The Darkest Skies
in Vermont
Access the definitive rankings of the top 10 National Park Service Champions and International Dark Sky Parks in Vermont. Explore our comprehensive directory of 8 Vermont cities to find the perfect dark sky spot with verified scientific data.
National Park Service Reports
The darkest verified spots in the state. Pro Tip: Dark sky reports reveal their best details through precision optics.
Park Road
Mont-Megantic National Park
Local Relevance
For observers in Vermont, Park Road serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"Fine detail in the Milky Way, with several easy deep-sky objects readily visible. The core of the Sherbrooke light dome is blocked by Mont Notre Dame and Mont Megantic creating a dark bowl like effect, excellent for visual observing. The light dome from Quebec city was visible low on the north horizon, parially blocked by trees, but still evident when dark adapted. No light dome was so bright as to interfere with dark adaptation."
Observatory
Mont-Megantic National Park
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Observatory provide Vermont residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"Clear, calm night with good transparency. A slight haze visible over the low horizon above Sherbrooke, and slight banding to the north."
Concord Bridge
Minute Man NHP
Local Relevance
For observers in Vermont, Concord Bridge serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"Fog in field lowland, possibly some patchy fog. Bright site"
Certified Dark Sky Parks
International Dark Sky Association certified locations. Visiting a park? Don't forget a red-light flashlight to preserve the dark.
AMC Maine Woods
The Appalachian Mountain Club’s (AMC) Maine Woods Initiative lands consist of over 400 square kilometers of land in central Maine, U.S. The park is at the edge…
Official Details →Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Within the North Woods of Maine, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument covers an area of approximately 87,500 acres within a larger landscape already…
Official Details →Gearing Up for Vermont Nights
"Staging for Vermont nights requires a versatile kit that can handle anything from high-altitude thinning air to the humid coastal gradients found across the state."
The Vermont Field Kit
Every dedicated Vermont enthusiast eventually curates a setup that can scale from suburban driveways to the most isolated dark sites in the state.
Browse Cities
Find detailed scientific reports for 8 unique locations across Vermont.