Stargazing Tips For Dark Sky Lovers

While it should come as no surprise that Utah has been tapped by DarkSky International as the most overachieving stargazing state in the U.S. (it’s home to the planet’s highest concentration of certified Dark Sky Parks and Communities), you may be surprised by our top pick for starry-night appreciation here. While crowds flock with their scopes, pointers, and constellation charts to Zion, Bryce Canyon, and other famed Mighty 5ers spread across southern Utah, you’ll find us hiding out at far-lesser-known Dead Horse Point State Park — home to some of the best star parties and programs in the Beehive State.

Just 30 miles from Moab, Dead Horse Point is a celestial dark horse perched on an especially scenic overlook of the Colorado River. A local favorite spot for hikers and cyclists by day, the nightly show here is legendary even by Utah stargazing standards.

C&I spoke with the park’s star-program specialist, ranger Koye Willis, about what makes Dead Horse Point such a celestial standout in an area full of them.

“It’s a very special place to stargaze,” the naturalist told us in the May/June 2025 “Best of the West” issue of C&I.

Here, Willis expands on her favorite star programs at the park, how to have this whole place practically to yourself in the mesmerizing late hours, and why virtually any time is a good time to put one of Utah’s twinkliest gems on the nightly radar. But mind the scorpions.

Cowboys & Indians: Dead Horse Point State Park is tucked between world-famous neighbors Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and is just 30 miles from southern Utah’s adventure epicenter of Moab. Does the park have its own claim to fame we should know about?

Koye Willis: Yes. From what I can see record-wise, Dead Horse Point was the first Utah State Park to receive its designation as an International Dark Sky Park. That happened on June 1, 2016, for anyone who missed it.

C&I: In a state known for incredible night skies and minimal light pollution, Dead Horse is a celestial sleeper hit. What makes it such a great place to stargaze?

Willis: One of the things we’re proudest of here is the sheer number of dark-sky-related programs the park provides for visitors who love to look at the stars and appreciate these special places at night. We offer star parties, full-moon hikes, and planet walks, as well as some great nocturnal-animal- and creature-specific programs — such as bat talks and scorpion hunts.

 C&I: Is there an optimal time to enjoy these programs?

Willis: It depends on the specific program, many of which are given throughout the year but are more frequent between March and October. Full-moon hikes happen around the full moon, of course, while star parties are done closer to new moon, or times when the moon isn’t as bright. Some programs, such as our scorpion “hunts,” are seasonal — May through September — because scorpions require certain temperatures before they come out. Our popular telescope star parties run March through November.

We also host an astronomy festival each year and partner with the other spots and national parks in the area to provide a three-day event where people can learn about dark skies and enjoy more opportunities to peer through telescopes and chat with folks who have a lot of knowledge about dark skies and space. This usually takes place around the new moon in June.

 C&I: Any quick tips when planning to arrive for these events? Should we be signing up for them in advance, particularly during the busier summer season?

 Willis: There’s no advance sign-up required or added cost for any of these programs here at present — beyond the park’s standard vehicle entrance fee of $20 and camping fees [refer to ReserveAmerica]. I’d suggest planning on getting here at least 20 minutes before the program begins to avoid any sort of rush. We’re quite close to Moab but still pretty remote. For full-moon hikes and scorpion hunts, definitely wear closed-toe shoes appropriate for dirt trails with loose rocks — and critters.

Other tips would be to check weather beforehand so you can be prepared for the heat or cold, and also to check moon phases. If stargazing is the priority, you’ll want to avoid visiting during the full moon because the moon’s light will wash a lot of the starlight out. That’s the main reason we hold a lot of our stargazing events during the new moon — when we don’t have to worry about moonlight overpowering the stars.

Finally, people need to be aware that the park is closed after 10 p.m. to day-use visitors. For stargazing, this is especially pertinent during the summer, when it doesn’t get dark here until around that time — so you’ll have to plan to either do your stargazing outside of the park afterwards, or visit on a day that has a night-sky program, which often allows visitors to stay in the park a little longer outside of that 10 p.m. park closing time. A great way around that is to book a campsite here, which allows overnight visitors to stargaze in the campground late into the night.

 C&I: Which dark-sky programs are your “bestsellers”?

 Willis: The most popular programs are the star parties with scorpion hunts, with full-moon hikes being a close second. We usually try to post specifics on our website a month in advance about what days and times the programs will be held.

C&I: Do you have a personal favorite time at the park for stargazing? When would you tell a friend to come?

 Willis: Honestly, I’d say no matter what time of year you can get here, you’re going to see some pretty amazing night skies. For the best views of the Milky Way, the summer and fall are a great time to come. Autumn and spring usually have the best weather — and they also provide day-trippers more time to stargaze in the park than during the summer. Just be aware that those periods often draw some of the larger crowds.

C&I: What do you especially love about stargazing at Dead Horse Point? What makes this state park such a stargazing standout even in a state filled with Dark Sky Parks?

 Willis: I’d say just witnessing the joy and excitement on people’s faces when they see the Milky Way or Saturn for the first time — or like they’ve never seen it before — never gets old. I love sharing these incredible nightly skies here with visitors who don’t get to see stars like this wherever they’re from. We usually have quite temperate weather here, too, which makes it easier to stargaze all year long. I’ve learned so much about the night sky, constellations, planets, and nocturnal animals while working at Dead Horse Point. With that knowledge, my favorite thing of all is sharing that with everyone.

For optimal stargazing at Dead Horse Point, reserve a site at one of the parks two campgrounds — Kayenta or Wingate (the latter is open year-round) — up to four months in advance through ReserveAmerica, and explore some of the area’s best hidden hiking trails and singletrack here during the day. Time your visit for the Perseid (peaking August 12 – 13, 2025) or Leonid (mid-November) meteor showers, when southern Utah stargazing really hits its stride.

Read our “Best Stargazing in the West” story from C&I’s May/June 2025 “Best of the West” issue here and “10 Tips for a Stellar DarkSky Camping Experience” here.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy Koye Willis.