The Perseid meteor shower, which peaked last week, has many a camper wanting more and ready to admit their addiction to stargazing. Good news: there are ample opportunities all over the U.S. for fantastic stargazing throughout the year.

Before you book your next stargazing camping trip, it’s good to know what it means for a destination to have International Dark-Sky Park status. According to the International Dark-Sky Association, “an International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) is a land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights…” Lands are rigorously protected from light pollution for environmental protections, scientific and educational opportunities, and public enjoyment.

There are dozens of destinations in the United States with IDSP status, but here at Colorado Teardrop, we tend to be more familiar with the best of the western United States, starting with our home state. Read on to begin planning your trip.

Colorado
Best Pick: Jackson Lake State Park 

There are currently eight Colorado destinations designated as INDP in Colorado. Jackson Lake State Park, located about an hour and a half from Denver near Fort Morgan, is one of the state’s best kept stargazing secrets. The bonus in this park is the reservoir that frequently reflects the massively visible Milky Way. Check out this great article, 15 Places to Stargaze in Colorado. While not all places are INDP destinations, all offer some pretty amazing opportunities to ponder a blanket of stars.

Arizona
Best Pick: Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon my not instantly come to mind when you think about stargazing, but it should. Having put great effort into IDSP status and preserving the natural resource of darkness, this national park holds a thrilling allure for night sky watchers. Great views can be had just about anywhere in the park, but Moran Point and Lipan Point on the South Rim are notably two of the best places to contemplate the cosmos. For more Arizona stargazing spots, go here.

California
Best Pick: Death Valley National Park

Officially deemed an official Gold Tier IDSP, Death Valley has some of brightest and most clear skies for the some of the best stargazing and astro-photography in the country. While days can be agonizingly hot, the night sky is ample reward. Get the deetz in this great article on Death Valley stargazing.

New Mexico
Best Pick: Gila National Forest

Named the darkest place in the United States, the Gila National Forest sits at least 40 miles away from the nearest light source, making it the creme-de-la-creme for stargazers. New Mexico is home to at least six dark sky destinations – check them out here.

Utah
Goblin Valley State Park

Another great IDSP site is Goblin Valley State Park in Utah, which is named for its eerie rock formations that look supernatural under shimmering night skies. If you can’t make it to Goblin Valley, don’t fret. Utah is a stargazing mecca with great opportunities at Canyonlands, Zion National Park, and Capital Reef, just to name a few. For more Utah stargazing opportunities, look here.

Starwatching opportunities abound in the United States, so start planning your trip in time to check out the remaining celestial events of the year, like the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on August 11, 12, 13, the new moon on September 7, the Draconids meteor shower on October 7, or a near total eclipse of the moon on November 19.

To learn more about the stars, download one of these great apps for stargazing.