Rough Hills Wilderness Study Area
Rough Hills 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 July, when about 76% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 75/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 8% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 76%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Rough Hills Wilderness Study Area
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 31% | 42/100 |
| February | 41% | 49/100 |
| March | 44% | 51/100 |
| April | 54% | 59/100 |
| May | 52% | 57/100 |
| June | 67% | 68/100 |
| July ★ | 76% | 75/100 |
| August | 76% | 75/100 |
| September | 75% | 74/100 |
| October | 62% | 65/100 |
| November | 47% | 53/100 |
| December | 30% | 41/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Rough Hills 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 →
Outdoor Inn
23.5 km away · Jarbidge · darkness at hotel: 94/100
- Check availability →
Cottonwood Guest Ranch
37.6 km away · Wells · darkness at hotel: 92/100
Booking links are affiliate links — disclosure.
Nearby spots in Nevada
- Jarbidge Wilderness — 21.8 km · Sky Score 60/100
- Owyhee Canyon Wilderness Study Area — 85.3 km · Sky Score 61/100
- South Fork Owyhee River Wilderness Study Area — 97.3 km · Sky Score 61/100
- Falls Creek Falls — 180.2 km · Sky Score 61/100
- Water Canyon Overlook — 191.5 km · Sky Score 52/100