There are 14 US states with State Parks that are Bortle 1 scale, which is the darkest that the skies could be. Of these 14 states, 2 states have at least 5 Bortle 1 sites and only 1 state has at least 10 Bortle 1 sites. Please note that this is a snapshot in time, as size and darkness change over time. But these dark sky parks are great places to go and have a great potential to have nobody around for miles.

We did an article on the largest 5 bortle 1 state parks in the US, which this is a sister article for. Always be safe when camping and going to new places. Make sure to check out each location and research best practices and available before just visiting.

1. Painted Rocks State Park, Montana – 23 acres
   The state park received its name from the green, yellow and orange lichens which cover the grey and black rock walls of the granite and rhyolite cliffs.
2. Muskallonge Lake State Park, Michigan – 217 acres
   Muskallonge Lake State Park is situated between the shores of Lake Superior and Muskallonge Lake and the area is well known for its forests, lakes and streams. Muskallonge Lake State Park was the former site of, a lumbering town and an Indian encampment. 
3. Hell Creek State Park, Montana – 337 acres
   Hell Creek Recreation Area is a public recreation area managed by the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana occupying 337 acres on the south side of Fort Peck Lake twenty miles due north of the community of Jordan, Montana
4. Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve, California – 689 acres
   Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve contains the beautiful Frank and Bess Smithe Grove of redwoods. The site was formerly a private resort. The park features a 60-foot waterfall, picnic area, and fishing and swimming in the south fork of the Eel River.

Here’s a map with each of these parks. Notice how they are all in the central or western part of the US. Thats because these states are larger in size and have fewer populations, in more centralized locations.

For more information about the darkest state parks in the US, make sure to check out our article and check out our article on other dark sky state parks here.