Death Ridge Wilderness Study Area
Death Ridge Wilderness Study Area is a protected area in Utah 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 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 70%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Death Ridge Wilderness Study Area
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 52% | 57/100 |
| February | 59% | 63/100 |
| March | 57% | 61/100 |
| April | 68% | 69/100 |
| May | 71% | 71/100 |
| June | 78% | 77/100 |
| July | 66% | 68/100 |
| August | 70% | 71/100 |
| September ★ | 80% | 78/100 |
| October | 75% | 74/100 |
| November | 72% | 72/100 |
| December | 57% | 61/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Death Ridge 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 →
Canyon Country Lodge
28.9 km away · Escalante · darkness at hotel: 75/100
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Rainbow Country Bed & Breakfast
28.9 km away · Escalante · darkness at hotel: 75/100
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Circle D
29.2 km away · darkness at hotel: 73/100
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Circle D Motel
29.3 km away · darkness at hotel: 73/100
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Cowboy Country Inn
29.3 km away · darkness at hotel: 73/100
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Canyons Bed and Breakfast
29.4 km away · darkness at hotel: 73/100
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Prospector Inn
29.4 km away · darkness at hotel: 73/100
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Padre Motel
29.4 km away · darkness at hotel: 73/100
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Nearby spots in Utah
- Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument — 14.4 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Devils Garden Outstanding Natural Area — 20.2 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Photopoint — 27.4 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Escalante Petrified Forest State Park — 31.6 km · Sky Score 62/100
- Cosmic Ashtray Overlook — 33.5 km · Sky Score 69/100