These 4 Arizona Cities Have Some Of The Darkest Skies In The Country

Arizona is known for its beautiful landscapes but did you know our amazingly dark skies are another reason to love our state? That’s right! Since so much of our state is rural and wild, you’ll find plenty of areas to enjoy the dark sky for checking out the constellations, astrophotography, or watching the planets slowly orbit through a telescope.

If you’re not quite sure where to start looking for super dark skies, the easiest thing to do is just step outside. But if you’re looking for places to visit—or even live—then you’ll want to check out the International Dark Sky Association, which lists tons of places across the world that are actively working to reduce light pollution so you can enjoy a dark night sky. Let’s take a look at some of the places you’ll find here in Arizona!

Coconino National Forest/Flickr

Flagstaff had the honor of becoming the state’s first International Dark Sky Place back in 2001. That makes sense since it is home to the famous Lowell Observatory and a naval observatory.

Town of Fountain Hills Arizona/Facebook

Fountain Hills is the most recent place in Arizona that has earned the Dark Sky designation with its efforts to reduce light pollution despite sitting at the edge of a large metropolitan area.

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CEBImagery/Flickr

There’s no shortage to the beauty of this favorite Arizona city and the dark skies just make this area even more alluring. Sedona received its Dark Sky recognition in 2014 and we are so glad it did.

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Scott Taylor/Flickr

A short drive from Sedona is the Village of Oak Creek, a town also surrounded by stunning beauty. The super dark skies here were recognized in 2016 and are just another reason to visit the Verde Valley!

Diana Robinson/Flickr

CEBImagery/Flickr

The Grand Canyon, Oracle State Park, Kartchner Caverns State Park, and Wupatki National Monument are just a few that have been added to the list.

You can find all of Arizona’s Dark Sky places and communities, as well as those in other states, by visiting darksky.org.

Prefer to see Arizona during the day? We understand! If you’re looking for places to add to your 2018 bucket list, be sure to read The 12 Best Places To Visit In Arizona In 2018 for some amazing suggestions!