The Darkest Skies
in Louisiana
Access the definitive rankings of the top 10 National Park Service Champions and International Dark Sky Parks in Louisiana. Explore our comprehensive directory of 106 Louisiana cities to find the perfect dark sky spot with verified scientific data.
National Park Service Reports
The darkest verified spots in the state. Pro Tip: Dark sky reports reveal their best details through precision optics.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Chickasaw NRA
Local Relevance
For observers in Louisiana, Buckhorn Parking Lot serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"At night, sky right above the horizon looks bright in all direction. Light pollution extends to about 60 degrees above the horizon."
Lance Rosier Unit
Big Thicket N PRES
Local Relevance
For observers in Louisiana, Lance Rosier Unit serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"Lots of trees blocking the horizon. Clear sky. There is an oil and gas field at the end of the road."
Horn Island
Gulf Islands NS
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Horn Island provide Louisiana residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"On Horn Island a half mile east of the ranger station. Mid island with a break in the high dunes to the north and some low dunes to the south just blocking the direct glare from the ships in the gulf. Very clear night with 1% cloud cover. Some low smoke to the north over the shipping yard. Some low clouds and haze to the southwest. Air is steady and seeing is good. Milky Way is easily seen at the end of astronimical twilight with Scutum and Sagittarius star clouds visible. Dust lanes ad some detail evident to the south up to Cygnus overhead. Most apparent light dome is the ship yard to the north in Pascagoula. 50 degrees across and 40 degrees wide. East is dark wuth some haze along the horizon. To the south, 6 large ships are off shore with lights on. To the west there is another lighdome easily visible, but not as intense as the ship yard."
Certified Dark Sky Parks
International Dark Sky Association certified locations. Visiting a park? Don't forget a red-light flashlight to preserve the dark.
Bee Cave
The community of Bee Cave, Texas, requires developments to comply with the 5 Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.
Official Details →Buffalo National River
The Buffalo National River is a free-flowing stream passing through towering picturesque bluffs, forests, and fields in North Central Arkansas in the Ozark…
Official Details →Jonestown, Texas
The City of Jonestown, Texas, known as the “Gateway to the Hill Country,” is located on the shores of Lake Travis, 25 miles northwest of Austin in Travis County.
Official Details →Lakewood Village, Texas
On April 26, 1977, Lakewood Village was officially incorporated as The Town of Lakewood Village, Texas. Located in the northern part of the Dallas/Ft.
Official Details →Liberty Hill, Texas
Known for its limestone hills, oak woodlands, and wide-open skies, Liberty Hill has long cherished its rural roots and starlit nights.
Official Details →Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area
Pickett-Pogue International Dark Sky Park is composed of 1,618 hectares of land jointly managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and…
Official Details →Shield Ranch Barton Creek
Shield Ranch Barton Creek is located 18 miles west of downtown Austin, Texas, USA, nestled in the Hill Country of Central Texas. It is a 6,400…
Official Details →Stephen C. Foster State Park
Stephen C. Foster State Park is a small (32-hectare; 80-acre) property in the vast 1,627 km2 (402,000-acre) expanse of the surrounding Okefenokee National…
Official Details →Gearing Up for Louisiana Nights
"Because Louisiana contains multiple distinct climate zones, ensure your observation kit includes flexible thermal management and multi-stage dew protection."
The Louisiana Field Kit
Designing a field kit for Louisiana requires understanding the state's specific regional atmospheric patterns and the contrast between its varied observation hubs.
Browse Cities
Find detailed scientific reports for 106 unique locations across Louisiana.