Dark Sky Parks of the West

Enter the world of Night Parks and turn yourself over to Nyx, mythic mistress of night, and allow your imagination to be captivated by infinite possibilities. There, between the cabaret of constellations and the crenellations of mountain peaks, you can release your mind into a state of mental sublimation through the connect-the-dots sky of starry shibari. This is the otherworld of Dark Sky Parks, where you subsume your daytime struggles, and accept the darkness.

As of January, 2022 the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has recently designated 37 new International Dark Sky Places, bringing the total to 196 worldwide. All Dark Sky Places are spectacular and beckon you into the ethereal specters of milky ways, shooting stars, and galaxies far, far away.

The Pacific Northwest is luckily home to several nearby Night Sky Parks. Not surprisingly, all are found on the eastern side of the Cascade Range. The Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary, is found in the very remote northwest corner of Nevada, 150 miles north of Reno. Centered in wide valley floors for an awe-inspiring and seemingly endless night sky, this sanctuary is surrounded by volcanic plateaus and the dramatic drop of Massacre Rim, a 1,200-foot-tall escarpment that forms the western edge of the sanctuary. Humans have been in this area for over 10,000 years which presents a rich collection of prehistoric petroglyphs found nearby.

Prineville Reservoir State Park

Prineville Reservoir State Park sits at the edge of a vast expanse of natural nighttime darkness which is earmarked for a future International Dark Reserve. About 20 miles southeast of Prineville, this state park has full-hookup sites, cabins, tent sites, and scheduled night sky programs.

Surprise Valley Hot Springs 

If you would like to stay on paved roads, the Surprise Valley Hot Springs in Cedarville, California, 30 miles west of Massacre Rim, provides rooms, a majority which have a private outdoor soaking tubs (21 and older, please), full kitchens, and boundless night sky viewing. Can there be anything better than a long soak, a good bottle of Oregon wine to share, and a perfect evening of stargazing?

Upper Klamath Lake Sunset

Driving northward east of the Cascades in Oregon is filled with rabbits, rims, and volcanic rock. Our goal is Sunriver then north to Prineville Reservoir to visit Oregon’s other two Dark Sky destinations. You could drive up highway 97 through Klamath Falls, home of two Night Sky-worthy sipping stops, the Night Owl, southern Oregon’s (or Oregon’s!) best tiki bar that offers a dive bar vibe with verified world class cocktails, and The Falls Taphouse, a very chill taphouse with a great selection of drafts and a not-to-be-missed rooftop seating area where the sundown over Oregon’s largest freshwater lake, Upper Klamath Lake, has made this a de regueur pit stop for travelers between Bend and Reno.

But we’re skirting Crater Lake National Park and staying east driving up 395 and veering west onto 31. “More rabbits than humans” is the usual report from this stretch of 395. But before turning on to 31, it’s worth a stop to take in Abert Rim, the longest exposed fault scarp in North America, 30 miles long, and now a hot spot for paragliders and hang-gliders alike due to the warm rising thermals.

Summer Lake Hot Springs Retreat

Highway 31 also offers another hot tub Full Monty opportunity at the Summer Lake Hot Springs. Natural artesian hot mineral springs burble up into a communal bathhouse and individual cabins under that vastly stunning canopy of Eastern Oregon skies. With 360 views, this is a perfect recharging space not only for your RV, but also for your star-crossed soul.

Sunriver Night Sky 

Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory, located just south of Bend, Oregon, was Oregon’s first designated international Dark Sky Place. Sunriver, a complete resort with conference center, cabins, townhouses, and a golf course, has been built to integrate with nature with a minimum of streetlights thus receiving a dark sky community distinction.

Before committing yourself to the sensuous splendors of the dark, remember, while visiting Dark Sky Parks keep in mind these useful tips:

• Check fire conditions prior to travelling- smoke from other areas can obscure the night sky. 
• Check weather conditions prior to going, as clouds can obscure the night sky. 
• For a truly dark sky, plan your visit around new moons or when the moon sets early in the evening 
• Carry a red flashlight so your eyes don’t lose adjustments to night sky

Beyond the PNW, Ireland’s Kerry Dark Sky Park, in County Kerry, is one of the world’s best Dark Sky parks, which doubles as a jump off point to the nearby – only a 50 minute boat ride – Skellig Michael (a UNESCO World Heritage site), which was also Luke Skywalker’s remote retreat in The Last Jedi.  

Closer to home, there are 129 Dark Sky Places located in the U.S, from the Arizona desert to North Carolina’s seashore. Some are even right in cities and towns (these are usually categorized as Dark Sky Communities and Urban Night Sky Places by the IDA, whereas Dark Sky Sanctuaries, Reserves, and Parks are larger, more secluded areas). Locating these world-wide sanctuaries, reserves, and parks is easy with a wonderful interactive Dark Sky areas map. This interactive map is a handy guide to Night Parks near you, or near to your next destination.