Where to go Stargazing in Utah

Photographing the stars is one of my favorite things to do. There’s something about seeing the star trails twisting through the sky or capturing the Milky Way that proves how complex this universe is. I’ve found seven of the best spots to go stargazing in Utah and share them with you so you can experience the wonders of outer space in the beauty of planet earth.

The stargazing locations are listed from northern Utah to southern Utah. If you have a spot you like to go to star gaze, share it in the comments below.

Read this article if you’re interested in photographing star trails.

Bonneville Salt Flats

The Bonneville Salt Flats in the west desert of Utah is other-worldly. There’s an expanse of salty ground that seems to go on for miles. And, there aren’t a lot of city lights that make it more challenging to see the stars. On a cloudless night, you can see the Milky Way.

HOW TO GET THERE

The Bonneville Salt Flats are located along I-80 on the western border of Utah-Nevada. That’s only a few miles east of Wendover. You can either park in the Salt Flats Rest Area just off the freeway, or take Exit 4 and follow the road north. Eventually, that road comes to an end at the Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway.

The end of the road has a small parking area. Don’t start driving on the salt flats unless you know your vehicle can overcome the soft terrain. Many cars have been stuck in the ground and had to call a tow truck. Simply park where you can (legally) and watch the stars from your car or walk out onto the Salt Flats.

NOTE: There is light pollution on the horizon toward Wendover, but you can still get a good view of the stars, Milky Way, Perseid Meteor Shower, satellites and much more.

Goblin Valley State Park

A big advantage of visiting Goblin Valley State Park is the unique landscape and the distance from major cities. Even from the campground I was able to enjoy laying on the picnic table (not the most comfy, but it worked) and watching the night sky.

I also happened to be visiting during a star party. A ranger pulled out a powerful telescope and I was able to see the rings of Saturn and the spot on Jupiter. It’s a fascinating sight for people of all ages.

HOW TO GET THERE

Goblin Valley State Park is along Highway 12, roughly 25 miles south of I-70 in central Utah. If you’re traveling from southern Utah or Capitol Reef National Park, it’s about 15 miles north of Hanksville, Utah. The signs are pretty clear and easy to follow.

NOTE: There is an entrance fee to access Goblin Valley State Park. You can park in places on the outskirts of the park to stargaze. Just don’t park illegally.

Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park is an International Dark Sky Park (2015). I’ve enjoyed stargazing in the park. But I’ll admit, on a moonless night it’s pretty dark and almost a little nerve-racking. It’s one of the best (and by best, I mean darkest) places to go stargazing in Utah.

Light pollution isn’t a problem in the park. In fact, I found that the canyon walls on either side of the road block the light. But it also blocks a full view of the night sky. Not that the canyon walls are narrow, they just tower above you.

HOW TO GET THERE

Capitol Reef National Park is west of Torrey, Utah, along Highway 24. You can also access it from I-70, also by taking Highway 24. The park has two sections. The southern section is a paved road and allows you to access some great hiking trails in Capitol Reef. The northern portion is great, but it requires a high-clearance vehicle to get out to the Cathedral Valley area. Both are great for stargazing – but don’t use the wrong vehicle and strand yourself.

NOTE: As a national park, there is an entrance fee.

Arches National Park near Moab

Several years ago, during President’s Day weekend, I was standing at Double Arch around 1 a.m. photographing the stars. It was a moonless night at the stars were magnificent. I was able to capture Jupiter moving through the night sky.

A few years later I hiked at night to Delicate Arch with a colleague and we captured the iconic arch with stars in the sky. Sadly, it was a near full moon that night, as you can tell from the shadows in the photo above. The moon can damper the stars and even prevent you from seeing the Milky Way. But it was amazing to hike the trail using the light of the moon.

HOW TO GET THERE

Arches National Park is located off of Highway 191 just north of Moab, Utah. It’s about 25 miles south of I-70. The park is accessible 24/7, so you can drive to any spot in the park and enjoy some stargazing. If you’re up for taking a 3-mile hike, venture up to Delicate Arch to then lay on the sandstone and watch the satellites float across the sky. Maybe even catch a glimpse of a shooting star.

NOTE: If you do hike at night, plan and prepare accordingly. There are some steep hikes in Arches National Park.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Since I was a child, my family has vacationed near Escalante, Utah, to attend their annual Pioneer Day Parade in July. The Barker Reservoir is well removed from major cities and their light pollution. It’s a perfect location for stargazing in Utah.

From our campground, I’ve laid on the table to to watch the stars. I’ve also visited the Upper Barker Reservoir to capture photos of the Milky Way. In fact, I was once photobombed by the International Space Station. True story.

HOW TO GET THERE

The dirt road leading up to the Barker Reservoir is roughly 5 miles west of Escalante. It’s about 44 miles east of Bryce Canyon National Park along Scenic Byway 12. The Upper Barker Reservoir and associated campground is 16 miles up a dirt road. You don’t necessarily need a high-clearance vehicle, but if it’s been raining, the road can be pretty muddy. So be careful.

While the reservoir makes a great open spot for stargazing, I’ve also enjoyed viewing it from the crossing of Twitchell Creek. Posey Lake is in the area as well and would offer some great views, too.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park has several great viewpoints/overlooks that are excellent for stargazing. In fact, the rangers offer star parties during the summer. Or you can plan to attend the Annual Astronomy Festival.

My son and I went to explore the night sky in Bryce Canyon a few weeks ago. We made the short hike to Sunrise Point and he watched the stars while I photographed them. There was a couple there who had set up a telescope and were getting some amazing views of the planets and stars. If you’re adventurous, you can hike down into the canyon so you can watch the night sky overhead, contrasted with the orange rocks and hoodoos.

HOW TO GET THERE

Bryce Canyon National Park is a popular spot along Utah’s Scenic Byway 12. It’s a four hour drive from Salt Lake City or just over two hours from St. George, Utah.

NOTE: Bryce Canyon is a national park, so there is an entrance fee.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

I’ve heard of many “space nerds” heading to Cedar Breaks National Monument for the ultimate stargazing in Utah experience. The high elevation combined with a clear sky makes it a magnificent experience.

Our family went camping in Cedar Breaks last summer. The campground host organized a star party. We were able to see the mountains on the moon close up, along with the rings of Saturn. We learned a lot about the Milky Way and numerous constellations, and had some amazing views of other galaxies and star clusters.

While I’ve always wanted a powerful telescope so I could see and photograph the planets and stars, this experience doubled my desire to get a telescope. That said, I still haven’t purchased one. But I hope to in the near future.

HOW TO GET THERE

Cedar Breaks National Monument is just east of Cedar City, Utah. It’s a 1.5 hour drive north along I-15 from St. George, Utah. It’s a four hour drive south along I-15 from Salt Lake City.

The park is not accessible in the winter, and depending on the weather, spring and fall may not be a great option for visiting. When we were camping there on July 4th weekend, the low temps at night were in the 30s.

NOTE: Since Cedar Breaks is a national monument, there is an entrance fee.

Summary and Tips

Whether you’re visiting a national park to do some stargazing, or driving off to a beautiful spot away from the light pollution, stargazing in Utah is therapeutic. There’s something about laying out under the stars to watch planes, satellites and maybe a shooting star overhead. For me, I love to photograph the stars and note the variety of colors each one offers.

If you have a spot you like to go stargazing, share it in the comments below.

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