Cowboy Spring Wilderness Study Area
Cowboy Spring Wilderness Study Area is a protected area in New Mexico 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 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 50%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Cowboy Spring Wilderness Study Area
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 63% | 65/100 |
| February | 66% | 68/100 |
| March | 67% | 68/100 |
| April | 78% | 77/100 |
| May ★ | 85% | 82/100 |
| June | 70% | 71/100 |
| July | 48% | 54/100 |
| August | 50% | 56/100 |
| September | 72% | 72/100 |
| October | 77% | 76/100 |
| November | 69% | 70/100 |
| December | 64% | 66/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Cowboy Spring 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 →
Adams Ranch Guest House
38.5 km away · darkness at hotel: 89/100
Booking links are affiliate links — disclosure.
Nearby spots in New Mexico
- Big Hatchet Mountains Wilderness Study Area — 29.5 km · Sky Score 69/100
- Alamo Hueco Mountains Wilderness Study Area — 32.6 km · Sky Score 69/100
- Gray Peak Wilderness Study Area — 37.8 km · Sky Score 69/100
- BLM — 40.3 km · Sky Score 69/100
- Pancho Villa State Park — 98.8 km · Sky Score 46/100