Dark Sky Locations

With our unique desert landscape, towering mountains, and year-round clear skies, southern Arizona is a world-renowned location for stargazing and dark-sky adventures. Many communities, parks, and reserves throughout the area offer spectacular views of the night sky, with many being officially certified and recognized by DarkSky International.

Looking to venture out to see the stars or go on a night hike? Be sure to check out the following Dark Sky Places and professional Observatories that offer access to visitors.

Tubac:

• In Tubac, we can still experience the awe of a starry sky and the splendor of the Milky Way. This feature was a determining factor for Tubac to be designated an International Dark Sky Community (IDSC) on 3 September 2024, among 8 in Arizona and 52 in the whole world. 
  • https://yourscvcc.org/our-precious-dark-sky/

Bisbee:

• Bisbee (Bisbee Dark Skies) was designated an International Dark Sky Community (IDSC) in Southern Arizona on 19 November 2024.
  • https://www.discoverbisbee.com/

Oracle:

• Oracle State Park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2014.
  • https://azstateparks.com/oracle/
  • Contact: ssutton@azstateparks.gov, mbain@azstateparks.gov.
  • Night hikes in Arizona
    • https://azpbs.org/trailmixd/2024/10/stellar-hikes-night-hikes-in-arizona/

Eloy:

• Picacho Peak State Park
  • azstateparks.com/picacho/
  • Contact: efinch@azstateparks.gov

Tucson:

• Catalina State Park
  • https://azstateparks.com/Catalina
• Saguaro National Park – East & West
  • https://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm

Tumacácori:

• Tumacácori National Historic Park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018.
  • https://www.nps.gov/tuma/index.htm

Kartchner:

• Kartchner Caverns State Park was designated a Dark Sky Park in 2017.
  • https://azstateparks.com/Kartchner

Bowie:

• Diamond Mountain Retreat Center
  • https://www.diamondmountain.org/
  • Contact: admin@diamondmountain.org

Ajo:

• Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
  • https://www.nps.gov/orpi/index.htm

Silver City, NM:

• Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary (CCIDSS) in the Gila National Forest is the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary located on National Forest System lands and also in North America. It is also one of only 14 certified DarkSky Sanctuaries in the world. International Dark Sky Sanctuaries are lands possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights. CCIDSS is in New Mexico, but just 6 miles East of the Arizona border.
  • https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gila/recarea/?recid=82479
  • https://www.nmdarksky.org/cosmic/cosmic
  • https://www.newmexico.org/listing/cosmic-campground/1952/

F. L. Whipple Observatory

• https://pweb.cfa.harvard.edu/facilities-technology/cfa-facilities/fred-lawrence-whipple-observatory-mt-hopkins-az

Kitt Peak National Observatory

• https://kpno.noirlab.edu/plan-your-visit

Mt Graham International Observatory

• https://mgio.arizona.edu/
• https://mgio.arizona.edu/visiting-public

Mt Lemmon

• Mt Lemmon, University of Arizona Sky Center
  • https://skycenter.arizona.edu/

We update this page as we find out about new, promising locations in Southern Arizona. Please visit DarkSky.org to find other Dark Sky Places near you.