Mount Ellen-Blue Hills Wilderness Study Area
Mount Ellen-Blue Hills 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 8% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 69%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Mount Ellen-Blue Hills Wilderness Study Area
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 55% | 59/100 |
| February | 59% | 63/100 |
| March | 57% | 61/100 |
| April | 66% | 68/100 |
| May | 68% | 69/100 |
| June | 76% | 75/100 |
| July | 65% | 67/100 |
| August | 69% | 70/100 |
| September ★ | 80% | 78/100 |
| October | 74% | 73/100 |
| November | 71% | 71/100 |
| December | 59% | 62/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Mount Ellen-Blue Hills 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 →
Cathedral Valley Inn
17.3 km away · Caineville · darkness at hotel: 93/100
- Check availability →
Notom Ranch
20.3 km away · darkness at hotel: 92/100
- Check availability →
Whispering Sands
23.4 km away · darkness at hotel: 76/100
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Nearby spots in Utah
- Bull Mountain Wilderness Study Area — 16.9 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Golden Throne Viewpoint — 26.2 km · Sky Score 67/100
- Capitol Reef National Park — 27.8 km · Sky Score 67/100
- North Point Scenic Overlook — 32.2 km · Sky Score 67/100
- Oil Well Point — 34.4 km · Sky Score 67/100