Mammoth Lakes, United States
By Robson Hatsukami Morgan
Almost 40 million people live in California and in most places, city lights are likely to drown out the beauty of the night sky. With all of the bright lights, you may be surprised to learn that there are lots of places to view the stars in the Golden State. Whether you’re trying to put together a romantic date night, looking to do some night-time photography, or are just hoping to find the best places to see the milky way, stargazing does not disappoint. Here are 7 locations in California where the sky will outshine any city’s twinkling lights.
7 Best Locations to Stargaze in California (North to South)
But First...
Before we get into the details for each location, let's quickly go over a couple of tips that will help you find the stars!
How to Find Dark Skies Near You
Are you not located in California? Don’t see an area close to you listed above? No problem! Dark Site Finder has a light pollution map that will allow you to locate the darkest skies in your area. Areas that show a covering of red, orange, or yellow have too much light to see the stars in all their glory. Check out areas that are blue, grey, or black for the best results.
Milky-Way Season
Now that you know where to go see stary skies, let’s talk about when to go. That’s right, we are going to cover how to see the biggest nighttime attraction - the Milky-Way.
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, the best time to view the Milky-Way is going to start in June and will end around early August. In general, the Milky-Way is most visible in midsummer. During this time, the galaxy is visible in the sky for longer periods of time and the more favorable weather conditions make it easier to see. For more information regarding when the best time of year to see the milky-way is, please refer to Dark Site Finder’s article on the subject. This article goes into depth on some of the challenges you may face while trying to view the Milky-Way, as well as discussing the angle and position of the galaxy. Another great article on the Milky-Way was published by the Lonely Speck. Here, they discuss various apps and techniques used to capture the stars in all their glory. Both of these are incredibly helpful resources, especially if you are planning on doing astrophotography!
7 Best Locations to Stargaze in California
Special thanks to Matt Haynie for letting us link his image of Mount Shasta in our article
Mt Shasta / Klamath National Forest
Mount Shasta and the surrounding Klamath and Shasta-Trinity National Forests are all great places to stargaze. The areas closest to town will have some light pollution, but the light levels are still comparably low to other locations in California. If you want even darker skies, you can drive 10 - 15 minutes out of town and stay at a campsite. Nothing beats camping with the rainfly off in the summer and falling asleep under a canvas of stars.
If you are interested in astrophotography in the Shasta area, Matt Haynie offers a one on one workshop on how to shoot astrophotography. Learning about the region and the craft in-person can make a huge difference in your experience. You can check out Matt's Instagram page for his contact information. While you're there, take a look at his beautiful gallery of Northern California.
If you're looking for places to camp in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, check out the USDA Forest Service Website. And if you're looking for daytime activities, you can visit the Shasta Visitor Center's Activities page for great ideas on your next trip!
Special thanks to Arwin Levinson for letting us link her image of Lassen National Park in our article
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Moving south-east, Lassen National Park sits in an even darker location. Typically known for its geothermal activity, Lassen is another incredible place to view the stars. It is one of the least visited National Park’s in California, making this an ideal location to visit in the summer when the Milky-Way is most visible and the crowds at other National Parks are large. There is no shortage of awe-inspiring locations to take photos from as the area is filled with beautiful mountains, trees, and lakes.
Lassen National Park has ranger-lead programs at night to help you view the stars. In addition to this, the National Park hosts the “Lassen Dark Sky Festival” in August. For more information on stargazing in Lassen Volcanic National Park, please see the page on the National Park Service website.
To view campsite availability in Lassen National Park, check out NPS's reservation page. If you're looking for things to do during the day, you can see hiking, fishing, and other activities here.
Yosemite's iconic landscapes are an extraordinary foreground for astrophotography.
Yosemite National Park (and the surrounding region)
Yosemite National Park is one of the most iconic National Parks in the United States. Known for its beautiful waterfalls, giant sequoias, and granite cliffs, this National Park does not disappoint. Because the park is very crowded in summer, you may consider picking up some backcountry permits in order to escape the crowds and see the stars better.
In Yosemite Valley, the park hosts “Stars Over Yosemite” once a year. In addition to this, rangers host astronomy walk and talks at regularly scheduled intervals. Check out the National Park Service webpage for more information on these events.
The Southern Yosemite Visitors Bureau put together a great page about the best places in Yosemite and the surrounding areas to view the stars here. Their list includes other amazing locations in Madera County like Bass Lake and Fresno Dome.
Check out the Mono Lake Committee's video on the history of this incredible location.
Inyo National Forest and Mono Lake
Inyo National Forest consists of mostly high desert conditions. The area provides ample opportunity to view the stars due to its high elevation and dryer conditions. Inyo National forest also contains The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.
One of the best campsites in the area is Grandview Campground, which is popular among stargazers due to its high elevation and distance from city lights. The sites are first come first serve and cost $5 per night (or you can donate more). There are only 23 campsites open though, so make sure to come early in the day, or during the week.
Another great location within Inyo is the area surrounding Mono Lake. This ancient lake has some incredible calcium-carbonate formations that jut out of the water. It also doesn’t hurt that the peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range are the backdrop for any photos you take. Like the majority of the Inyo area, Mono Lake sits at a high elevation, around 6,300 feet. The thinner atmosphere allows for clearer pictures. You may want to avoid the lake in later summer though, as the Alkali Flies that are crucial to the local ecosystem are abundant.
For more camping in the region, check the Inyo National Forest page on camping.
Moro Rock. Sequoia National Park, United States
By Cedric Letsch
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Stargaze in a land of giants at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. These adjacent parks lie in the mountains east of Fresno at the southern tip of the Sierra Nevada Range. There are plenty of day hikes, backpacking trails, and groves of sequoias to explore while you wait for nightfall. The National Park Service at Sequoia and Kings Canyon has put together a nifty page on all of the activities you can do in the park.
Stop by Wuksachi Lodge for a free astronomy program led by Sequoia Parks Conservancy interpreters. Like Lassen National Park, Sequoia hosts its own Dark Sky Festival a couple of days out of the year. For more information, check out Delaware North’s Page on nighttime events in the parks.
To view campsite availability in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, check out the National Park Service's reservation page.
Death Valley National Park, United States
By Michal Janek
Death Valley National Park
The largest National Park in the lower 48, Death Valley, boasts an incredible 3.4 million acres of land within its borders. Not only is this National Park huge, but it's also extremely dark, earning it the "Gold Tier" title from the International Dark-Sky Association.
Though any location in the park should yield amazing results for stargazing, the four most coveted areas to visit are the Ubehebe Crater, Harmony Borax Works, Badwater Basin, and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Death Valley's wide-open spaces and pristine skies earned it the title of "world's largest international dark sky park".
While you wait for night to fall, you can do these daytime activities. To view campsite availability in Death Valley, check out the National Park Service's reservation page. Depending on the time of year, some campgrounds may be closed due to extreme heat. In these cases, the park has alternative lodging recommendations.
Joshua Tree National Park, United States
By Brent Cox
Joshua Tree National Park
Another great stargazing location in Southern California is Joshua Tree National Park, located east of Los Angeles. The distinctive rock features throughout the park make it a haven for rock climbers who enjoy bouldering on the rocks around campsites.
You probably don't think of plant life when it comes to deserts, but the area is actually full of life. The park's namesake, the Joshua tree, can be found standing tall amongst a surprising amount of vegetation. Part of the Yucca family, its distinctive spiky and twisted branches are supported by an extensive root system that allows the tree to be one of the faster-growing desert species. They even flower!
Joshua trees make for some well-needed shade for people and animals during the day, but at night they make for excellent foreground subjects. Make sure to bring a headlamp or flashlight with a red light setting. This ensures that you are not blinding yourself or others with bright lights, while still ensuring you stay safe as you walk around through the dark. Bumping into a cactus or snake at night would not be fun! For more information on nighttime activities, the National Park's Service webpage put together a detailed guide for stargazing in the region.
There are over 500 campsites in Joshua Tree, and even more in the surrounding areas. Like Death Valley, some campsites close in the summer due to heat. To see campsite availability at Joshua Tree National Park, check out the National Park Service's reservation page. If you're visiting in the summer to catch the Milky Way in its prime, I would suggest staying in a hotel nearby in 29 Palms to avoid the heat (Trip Advisor has a great list of local places to stay). Most hotels have a pool, which is really nice to cool off in in the mid-day heat.
Ottowa, Canada
By Nick Reynolds
Now... Go Enjoy!
I hope that learning about some of these locations inspires you to start thinking about places close to home that you can visit to see the stars. Have you been to any of these parks? Let me know down below! And if you do plan on going out and stargazing, I'd love to know how your trip turned out!
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