Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is a protected area in New Mexico with a measured darkness of 91/100 (≈ 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 81% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 57/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 54%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 59% | 61/100 |
| February | 64% | 65/100 |
| March | 65% | 65/100 |
| April | 76% | 74/100 |
| May ★ | 81% | 77/100 |
| June | 70% | 69/100 |
| July | 52% | 56/100 |
| August | 54% | 57/100 |
| September | 73% | 71/100 |
| October | 75% | 73/100 |
| November | 69% | 69/100 |
| December | 61% | 63/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Gila Cliff Dwellings 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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Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch
21.7 km away · darkness at hotel: 94/100
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Casitas de Gila
38.5 km away · darkness at hotel: 88/100
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Bear Creek Motel and Cabins
39.5 km away · darkness at hotel: 76/100
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Nearby spots in New Mexico
- Senator Clinton P. Anderson Wilderness Overlook — 13.4 km · Sky Score 66/100
- Gila Wilderness — 14.5 km · Sky Score 66/100
- Austin Roberts Vista — 23.2 km · Sky Score 65/100
- Aldo Leopold Wilderness — 36.6 km · Sky Score 67/100
- Continental Divide Wilderness Study Area — 55.9 km · Sky Score 69/100