The Darkest Skies
in Texas
We've analyzed scientific data across 421 locations in Texas to find the ultimate destinations for deep-space observation.
National Park Service Champions
Gas Pad
Devils River State NA
"Sky quality measurements were recorded at Gas Pad in Devils River State NA on 9/1/2018. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.96 SQM."
Tennis Court
Carlsbad Caverns NP
"Zodiacal light strong early, with Venus, but light dome of Whites City most prominent feature. Fairly clear at first and breezy, wind dies down somewhat but sky appears to get somewhat hazy. Few high clouds early, none later. SQM 21.76 1st, 21.65 last . ZLM 7.3 (Dan), 7,1 (Kate) later. Whites City appears to diminsh significantly late, El Paso seen faintly, reflecting off clouds early. Direct lights of Carlsbad seen from this vantage point, Whites City blocked by hill. Drilling rig and two bright lights to the southeast. Otherwise pretty dark, zodiacal band seen through Cancer, gegenschein seen fairly easily near local midnight, but no band east of there. Bortle 3 because of light domes but zenith very dark, with appropriate shielding of distant lights an excellent place for visual observing. Seeing fair, lots of twinkling."
Guadalupe Peak
Gudalupe Mtns NP
"From mountain summit, El Paso/Jaurez largest light dome, smaller ones from Carlsbad and a few other towns. Still a very high quality sky, with very little insult to pristine conditions. Windy, dust blowing to south, but Milky Way shows excellent detail on this low airglow night. Problems setting up equipment with connection to computer, clouds over El Paso linger, battery dies after only one set."
Campsite 14
Black Gap Wildlife Mgmt Area
"Sky quality measurements were recorded at Campsite 14 in Black Gap Wildlife Mgmt Area on 3/2/2021. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.73 SQM."
Skyline Drive
Davis Mountains State Park
"Sky quality measurements were recorded at Skyline Drive in Davis Mountains State Park on 4/23/2020. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.62 SQM."
Big Shell
Padre Island NS
"Sky quality measurements were recorded at Big Shell in Padre Island NS on 3/28/2009. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.55 SQM."
Mt Fowlkes
McDonald Observatory
"Sky quality measurements were recorded at Mt Fowlkes in McDonald Observatory on 8/5/2015. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.51 SQM."
Crater Rim
Capulin Volcano NM
"Sky quality measurements were recorded at Crater Rim in Capulin Volcano NM on 10/17/2004. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.45 SQM."
LBJ Ranch airstrip
Lyndon B Johnson NHP
"Stability Good, steady at 45. Transparency moderately low. Bortle - lit clouds, multiple domes, a few globulars visible, maybe 4-5."
Little Rock
Enchanted Rock SP
"few cirrus at start, gradually increasing and reflecting light pollution."
Certified Dark Sky Parks
Bee Cave
The community of Bee Cave, Texas, requires developments to comply with the 5 Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.
Official Details →Big Bend National Park
This U.S. national park renowned for its hiking and backpacking trails nestles in the “Big Bend” of the Rio Grande river, which marks the boundary between…
Official Details →Big Bend Ranch State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park is a ~355,000 acres state park in the “Trans-Pecos” region of far west Texas, U.S. It extends along the U.S.
Official Details →Black Gap Wildlife Management Area
Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (BGWMA or WMA) encompasses approximately 103,000 acres with relatively little development. The property is administered by…
Official Details →Black Mesa State Park
Located in the remote panhandle of Oklahoma, Black Mesa State Park is a landscape of stark, arid beauty, defined by the geological cap of black lava rock…
Official Details →Blanco, Texas
The City of Blanco is located in Blanco County in central Texas, U.S., in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. The Texas Hill Country is a geographic region…
Official Details →Buffalo National River
The Buffalo National River is a free-flowing stream passing through towering picturesque bluffs, forests, and fields in North Central Arkansas in the Ozark…
Official Details →Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas
Known for its limestone hills, oak woodlands, and wide-open skies, Liberty Hill has long cherished its rural roots and starlit nights.
Official Details →Chiricahua National Monument
Chiricahua National Monument is a 48.5 square kilometer IUCN category V protected area located in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona.
Official Details →Clayton Lake State Park
Clayton Lake State Park, located in Union County, New Mexico, is a place of rolling grasslands, volcanic rocks, and sandstone bluffs on the edge of the American…
Official Details →Copper Breaks State Park
Copper Breaks State Park, located in northern Texas some 21km south of the town of Quanah, contains two small lakes and 16 km of trails. “Breaks” refers to the…
Official Details →Devils River State Natural Area — Del Norte Unit
Named for the whitewater Devils River that runs through it, the Devils River State Natural Area — Del Norte was once part of a large working ranch…
Official Details →Dripping Springs, Texas
A formerly sleepy ranching town settled before the U.S. Civil War, Dripping Springs experienced massive growth in the last decade. The growth has been fueled by…
Official Details →Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, named for its giant pink granite dome rising from the Llano Uplift, spans the border between Gillespie County and Llano…
Official Details →Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. State of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 10,530. Founded in 1846 and…
Official Details →Horseshoe Bay, Texas
Horseshoe Bay is a community of 3,500 people located in the Hill Country along the shore of Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, some 50 miles west of the state capital…
Official Details →Jonestown, Texas
The City of Jonestown, Texas, known as the “Gateway to the Hill Country,” is located on the shores of Lake Travis, 25 miles northwest of Austin in Travis County.
Official Details →Lakewood Village, Texas
On April 26, 1977, Lakewood Village was officially incorporated as The Town of Lakewood Village, Texas. Located in the northern part of the Dallas/Ft.
Official Details →Liberty Hill, Texas
Known for its limestone hills, oak woodlands, and wide-open skies, Liberty Hill has long cherished its rural roots and starlit nights.
Official Details →Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
The LBJ Ranch District at Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park is located 60 miles northwest of San Antonio, Texas just off Texas State Highway 290 along…
Official Details →Milton Reimers Ranch Park
Milton Reimers Ranch Park’s open space and reserve land, with almost 3 miles of continuous frontage along the Pedernales River, is the largest parkland…
Official Details →Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monuments is a 436- hectare (1,077-acre) historic site in central New Mexico, U.S., managed by the National Park Service.
Official Details →Shield Ranch Barton Creek
Shield Ranch Barton Creek is located 18 miles west of downtown Austin, Texas, USA, nestled in the Hill Country of Central Texas. It is a 6,400…
Official Details →South Llano River State Park
South Llano River State Park is situated on approximately 1,050 hectares (2,600 acres) of land on the Edwards Plateau just east of the eponymous South Llano…
Official Details →UBarU Camp and Retreat Center
The UBarU Camp and Retreat Center UBarU is a 57.5-hectare (142-acre) property in southwest Gillespie County, Texas, owned and operated by the Unitarian…
Official Details →Wimberley Valley, Texas
The cities of Wimberley and Woodcreek (collectively known as “Wimberley Valley”), are neighboring incorporated municipalities in Hays County, Texas, U.S.
Official Details →Browse Cities in Texas
Need hyper-local data? We have detailed scientific reports for 421 unique locations across the state.