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History shows us that humans have been interested in the stars and night’s sky for as long as we have existed. As technology and our curiosity for the beyond have grown, our ability to stargaze has been impacted by light pollution. Due to bigger cities and modern conveniences, it is estimated that over 60 percent of Americans can no longer see the milky way from their homes. 

To prevent light pollution from affecting our ability to stargaze any further, scientists have been attempting to preserve our view of the night’s sky. In creating the International Dark Sky Association, scientists have been able to do just this. Read on to find the top 5 places in America protected by this agreement.

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

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Goblin Valley State Park is named after the distinctive sandstone rocks, which are dotted all over its landscape. The geological name for these formations is a hoodoo. This describes soft, arid rocks that protrude from a rock basin. They usually look like little towers or chimneys but locals think the hoodoos here look like goblins and some people even believe the rocks are magical.

Aside from its unique rock formations, Goblin Valley State Park is a highly recommended stargazing or Dark Sky Park. The park is quite close to some of the other locations recommended in this article, but what sets it apart from the others is that it typically gets fewer visitors as it is not as well known. This means is that you can get uninterrupted and more intimate views of the night’s sky, which to some visitors is much more memorable.

Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

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Dead Horse Point State Park is a little further off the beaten track so it is best experienced by camping. The park gets its name from the Old West where it was used as a horse corral by local cowboys. When coming here, you’ll get the choice of camping at the group campsite or the numerous individual pitches around the state park. As well as great camping, Dead Horse Point State Park has an excellent nine-mile hiking trail and a picnic area. The park is also within driving distance of other great stargazing spots like Canyonlands National Park

Of course, going to Dead Horse Point State Park is all about the amazing night time views. The nearest city is Moab, Utah which is 33 miles away and only has a population of around 5,000, so I’m sure you can imagine the views you’ll get. The park is even great for beginners as park rangers often offer full moon hikes and specially themed star parties. The park has a great junior stargazing program too, which is designed for children under 12. Another awesome thing to remember about this park is that the final scene of the movie Thelma & Louise was filmed there.

Antelope Island State Park, Utah

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Antelope Island State Park is located on the Great Salt Lake and covers an area of 28,800 acres. Before it became a state park, Antelope Island was used by Mormon settlers as a ranch. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the island was given state park status.

The Park has been revered for its untouched land, which wasn’t shaped by past farming. It is recommended that stargazers look to the western side of the island due to its distance away from neighboring towns or cities. There are many country and park areas in the US but Antelope Island State Park allows for pristine views of the night’s sky as nearby cities are too far away to impair visibility, especially on the western half of the island.

Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

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The Big Cyprus National Preserve in Florida is usually visited by wildlife enthusiasts. The preserve is home to a wide range of animals and is famous for some of its more dangerous inhabitants. At the preserve, you’ll find black bears, venomous snakes, and even panthers. The wildlife preserve itself is very popular with tourists and camping trips, off-road driving routes, and canoe trips are available members of the public. Many of the better viewing areas are only available via the off-road trials so make sure you get the appropriate driving permit before visiting.

In addition to the great wildlife preserve, Big Cypress National Preserve is the only area East of Colorado to gain a certification from the International Dark Sky Association. Although the preserve does suffer from some light pollution from neighboring Miami, it gives a nice perspective on stargazing as most of the national parks recommended in the US are in the Midwest or Western states.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

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Perhaps the best-known park on this list is the Grand Canyon National Park. The famous national park has recently been certified as an International Dark Sky Park after park authorities changed all the light fittings in the park. Officials have installed special lights that funnel all light downward towards the ground and don’t leak upward like standard street lamps.

What sets the Grand Canyon National Park apart from other Dark Sky Parks is its vast area. The park is home to over a million acres of space and due to this, light pollution is at a near zero. Some of the most spectacular milky way photos found online are often taken at the Grand Canyon National Park which makes this a premier destination for stargazing. Additionally, park authorities try to put on star parties on a semi-regular basis, which allows stargazers of all levels to get together and share tips for viewing the night’s sky. These parties also aim to educate amateur astronomers on constellations found in the sky above the park.