< dark sky directory

OK dark sky places

List of darkest parks and places in Oklahoma 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.

DARK PARK BORTLE
Alabaster Caverns 2
Beavers Bend State Park 3
Black Mesa State Park 1
Clayton Lake 2
Foss State Park 3
Gloss Mountain State Park 2
Great Plains State Park 3
Little Sahara State Park 3
McGee Creek State Park 2
Osage Hills State Park 3
Ouachita National Forest
Quartz Mountain State Park 3
Robbers Cave State Park 3
Roman Nose State Park 3
Salt Plains State Park 3
Talimena State Park 2


Light pollution map w/ Bortle

On the left is a 2023 satellite image of OK 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.

OK night sky light pollution map