Stargazing in United States
Stargazing in Arizona: 56 dark-sky spots, rated by data
We measured the night sky over every one of these spots: satellite radiance, skyglow from surrounding cities, and ten years of cloud climatology (how the Sky Score works). The darkest sky in Arizona scores 75/100. Each spot guide also lists places to stay nearby, every one rated for the darkness measured at the hotel itself, so you can sleep under the sky you came for.
All Arizona spots, darkest first
| # | Spot | Sky Score | Darkness | Where to stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabeza Prieta WildernessPark / protected area | 75/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 2 | KOFA Pronghorn Protected AreaPark / protected area | 73/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 3 | Kofa WildernessPark / protected area | 73/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 4 | Trigo Mountain WildernessPark / protected area | 72/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 5 | Rawhide Mountains WildernessPark / protected area | 72/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 6 | Harcuvar Mountains WildernessPark / protected area | 71/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 7 | Harquahala Mountains Area of Critical Environmental ConcernPark / protected area | 70/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 8 | Swansea WildernessPark / protected area | 70/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 9 | Grand Canyon-Parashant National MonumentPark / protected area | 70/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 10 | Tres Alamos WildernessPark / protected area | 70/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 11 | Harquahala Mountains WildernessPark / protected area | 70/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 12 | Mount Trumbull WildernessPark / protected area | 70/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 13 | Mount Logan WildernessPark / protected area | 70/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 14 | Grand CanyonViewpoint | 70/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 15 | Aubrey Peak WildernessPark / protected area | 69/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 16 | Fire PointViewpoint | 69/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 17 | Lake Mead National Recreation AreaPark / protected area | 68/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 18 | Mooney FallsViewpoint | 68/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 19 | Point SublimeViewpoint | 68/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 20 | Crystal Canyon ViewpointViewpoint | 68/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 21 | Havasupai PointViewpoint | 68/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 22 | Baboquivari Peak WildernessPark / protected area | 68/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 23 | Chiricahua WildernessPark / protected area | 68/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 24 | Bunk Robinson Wilderness Study AreaPark / protected area | 68/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 25 | Chiricahua National MonumentPark / protected area | 68/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 26 | Organ Pipe Cactus National MonumentPark / protected area | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 27 | Grandview PointViewpoint | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 28 | Moran PointViewpoint | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 29 | Navajo PointViewpoint | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 30 | Salome WildernessPark / protected area | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 31 | Fort Bowie National Historic SitePark / protected area | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 32 | Jacob Lake Lookout TowerViewpoint | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 33 | Phantom OverlookViewpoint | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 34 | Le Fevre OverlookViewpoint | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 35 | Aravaipa Canyon WildernessPark / protected area | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 36 | Walhalla OverlookViewpoint | 67/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 37 | Wupatki National Monument BoundaryPark / protected area | 66/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 38 | Vermilion Cliffs National MonumentPark / protected area | 66/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 39 | Pipe Spring National MonumentPark / protected area | 65/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 40 | Navajo National MonumentPark / protected area | 65/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 41 | Canyon de Chelly National MonumentPark / protected area | 64/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 42 | Agua Fria National MonumentPark / protected area | 63/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 43 | Sonoran Desert National MonumentPark / protected area | 62/100 | ≈ Bortle 3 | Stays → |
| 44 | Tonto National MonumentPark / protected area | 62/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 45 | Sunset Crater Volcano National MonumentPark / protected area | 61/100 | ≈ Bortle 2 | Stays → |
| 46 | Slide Rock State ParkPark / protected area | 58/100 | ≈ Bortle 3 | Stays → |
| 47 | Ironwood Forest National MonumentPark / protected area | 56/100 | ≈ Bortle 3 | Stays → |
| 48 | Red Rock State ParkPark / protected area | 55/100 | ≈ Bortle 3 | Stays → |
| 49 | Walnut Canyon National MonumentPark / protected area | 54/100 | ≈ Bortle 3 | Stays → |
| 50 | Montezuma Castle National MonumentPark / protected area | 52/100 | ≈ Bortle 4 | Stays → |
| 51 | Tuzigoot National MonumentPark / protected area | 50/100 | ≈ Bortle 4 | Stays → |
| 52 | Saguaro National Park - Rincon Mountain DistrictPark / protected area | 48/100 | ≈ Bortle 4 | Stays → |
| 53 | Dead Horse Ranch State ParkPark / protected area | 47/100 | ≈ Bortle 4 | Stays → |
| 54 | Saguaro National Park - Tucson Mountain DistrictPark / protected area | 45/100 | ≈ Bortle 4 | Stays → |
| 55 | Casa Grande Ruins National MonumentPark / protected area | 41/100 | ≈ Bortle 5 | Stays → |
| 56 | Hohokam Pima National MonumentPark / protected area | 37/100 | ≈ Bortle 5 | Stays → |
More of United States: Utah · New Mexico · Nevada · Texas, or see the overall ranking.