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Alaska
13
California
7
Oregon
7
Utah
6
Montana
4
Nevada
4
New Mexico
4
Idaho
3
Colorado
2
Hawaii
2
Nebraska
2
Wyoming
2
Arizona
1
Maine
1
Michigan
1
Minnesota
1
New Hampshire
1
New York
1
Oklahoma
1
South Dakota
1
Texas
1
Darkest States 2023
- The Bortle scale is a method of measuring the darkness of the night sky for a particular location, with Class 9 possessing the most light pollution and Class 1 possessing the lowest light pollution (and therefore optimal viewing)
- The IDA column indicates if a site is certified by the International DArk Sky Association. A Bortle scale value is given for each site where it is known.
- IDA listings utilize the following abbreviations: NP = national park | SP = state park | NF = national forest | SF = state forest | NWR = national wildlife reserve | SRA = state recreational area
- Local astronomy clubs are a recommended source for precise, local-scale guidance in locating the darkest (and most ideal) viewing locations.
- The IDA column indicates if a site is certified by the International DArk Sky Association. A Bortle scale value is given for each site where it is known.
- IDA listings utilize the following abbreviations: NP = national park | SP = state park | NF = national forest | SF = state forest | NWR = national wildlife reserve | SRA = state recreational area
- Local astronomy clubs are a recommended source for precise, local-scale guidance in locating the darkest (and most ideal) viewing locations.
State | # of Bortle 1 Sites | # of Bortle 2 Sites | # of Bortle 3 Sites | # of Bortle 4 Sites | # of Bortle 5 Sites | # of IDA Certified Sites | IDA-Certified Sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 13 | 9 | |||||
| California | 7 | 32 | 3 | Anza-Borrego Desert SP, Death Valley NP Joshua Tree NP | |||
| Oregon | 7 | 25 | 1 | Prineville Reservoir SP | |||
| Utah | 6 | 17 | 19 | Antelope Island SP, Arches NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Canyonlands NP, Capitol Reef NP, Cedar Breaks NM, Dead Horse Point SP, East Canyon SP, Fremont Indian SP, Goblin Valley SP, Goosenecks SP, Hovenweep NM, Jordanelle SP, Kodachrome Basin SP, Natural Bridges NM, North Fork SP, Rainbow Bridge NM, Steinaker SP, Timpangogos NM, | |||
| Montana | 4 | 8 | 1 | Medicine Rocks SP | |||
| Nevada | 4 | 6 | 2 | Great Basin NP Massacre Rim WSA | |||
| New Mexico | 4 | 13 | 8 | Capulin Volcano NM, Chaco Culture NP, Clayton Lake SP, Cosmic Campground, El Morro NM, Fort Union NM, Salinas Pueblo Missions NM, Valle de Oro NWR | |||
| Idaho | 3 | 9 | 2 | Craters of the Moon NM, Central Idaho Dark Sky NR | |||
| Colorado | 2 | 17 | 7 | Dinosaur NM, Florissant Fossil Beds NM, Great Sand Dunes NP, Jackson Lake SP, Kelso Dunes NP, Mesa Verde NP, Slumgullion Center CP, | |||
| Hawaii | 2 | 13 | 1 | ||||
| Nebraska | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||
| Wyoming | 2 | 4 | |||||
| Arizona | 1 | 7 | 9 | Chiricahua NM, Flagstaff Area NM, Grand Canyon NP, Kartchner Caverns SP, Oracle SP, Petrified Forest NP, Pipe Spring NM, Tonto Monument NM, Tumacacori NP | |||
| Maine | 1 | 10 | 1 | Katahdin Woods & Waters NM | |||
| Michigan | 1 | 20 | 2 | Dr. T.K. Lawless CP, Headlands SP | |||
| Minnesota | 1 | 15 | 2 | Boundary Waters Canoe NWR, Voyageurs NP | |||
| New Hampshire | 1 | 10 | |||||
| New York | 1 | 1 | 17 | ||||
| Oklahoma | 1 | 5 | 9 | ||||
| South Dakota | 1 | 13 | |||||
| Texas | 1 | 12 | 2 | 7 | Big Bend NP, Big Bend Ranch SP, Copper Breaks SP, Devil's River SNA, Enchanted Rock SNA, South Llano River SP, UBarU Camp & Retreat |
showing: 21 rows