Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a protected area in Arizona with a measured darkness of 87/100 (≈ Bortle 2) — a genuinely dark sky where the Milky Way is a bright, structured band. The best month to come is typically September, when about 77% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 61/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 63%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Canyon de Chelly National Monument
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 55% | 56/100 |
| February | 63% | 61/100 |
| March | 61% | 60/100 |
| April | 69% | 66/100 |
| May | 74% | 69/100 |
| June | 75% | 70/100 |
| July | 59% | 58/100 |
| August | 63% | 61/100 |
| September ★ | 77% | 71/100 |
| October | 76% | 70/100 |
| November | 72% | 68/100 |
| December | 60% | 59/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Each place below is rated for the darkness at its own doorstep — stay dark, and the sky is yours from the parking lot.
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Thunderbird Lodge
17.8 km away · darkness at hotel: 63/100
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Holiday Inn Canyon de Chelly
18.6 km away · Chinle · darkness at hotel: 59/100
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BEST WESTERN Canyon de Chelly Inn
21.5 km away · darkness at hotel: 54/100
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Nearby spots in Arizona
- Betatakin Overlook — 122.5 km · Sky Score 65/100
- Chinde Point — 124.2 km · Sky Score 66/100
- Navajo National Monument — 134.2 km · Sky Score 65/100
- Grand Falls view — 184.7 km · Sky Score 67/100
- Wupatki National Monument Boundary — 195.8 km · Sky Score 66/100