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 — 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