The Darkest Skies
in Tennessee
Access the definitive rankings of the top 10 National Park Service Champions and International Dark Sky Parks in Tennessee. Explore our comprehensive directory of 115 Tennessee 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.
Clingmans Dome
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Clingmans Dome provide Tennessee residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"Limiting magnitude found in Pegasus. Andromeda galaxy visible, M15 requires much effort. Milky Way detail easily detectable near zenith. Sky appeared noticeably brighter than previous nights, possibly due to some airglow. I also think it may have to do with the atmospheric clarity. All other nights contained some amount of possible light absorbing clouds. The second set of images from this night do contain some clouds, but the first set is clear."
Houchin's Field
Mammoth Cave NP
Local Relevance
Tennessee enthusiasts typically use the instrumented readings from Houchin's Field to calibrate their deep-sky expectations for the area.
"Dewfall occurred during data collection, however dew heater prevented lens fog. Multiple light domes evident from site, as well as a continuous glow along horizon in all directions. Airglow was present. Andromeda galaxy easily visible, Beehive (Pegasus) visible with medium effort. Prominent dust lanes in Milky Way visible at zenith, but not below ~50 degrees."
Cades Cove
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Local Relevance
For observers in Tennessee, Cades Cove serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"This was a very clear night. High humidity. Trees covered all of horizon from this site, but light scatter was evident to the north and west especially. LZM found in Pegasus. Moderate Milky Way detail was visible. M31 easily visible, M33 a difficult averted vision object. Airglow likely strong."
Log Cabins
Fort Donelson NB
Local Relevance
For observers in Tennessee, Log Cabins serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"Only fair transparency and seeing. Some fast moving clouds. High humidity. Milky Way visible from 20 degrees above north horizon. Great rift visible, Saggitarius cloud not easily visible, Scutum cloud not visible. Milky Way about 10-12 degrees wide, but faint and no fine details. To the NW a blue white light dome easily seen. Due East is the Clarksville lightdome almost 25 degrees high and 15 degrees wide. Core is bright. Adjacent to the light dome is a spotlight (which we determined was coming from the cemetary here in FODO park)."
Certified Dark Sky Parks
International Dark Sky Association certified locations. Visiting a park? Don't forget a red-light flashlight to preserve the dark.
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 →Cataloochee Ranch
Originally founded in 1933 and celebrating over 90 years of hosting guests as the first commercial tourism establishment in the Great Smoky Mountains, Cataloochee Ranch…
Official Details →Mammoth Cave National Park
Named for the enormity of its “mammoth” subterranean vaults and the unparalleled extent of its passages, Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest known cave…
Official Details →Obed Wild and Scenic River
Obed Wild and Scenic River consists of about 2,020 hectares of land within roughly 400 meters on either side of the Obed River in Tennessee, U.S.
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 →Stacy Park
Stacy Park is a 35-acre park located in Olivette, Missouri and is approximately 10 miles west of St. Louis City. Established in 1926, Stacy Park is one of five…
Official Details →The Swag
Perched almost a mile above sea level on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, The Swag is an acclaimed mountaintop luxury hotel…
Official Details →Gearing Up for Tennessee Nights
"The geographic diversity of Tennessee means your gear needs to be as adaptable as the terrain; we recommend a balance of heavy-duty optics and portable power for state-wide exploration."
The Tennessee Field Kit
Every dedicated Tennessee enthusiast eventually curates a setup that can scale from suburban driveways to the most isolated dark sites in the state.
Browse Cities
Find detailed scientific reports for 115 unique locations across Tennessee.