Red Rocks

Sky Score 68/100≈ Bortle 2

Red Rocks is a scenic viewpoint in Arizona with a measured darkness of 92/100 (≈ Bortle 2) — among the very darkest measurable skies in the American Southwest — the Milky Way casts visible shadows on moonless nights. The best month to come is typically May, when about 85% of the night sky is clear.

Tonight's outlook: 56/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 51%. Updated daily.

Best time to stargaze at Red Rocks

Month	Clear night skies	Sky Score (new moon)
January	63%	65/100
February	66%	67/100
March	67%	68/100
April	78%	76/100
May ★	85%	81/100
June	72%	71/100
July	47%	53/100
August	51%	56/100
September	73%	72/100
October	78%	76/100
November	70%	70/100
December	64%	66/100

Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).

Where to stay near Red Rocks

Each place below is rated for the darkness at its own doorstep — stay dark, and the sky is yours from the parking lot.

Cave Creek Ranch
7.7 km away · darkness at hotel: 92/100
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Portal Peak Lodge
9.3 km away · darkness at hotel: 92/100
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The George Walker House
10.2 km away · darkness at hotel: 92/100
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Four Bar Cottages
13.2 km away · darkness at hotel: 92/100
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Quailway Cottage
13.6 km away · darkness at hotel: 92/100
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Sky Island Lodge
15.6 km away · darkness at hotel: 93/100
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Mountain Valley Lodge
15.9 km away · darkness at hotel: 93/100
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Chiricahua Mountain Lodge
16.2 km away · Rodeo · darkness at hotel: 92/100
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Booking links are affiliate links — disclosure.

Nearby spots in Arizona

Cathedral Vista Point — 5.2 km · Sky Score 68/100
Centella Point — 7.8 km · Sky Score 68/100
Chiricahua Wilderness — 8.2 km · Sky Score 68/100
Chiricahua National Monument — 23.5 km · Sky Score 68/100
Whitmire Canyon Wilderness Study Area — 36.4 km · Sky Score 68/100