Dark Sky Places in AZ

List of darkest places in Arizona for stargazing, astrophotography, astrotourism, star parties, and astronomy club events. Often these are national and state parks and forests that are either remote or "protected" against light pollution.

National and state parks often let you stay overnight under the stars, hence their motto - "Half the park is after dark".

Bortle scale for sites is given where known. Also ask your local astronomy club for guidance as they will know the darkest places.

NAME BORTLE
Alamo Lake State Park 2
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
Big Park
Camp Verde
Chiricahua National Monument
Coconino National Forest
Coronado National Forest
Cottonwood
Flagstaff
Flagstaff Area National Monument 2
Grand Canyon National Park 1
Kaibab National Forest
Kartchner Caverns State Park 2
Oracle State Park 2
Organ Pipe Cactus National Park
Petrified Forest National Park 2
Pipe Spring National Monument
Prescott National Forest
Saguaro National Park
Sedona
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Tonto National Forest
Tonto Monument National Monument 2
Tumacacori National Park 2
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Wupatki National Monument


Light Pollution Map w/ Bortle

On the left is a 2019 satellite image of AZ showing light pollution from the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center. On the right is a 2015 light pollution map showing sky brightness at the zenith from World Atlas data. Colors correspond approximately to the Bortle scale. Use as a guide to find the darkest sky locations near you.

AZ night sky light pollution map