Mancos Mesa Wilderness Study Area
Mancos Mesa 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: 71/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 69%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Mancos Mesa Wilderness Study Area
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 51% | 57/100 |
| February | 59% | 63/100 |
| March | 59% | 63/100 |
| April | 67% | 69/100 |
| May | 71% | 72/100 |
| June | 78% | 77/100 |
| July | 66% | 68/100 |
| August | 69% | 71/100 |
| September ★ | 80% | 79/100 |
| October | 73% | 74/100 |
| November | 69% | 71/100 |
| December | 55% | 60/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Mancos Mesa 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
27.3 km away · Ticaboo · darkness at hotel: 88/100
- Check availability →
Defiance House Lodge
28.2 km away · Bullfrog · darkness at hotel: 84/100
Booking links are affiliate links — disclosure.
Nearby spots in Utah
- Little Rockies Wilderness Study Area — 31.1 km · Sky Score 69/100
- Cheesebox Canyon Wilderness Study Area — 33.4 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Hite Overlook — 35.1 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area — 35.5 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Natural Bridges National Monument — 36.2 km · Sky Score 67/100