Mount Pennell Wilderness Study Area
Mount Pennell Wilderness Study Area is a protected area in Utah with a measured darkness of 94/100 (≈ 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 September, when about 80% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 70/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 68%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Mount Pennell Wilderness Study Area
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 54% | 59/100 |
| February | 59% | 63/100 |
| March | 57% | 62/100 |
| April | 66% | 68/100 |
| May | 69% | 70/100 |
| June | 75% | 75/100 |
| July | 65% | 67/100 |
| August | 68% | 70/100 |
| September ★ | 80% | 79/100 |
| October | 73% | 74/100 |
| November | 71% | 72/100 |
| December | 58% | 62/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night, check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Mount Pennell 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 →
Ticaboo Lodge By Magnuson Worldwide
28.2 km away · Ticaboo · darkness at hotel: 88/100
Booking links are affiliate links, see the disclosure.
Nearby spots in Utah
- Strike Valley Overlook 14.4 km · Sky Score 69/100
- Mount Hillers Wilderness Study Area 18.3 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Halls Creek Overlook 18.7 km · Sky Score 69/100
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area 25.6 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Escalante Canyons Tract 1 Instant Study Area 26.9 km · Sky Score 69/100