in Blanding and Mexican Hat. All are less than an hour from National Bridges National Monument.

Visit Nebraska

This one might surprise you, but yes, Nebraska is a stargazing hot spot. Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area hosts the annual Nebraska Star Party (held late July or early August), drawing astronomers and astrophotographers from all over to this gem in one of the largest grass-stabilized dune regions in the world.

Add a float or kayak on the Niobrara River National Scenic River to your visit. The 76-mile stretch near Valentine was the first U.S. trail designated a “Quiet Trail” by Quiet Parks International. Along its course, six major ecosystems converge, creating a haven for more than 160 plant and animal species.

If you time your visit for late winter or early spring, you can witness what’s considered one of the last great animal migrations on the planet. It’s a daytime sky spectacle as roughly one million migrating sandhill cranes descend on the Central Platte River Valley, particularly fascinating at sunrise and sunset.

Visit Pennsylvania

With so many major cities, finding dark skies on the East Coast can be challenging. Cherry Springs State Park in north-central Pennsylvania is a stargazer’s gem. It’s a prime place for “Milky Way season” from March to September, peaking in July and August. You might catch the Milky Way in February or October, too. There’s a night sky public viewing area that’s perfect for short-term stargazing and a rustic campground if you want to enjoy a star-filled sky overnight.

For serious stargazers, the Overnight Astronomy Field sits atop a 2,300-foot-high mountain, surrounded by relatively undeveloped state forest and nearby communities, perfect for unobstructed views of the night sky. A permit is required for the astronomy field, but not for the public viewing area. Coudersport is your best option for a hotel, inn or bed-and-breakfast. Check out the town’s historic downtown, Coudersport Ice Mine and nearby Pennsylvania Lumber Museum for daytime fun.

Visit Nebraska

Here are a few smart steps to prepare for an out-of-this-world experience at the best places to see stars.