New Mexico skies are famous and beloved. Daily, we are treated to blue skies, magical sunrises, and dramatic orange sunsets. Turns out, our night skies are pretty special too, especially if you get to view them away from the intrusive lights of the city. Five sites in New Mexico have been certified as “dark” places by the International Dark-Sky Association. As well as being up to 99 percent free of light pollution, visitors to Dark Sky Parks are treated to ranger-led night sky programs that blend science, nature, and history. Craving some New Mexico stargazing? Head out to these amazing places ASAP:

1. Capulin Volcano National Monument
Capulin Volcano National Monument/Facebook
If you have been to northeastern New Mexico, you have probably seen Capulin Volcano, even if from a distance. It's an amazing natural wonder during the day. At night it becomes even more wonderful with nearly pristine sky-watching conditions.
View the Milky Way spread out over Capulin.
National Park Service
Capulin Volcano National Monument, New Mexico 88418, USA
Dark Sky
Park rangers at Capulin frequently hold "Park After Dark" events where they discuss the mysteries of the dark skies over New Mexico. Check the Capulin Monument Facebook page for upcoming star parties and dark sky events.
2. Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Ollie Miller/Flickr
We aren't the first people to watch the skies. Evidence suggests that the ancient people who lived at Chaco watched the sun, moon, and stars too. Their skyward observations are reflected in the layout of their buildings, at their ceremonial sites, and in the petroglyphs they created.
Horsehead Nebula taken from Chaco Observatory
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico, USA
National Park Service
Today, Chaco's night skies and the park's observatory, draw visitors from around the world who come to see sky views rarely seen elsewhere. This wonder-filled dark-sky historical monument in New Mexico is a stargazer's best friend.
3. Clayton Lake State Park
roawr123/TripAdvisor
Clayton Lake State Park is most well known for its preserved dinosaur footprints. At night, though, this park becomes a haven for New Mexico stargazers.

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Did you know that Clayton Lake has an observatory?
Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways, 141 Clayton Lake Rd, Clayton, NM 88415, USA
essayru (Sasha)/Flickr
The observatory's computer-operated telescope is cleverly tucked into a 12 x 16-foot building with a retractable roof. The telescope is connected to a remote television monitor so groups can see the starry images. This is one gorgeous little New Mexico state park you can't miss if you're hoping to catch a meteor shower or eclipse.
4. Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Jasperdo/Flickr
These mission ruins became a Dark Sky Park in 2016. The monument at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument contains the ruins of three Spanish missions. They were built in the early 17th Century when European missionaries came to spread Christianity to the native people living in the area.
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Quarai Unit, 122 Manzano Quarai Rd, Mountainair, NM 87036, USA
Amy M Howard/Flickr
The dark skies at Salinas allow for stunning night photographs. It is close enough to Albuquerque that it still gets some low-level light intrusion, but still, the park is a great place to explore the night sky. The park service often presents viewing parties and presentations on how our night sky differs from what the natives saw before the Spanish conquest.
5. Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary
Randy Weber/Hike Arizona
The Cosmic Campground is 3.5 acres of prime stargazing, with 360-views of the night sky. Nestled down a dirt road in the Gila National Forest, the closest (significant) artificial light is more than 40 miles away, in Arizona. There are no ranger programs here, but local groups do hold star viewing parties at the campground.
Cosmic Campground, 33.4792463100206, -108.92268895185092, Glenwood, NM 88039, USA
National Park Service
If you are expecting the lush green camping often associated with Gila camping, don't. The primitive campground is a flat, dirt site. Campers set up a short walk from the main sky-viewing area which has hardened observation pads where people can set up telescopes. To keep the area viewing-friendly, headlights and white light are not permitted after dark. The campground is located 8 miles north of Alma, NM off NM Highway 180.

We know there are a lot of stargazers and amateur astronomers out there. Where is your favorite place to watch New Mexico’s stunning dark skies?

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More to Explore

New Mexico Stargazing

Tori Jane | June 21, 2022

Where is the best stargazing in New Mexico? 

New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment, and that’s no accident: this southwestern state is an amazingly magical (enchanting!) place full of wonder, intrigue, fascinating history, and, of course, ridiculously beautiful places. In a lot of these beautiful places in New Mexico, you’ll find some excellent world-class stargazing skies thanks to just how dark and remote some parts of the state are. Some of our favorite spots for stargazing in the Land of Enchantment include most of our stunningly wonderful New Mexico state parks, National Parks in New Mexico, and the majority of awe-inspiring campsites (especially the dispersed ones). For the best stargazing in New Mexico possible, look for the darkest skies in New Mexico, which leads us to the next point:  

Where can I go star gazing in New Mexico?  

Okay, so, where specifically are all the best spots for star gazing in New Mexico? There are a lot, so we’ll name just a few of the most beloved ones. Capulin Volcano National Monument isn’t just a geologically significant place – it's also an excellent spot for stargazing as its skies are some of the darkest in the nation. Another must-do when it comes to night sky watching in New Mexico is Clayton Lake State Park, which has the distinguishment of being New Mexico’s first official Dark Sky Park.  

Where are all the best dark skies in New Mexico?  

Not able to make it to Capulin or Clayton? Live a little further from those places? Not to worry – there are plenty more dark New Mexico skies to go around. The Fort Union National Monument is one of our newer designated Dark Sky zones, having been officialized in 2019. Then, be sure to explore the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, located within the Estancia Basin, and the Valles Caldera National Preserve is another excellent must-go spot for dark skies in New Mexico. It can be found in the Jemez Mountains and is comprised of 89,000 incredible acres of the most beautiful wilderness in New Mexico. Milky Way viewing is notably excellent here, and it attracts astrophotographers left and right, year in and year out.  

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