Grapevine Mountains Wilderness Study Area
Grapevine Mountains Wilderness Study Area is a protected area in Nevada with a measured darkness of 93/100 (≈ 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 September, when about 88% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 80/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 83%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Grapevine Mountains Wilderness Study Area
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 54% | 59/100 |
| February | 67% | 68/100 |
| March | 60% | 63/100 |
| April | 71% | 71/100 |
| May | 71% | 71/100 |
| June | 79% | 78/100 |
| July | 81% | 79/100 |
| August | 83% | 80/100 |
| September ★ | 88% | 84/100 |
| October | 82% | 79/100 |
| November | 74% | 74/100 |
| December | 57% | 61/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Grapevine Mountains Wilderness Study Area
Each place below is rated for the darkness at its own doorstep — stay dark, and the sky is yours from the parking lot.
- Check availability →
Shady Lady Bed and Breakfast
20 km away · darkness at hotel: 90/100
Booking links are affiliate links — disclosure.
Nearby spots in Nevada
- Queer Mountain Wilderness Study Area — 15.5 km · Sky Score 73/100
- Pigeon Spring Wilderness Study Area — 56.7 km · Sky Score 71/100
- Death Valley National Park — 72 km · Sky Score 73/100
- Mount Diablo panorama — 93.1 km · Sky Score 54/100
- Brainwash Bluff panorama — 101.3 km · Sky Score 68/100