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