There is something truly magical about staring up at the stars in perfect darkness and watching the Milky Way fully envelope your entire field of vision. One of our favorite things to do on stargazing trips is to lay out right at the edge of darkness and watch as the sky transitions from just stars to cloudy swirls of color as the galaxy comes out on full display.
It is almost as if someone is taking a paintbrush to the sky in real-time and adding color that you wouldn’t think possible in absolute darkness.
For anyone who has never been to a dark sky park, it is hard to describe just how alive the sky becomes as you’re able to see more detail in the skies than you’d ever think possible. And if you live in Oregon or anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, for that matter, you’re in luck, as the state is home to some of the largest swaths of dark skies in the nation.
The southeastern corner of the state is home to the largest dark sky sanctuary in the world at 2.5 million acres. Although its remote location makes it a trek to get to for most people, the juice is well worth the squeeze at the end of the day.
If you’re looking to head out on a stargazing adventure, here are seven of our favorite locations around Oregon.
Crater Lake
Crater Lake is Oregon’s only National Park, and its location in the remote south-central part of the state means there is very little light pollution to ruin that perfect photo of the Milky Way rising out of the lake’s deep blue waters.
This is a must-visit spot for astrophotographers as the lake creates a stunning foreground for night sky shots. There are plenty of spots to set up for an evening along the rim drive, and the area’s clear skies mean that you will usually be in luck with stargazing during the summer.
Pine Mountain Observatory
Located only 45 minutes from Bend, this is one of the most accessible places for A+ stargazing in the state. The working observatory is run by students from Oregon State University and is open to the public on select dates throughout the year.
You can typically find a number of telescopes set up outside the observatory as well as this is a very popular spot for local stargazers.
The observatory also has a campground nearby if you want to spend the evening gazing into the heavens.
Lake Alvord
Making a visit to Lake Alvord requires a long drive and proper gear to spend the night out on the playa, but the end result is well worth it. This dried-up lake bed is one of the most unique geological features in the entire state, and once the sun goes down, the entire desert is lit up by the galaxies overhead.
There is also a hot spring nearby, so you don’t have to rough it too much in this remote corner of the state.
Prineville Reservoir State Park
Prineville Reservoir State Park was Oregon’s first state park to earn the International Dark Sky Park designation.
With its convenient location near Bend, large campground, and ranger-led educational talks, this is a great place to bring the family and spend the weekend learning about the cosmos above.
Here, you’ll find features like red lights, which help preserve your night vision and minimal obstructions to the sky above. This is a great place to set up to watch the annual Perseids meteor shower that passes overhead each summer.
Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge
If you’re looking for a real adventure into the Oregon Outback, then it doesn’t get any more remote than Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge.
Here, you’re virtually guaranteed solitude, clear skies, and some of the darkest skies you’ll find anywhere in the nation as the refuge sits in the heart of the dark sky sanctuary.
As an added bonus, you can take a break from stargazing to soak in the area’s hot springs.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park
Cottonwood Canyon State Park is one of Oregon’s newest state parks and is the perfect place for a weekend getaway.
The park is home to wonderful swimming holes along the river, rugged canyon walls blocking out what little light pollution exists, and clear, dark skies that allow for spectacular star viewing.
Steens Mountain
Steens Mountain is generally regarded as the top stargazing spot in the entire state of Oregon. With its high prominence, long distance from any artificial light sources, and treeless summit, this is the perfect place to get commanding views of the entire night sky.
Getting to the top of the mountain is easy as there is a road (although it is only open for a few months out of the year) that will get you most of the way there.
During your visit, keep an eye out for the wild horses that call this area home, and stop for a family-style dinner at the nearby Frenchglen Hotel.
