Here is a list of the Top 6 Dark Sky Sites within the state of Oregon that are well recognized as good locations to visit and explore. There are other locations that we could have added, but want to make sure that the spots aren’t too clustered together geographically. Each of these spots are really fun places to visit and we tried to not cluster them together.

There are a few reasons why we did not choose a coastal area, which include the difficulty in finding a spot to observe, easier spots to observe in, and wanting to highlight different areas of the state. Finding a good spot can be tough, so here are some places to look at.

For a complete and full list of unique astronomy sites in the Pacific Northwest, check out our map for a complete list, as these are just some of the available options.

Cottonwood Canyon State Park

Bortle Scale: Black Zone
The 2nd largest Oregon State Park has much to offer those looking for a place far away from Portland to be away from the crowds and be outdoors, but close enough for a quick drive. Cottonwood Canyon State Park has been identified a great place for dark skies, which is why the Oregon chapter of the IDA has taken a real effort to designate the park a Dark Sky Site by the IDA. As of the time of this writing, Cottonwood Canyon State Park is not yet a Dark Sky designated place, but the park is dark enough to be designated and does have occasional star parties. There are miles of hiking trails and great camping in the area. Its remoteness makes the park a great place to visit. For more information on Cottonwood Canyon, check out this article. The site is nearly as dark or darker than Prineville Reservoir and other dark sky sites.

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

Bortle Scale: Black Zone
The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is a great place to go visit with the whole family as during the day, there are wonderful hikes and sights to see in the landscape. At the national monument, there are 3 units with a visitors center, and a plethora of hikes and fossils and views to keep everyone happy. Moreover, when the sun sets, the area is so far from cities that the night sky is amazing!

Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge

Bortle Scale: Black
One of the darkest skies in the state of Oregon, the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge was established in 1936 to provide a range for remnant antelope herds.  With the only options being backpacking, the refuge is a haven for dark skies. Activities include hiking unmaintained trails, bicycling, fishing, limited hinting, and wildlife observation/photography. Camping is free and as the site is so far away from lights, the night sky in the area is nearly pristine .

Steens Mountain Wilderness

Bortle Scale: Black Zone
With more than 170,200 acres of wilderness, the Steens Mountain Wilderness is an amazing hidden gem. The area is on the western area of the Alvord desert, which means that one should be prepared to pack everything they need. However, the area has amazing opportunities for camping, picknicking, bicycling, hiking, hunting, sightseeing, soaring, and exploring. There are numerous hot springs along the base of Steens Mountain, including Alvord Hot Springs. This lack of development has meant that the skies over the wilderness are absolutely a go to destination for astronomy.

Prineville Reservoir State Park

Bortle Scale: Black
Designated as an IDA Dark Sky Park in 2021, Prineville Reservoir State Park is a fantastic place to go stargazing. The site is well within distance of Portland, OR and other major cities, plus as part of the IDA Dark Sky program, the State Park is continuing to manage the light pollution in a way that has actually seen a measurable decrease. This means that the skies have become even darker, and with the site hosting star parties before COVID-19 happened, this site is extremely active and accessible.

Walla Walla Mountains

Bortle Scale: Black
Spanning 3 states, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, the Walla Walla Mountains are amazing public lands with more than 3.3 million acres. Sites such as the Wallowa Lake State Park make amazing places to camp and view the stars in this expansive range. During the day there are more than 715 miles of trails in the Umatilla National Forest and 2,700 miles in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, which means that there is a trail for everyone at all ages. This area has a few cities dispersed throughout the surrounding areas for supplies, which means that finding a spot away from light pollution could be tricky at times, but not too hard.

For dark sky sites closer to Portland, check out this article and make sure to come back next week for more great content like this. Connect with us on our social media such as Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on new articles, events, and more.