Your guide to Arizona’s 6 certified dark sky parks

Love stargazing? Discover six certified Dark Sky Parks in Arizona, where the sky is clear and the stars are bright.

Next time you’re in one of these places or parks mentioned in this article, be sure to look up. These Arizona cities and parks are designated by the International Dark-Sky Association as dark sky parks or places. Translation? Places or parks where the skies are exceptionally clear. This program started in 2001 and is headquartered in Tucson. The International Dark Sky Places certifies places around the world that are committed to protecting dark skies via lighting practices and public education.

Arizona Cities designed as dark sky cities include Flagstaff (the very first dark sky certified city), Sedona, Camp Verde, Big Park or the Village of Oak Creek, Cottonwood, Thunder Mountain Pootseev Nightsky, and Fountain Hills—where a dark city center is currently being built.

However, there are also places across Arizona that are designated as dark sky parks. Here are six.

1. Grand Canyon National Park

One of the world’s seven wonders is a certified dark sky park.

When you’re not gazing at the truly breathtaking canyon walls during the day, you can admire the stunning night sky after the sun sets. The Grand Canyon is open 24 hours a day, and you might want to consider checking out the park at night, too. It makes sense that this park would earn this designation. The park is located on a staggering 1,217,262 acres of federal land that are protected from development, which means there’s very little light pollution. Visitors can enjoy a variety of free dark sky programming. This includes laser-guided constellation talks.

 When to visit: The Grand Canyon will host a free (you still have to pay park admission, though) star party from June 21 to 28, 2025. Guests can gaze up at the stars using real telescopes. Park rangers will lead constellation tours at 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 10 p.m. Learn more about this event here. 

Photo courtesy of Casey Horner/Unsplash.

2. Oracle State Park

Located at the base of the Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Oracle State Park is a 4,000-acre wildlife refuge. The park features more than 15 miles of trails that hikers, mountain bikers, and even horseback riders can enjoy.

The park is also a great place to see the stars. Although it’s typically only open during daylight hours, visitors can make a reservation to see the area at night. Call 520-896-2425 to reserve entry. They can make reservations seven days per week and visit the American Avenue Trailhead parking lot if they want a great view of the night sky. For additional stargazing fun, check out the park’s star parties. 

Photo courtesy of Arizona State Parks and Trails.

3. Chiricahua National Monument 

Southeastern Arizona’s Chiricahua National Monument was established in 1924 to protect the land of the Chokonen Band of Chiricahua Apache. This monument is perhaps best known for its striking pinnacles and balanced rocks that look almost otherworldly. It’s also a certified dark sky park.

One of the reasons is due to its relative geographic isolation. The monument is far from major cities that contribute to light pollution. Roughly 90 percent of the monument’s 12,025 acres is designated wilderness. If you’re searching for the best places to view the stars, the monument recommends heading to Faraway Ranch or the Echo Canyon parking lots.

4. Saguaro National Park

Named after the tall, iconic cacti that are a classic symbol of Arizona, Saguaro National Park protects over 94,000 acres. The scenic park is dedicated not only to these cacti but also to protecting dark skies.

Although the park typically closes at 8 p.m., during the wintertime, the sun will set early enough that you can visit the park during the night. Certain animals, like the elf owls, thrive when the sun goes down. According to the park’s website, the best places to view the night sky are Cactus Forest Drive and the Loma Alta Trailhead if you’re in the Rincon Mountain District. In the Tucson Mountain District, the best place to see the stars is from the Bajada Loop Drive. The park will periodically host star parties and night hikes.

Fun fact: The park is also located near world-class astronomical research centers, like Kitt Peak National Observatory, Mount Graham International Observatory, Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, Steward Observatory, Mount Lemmon Observatory, and the headquarters for DarkSky International. The park collaborates with these centers to help further dark sky research.

Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

5. Wuptaki National Monument 

Located in Flagstaff, Wuptaki National Monument is one of the three monuments (the other two being Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Walnut Canyon National Monument) that all received their dark sky park designations back in 2016.

All three honor the history of the area. The Wuptaki Pueblo is the largest free-standing pueblo in Northern Arizona. The pueblo features a ball court, a natural blow hole, and 104 rooms. And you can walk among the well-preserved pueblo and see it relatively up close. It’s estimated Natives occupied the area in the 1100s or 100 years after Sunset Crater erupted. The drive out to the monument is also scenic. You’ll want to stop at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument on the way in since it’s a pretty impressive site.

6. Pipe Spring National Monument 

Tucked away in the northwestern part of Arizona near the Utah border is Pipe Spring National Monument. This monument is dedicated to showcasing the historical roots of the region. Visitors can look forward to learning more about how the natives and Mormon settlers lived here. You can peruse a museum, historic fort, garden, and cabins.

The only way to see Winsor Castle—the monument’s most prominent attraction—is via a ranger-led tour. The “castle” was constructed as a headquarters for cattle operations and as a ranch house. Guests also can hike the half-mile Ridge Trail to get a stunning view overlooking the settlement. Ask the rangers to tell you where you might see faint petroglyphs and dino tracks along the trail.

Being in such a remote area, it makes total sense that this park would earn its designation as an International Dark Sky Park in 2021. Pipe Springs occasionally hosts guided moonlight hikes and annual star parties.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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