State Research Hub

The Darkest Skies
in Wyoming

Access the definitive rankings of the top 10 National Park Service Champions and International Dark Sky Parks in Wyoming. Explore our comprehensive directory of 17 Wyoming cities to find the perfect dark sky spot with verified scientific data.

National Park Service Reports

Scientific Reports

The darkest verified spots in the state. Pro Tip: Dark sky reports reveal their best details through precision optics.

West Road

Devils Tower NM

21.96 SQM

Bortle Class 1

Local Relevance

For observers in Wyoming, West Road serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.

"Sky quality measurements were recorded at West Road in Devils Tower NM on 9/6/2005. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.96 SQM."

Observation Date

9/6/2005

Elevation

1297m

Zenith Brightness

21.58

Directions

Source: NPS

Frog Rock

Yellowstone NP

21.89 SQM

Bortle Class 2

Local Relevance

For observers in Wyoming, Frog Rock serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.

"Computer issues only allowed one set of data to be taken for the night. SQM 21.6."

Observation Date

8/29/2008

Elevation

2139m

Zenith Brightness

21.65

Directions

Source: NPS

Missouri Butte 1

Devils Tower NM

21.87 SQM

Bortle Class 1

Local Relevance

Wyoming enthusiasts typically use the instrumented readings from Missouri Butte 1 to calibrate their deep-sky expectations for the area.

"Sky quality measurements were recorded at Missouri Butte 1 in Devils Tower NM on 7/20/2006. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.87 SQM."

Observation Date

7/20/2006

Elevation

1645m

Zenith Brightness

22.06

Directions

Source: NPS

Ruby Point

Fossil Butte NM

21.81 SQM

Bortle Class 1

Local Relevance

The scientific findings at Ruby Point provide Wyoming residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.

"Smoke plume to west, some high cirrus, transparency fair. Second set best of night"

Observation Date

8/18/2006

Elevation

2442m

Zenith Brightness

21.8

Directions

Source: NPS

Group site at Split Mountain

Dinosaur NM

21.72 SQM

Bortle Class 3

Local Relevance

For observers in Wyoming, Group site at Split Mountain serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.

"Horizon blocked. Borlte 3 due to city lights beyond canyon wall."

Observation Date

7/17/2009

Elevation

1463m

Zenith Brightness

22.09

Directions

Source: NPS

Hospital Hill

Fort Laramie NHS

21.71 SQM

Bortle Class 4

Local Relevance

For observers in Wyoming, Hospital Hill serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.

"Some equipment issues during the night with both camera sets that were being used (ML4 and IMG2). There are lots of local glare sources from nearby ranches and NPS maintenance facilities. Huge railyard facility for transporting coal located to the west near Guernsey creates its own light dome from the excessive yard lights (very tall light pole installations). The town of Fort Laramie has a few bad sections of lighting that are readily visible from the park. Even with all of this surrounding light pollution, the night skies here are very good. Rich detail visible in the Milky Way (which extends almost horizon to horizon). A new "load-out" rail facility is being built almost adjacent to the park boundary on the NE."

Observation Date

5/2/2013

Elevation

1301m

Zenith Brightness

21.97

Directions

Source: NPS

Albright Pulloff

Grand Teton NP

21.71 SQM

Bortle Class 5

Local Relevance

The scientific findings at Albright Pulloff provide Wyoming residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.

"SQM 21.7. Headlights reflecting off truck camper."

Observation Date

7/15/2010

Elevation

1988m

Zenith Brightness

22.06

Directions

Source: NPS

Union Pass

Shoshone NF

21.58 SQM

Bortle Class 1

Local Relevance

For observers in Wyoming, Union Pass serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.

"Sky quality measurements were recorded at Union Pass in Shoshone NF on 8/21/2017. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.58 SQM."

Observation Date

8/21/2017

Elevation

2841m

Zenith Brightness

21.48

Directions

Source: NPS

Calhoun Hill

Little Bighorn Battlefield NM

21.58 SQM

Bortle Class 3

Local Relevance

Wyoming enthusiasts typically use the instrumented readings from Calhoun Hill to calibrate their deep-sky expectations for the area.

"Billings and Sheridan light domes visible but not bright. Overall the direct glare was distracting, but blocking this allowed for dark adaptation. Milky Way was easily seen with detail in sagittarius, and dust lanes. Visible from tail of Scorpius in South to Cassiopeia. SQM 21.64 at 0130; SQM-L 21.63 at 0152."

Observation Date

5/7/2013

Elevation

1010m

Zenith Brightness

21.92

Directions

Source: NPS

Water Storage

Agate Fossil Beds NM

21.53 SQM

Bortle Class 3

Local Relevance

For observers in Wyoming, Water Storage serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.

"Very dark sky. The Milky Way can be seen all the way up to about 10 degrees above the horizon."

Observation Date

9/10/2018

Elevation

1379m

Zenith Brightness

21.62

Directions

Source: NPS

International Dark Sky Community

The Town of Breckenridge sits at 9,603 feet above sea level in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, just west of the Continental Divide…

Official Details →

The Forest Observer's Staging Advice

Gearing Up for Wyoming Nights

"Staging for Wyoming nights requires a versatile kit that can handle anything from high-altitude thinning air to the humid coastal gradients found across the state."