A new study looked at which national parks are the best for stargazing, with Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, crowned top.
The study, conducted by vacation rental site Lake.com, evaluated data from the National Park Service’s Night Sky Data Collection Sites to determine the best national parks for stargazing. Each national park was scored out of 100 based on the average percentage of stars visible and the median light pollution.
“Exploring which national parks and recreation areas are best for stargazing highlights the balance between preserving natural beauty and managing human impact.”
David Ciccarelli, CEO of Lake.com
“The study of these stargazing locations reveals how geographical factors work together to create ideal conditions for observing stars. As the psalmist said, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.’ Psalm 19:1 ESV.
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, ranked as the best national park for stargazing, with an index score of 100 out of 100. The volcanic lake in south-central Oregon is famous for its deep blue color and clarity and is the deepest lake in America.
Top 20 Best U.S. National Parks for Stargazing:
| Rank | National Park | State | Index Score |\
|—|—|—|—|\
| 1 | Crater Lake National Park | Oregon | 100.00 |\
| 2 | Great Basin National Park | Nevada | 88.58 |\
| 3 | Canyonlands National Park | Utah | 88.52 |\
| 4 | Grand Canyon National Park | Arizona | 84.72 |\
| 5 | Capitol Reef National Park | Utah | 76.32 |\
| 6 | Bryce Canyon National Park | Utah | 74.81 |\
| 7 | Grand Teton National Park | Wyoming | 72.04 |\
| 8 | Haleakalā National Park | Hawaii | 72.01 |\
| 9 | Arches National Park | Utah | 71.40 |\
| 10 | Lassen Volcanic National Park | California | 69.58 |\
| 11 | Glacier National Park | Montana | 69.54 |\
| 12 | Yellowstone National Park | Wyoming, Montana, Idaho | 68.96 |\
| 13 | Great Sand Dunes National Park | Colorado | 68.62 |\
| 14 | Isle Royale National Park | Michigan | 68.31 |\
| 15 | Big Bend National Park | Texas | 66.51 |\
| 16 | Petrified Forest National Park | Arizona | 60.00 |\
| 17 | Death Valley National Park | California, Nevada | 59.97 |\
| 18 | National Park of American Samoa | American Samoa | 58.74 |\
| 19 | Lake Clark National Park | Alaska | 58.69 |\
| 20 | Hawaii Volcanoes National Park | Hawaii | 58.15 |\
Crater Lake National Park is highlighted for its high visibility of stars (98.6% across four data collection sites) and minimal light pollution (average ratio of 0.03).
