As discussed in a previous article, we looked at statistics of all state parks of all 50 US States, and classified each state park to the appropriate Bortle Scales 1, 2, and 3 to determine the darkest skies. In this article, we will delve into the Bortle 3 sites in more detail, including which parks in each state classify as Bortle scale 3, whether they have camping, and more information.
Statistic | How Many States |
Total Bortle 3 Sites | 503 |
States With At Least 1 Bortle 3 Site | 45 |
States With At Least 10 Bortle 3 Sites | 22 |
States With At Least 20 Bortle 3 Sites | 5 |
State | Level 3 Bortle Parks | State Parks |
Alaska | 13 | Dry Creek State Recreation Site, Birch Lake State Recreation Site, Harding Lake State Recreation Area, Anchor River State Recreation Area, Deep Creek State Recreation are, Captain Cook Recreation area, Clam Mulch State Recreation Area, Thumb Cove State Marine Park, Ernest Gruening State Historical Park, Independence Mine State Historical Park, Chilkat State Park, Jack Bay State Marine Park, Montana Creek State Recreation Site |
Alabama | 5 | Roland Cooper State Park, Paul M. Grist State Park, Chattahoochee State Park, Bladon Springs State Park, Blue Springs State Park |
Arizona | 9 | Slide Rock State Park, San Rafael State Natural Area, Rockin’ River Ranch State Park, Red Rock State Park, Oracle State Park, Lyman Lake State Park, Kartchner Caverns State Park, Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park, Cattail Cove State Park |
Arkansas | 14 | Arkansas Post Museum, Cane Creek State Park, Crater of Diamonds State Park, Daisy State Park, Davidsonville Historic State Park, Devils Den State Park, Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park, Lake Charles State Park, Louisiana Purchase State Park, Marks Mills Battleground State Park, Moro Bay State Park, Mount Magazine State Park, Poison Springs Battleground State Park, White Oaks Lake State Park |
California | 23 | Andrew Molera State Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Austin Creek State Recreation Area, Jug Handle State Natural Reserve, Wassama Round House State Historic Park, Malakoff Digins State Historic Park, Pacheco State Park, Russian Gulch State Park, Sonoma Coast State Park, South Yuba River State Park, Mendocino Headlands State Park, MacKerricher State Park, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Hearst San Simeon State Park, Harmony Headlands State Park, Garrapata State Park, Emerald Bay State Park, Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park, D. L. Bliss State Park, Clear Lake State Park, California State Mining and Mineral Museum Park Property, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, Butte City Project Park Property |
Colorado | 11 | Eleven Mile State Park, Elkhead Reservoir State Park, Harvey Gap State Park, Jackson Lake State Park, Highline Lake State Park, Lathrop State Park, Mancos State Park, North Sterling State Park, Rifle Falls State Park, Spinney Mountain State Park, Yampa River State Park |
Florida | 14 | San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park, T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Torreya State Park, Troy Spring State Park, Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park, Manatee Springs State Park, Long Key State Park, Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park, Lafayette Blue Springs State Park, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Indian Key Historic State Park, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Bohia Honda State Park, |
Georgia | 6 | Hamburg State Park, Kolomoki Mounds State Park – Museum, Moccasin Creek State Park, Providence Canyon State Park, Reynold’s Mansion on Sapelo Island, Seminole State Park, |
Hawaii | 10 | Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park, Wailua River State Park, Mākena State Park, Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area, Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park, Kekaha Kai (Kona Coast) State Park, Kīholo State Park Reserve, Lava Tree State Monument, MacKenzie State Recreation Area, Kaʻena Point State Park |
Idaho | 13 | Winchester Lake State Park, Trail of the Coeur d\’Alenes, Round Lake State Park, McCroskey State Park, Massacre Rocks State Park, Land of the Yankee Fork State Park, Lake Walcott State Park, Lake Cascade State Park, Heyburn State Park, Farragut State Park, Dworshak State Park, Coeur d\’Alene\’s Old Mission State Park, Bruneau Dunes State Park |
Illinois | 6 | Anderson Lake SFWA, Apple River Canyon State Park, Jim Edgar Panther Creek, Ray Norbut State Fish & Wildlife, Sam Dale Lake, Siloam Springs State Park |
Iowa | 13 | Honey Creek State Park, Okamanpedan State Park, Lake Darling State Park, Lake of Three Fires State Park, Lake Wapello State Park, Loess Hills State Forest, Nine Eagles State Park, Prairie Rose State Park, Preparation Canyon State Park, Rock Creek State Park, Springbrook State Park, Stephens State Forest, Yellow River State Forest |
Kentucky | 1 | Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park |
Kansas | 6 | Cheney State Park, Prairie Dog State Park, Tuttle Creek Lake, Crawford State Park, Eisenhower State Park, Glen Elder State Park |
Louisiana | 6 | Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, North Toledo Bend State Park, Palmetto Island State Park, South Toledo Bend State Park, Cypremort Point State Park, Chemin-A-Haut State Park |
Maine | 9 | Lamoine State Park, Camden Hills State Park, Damariscotta Lake State Park, Fort Point State Park, Lake St. George State Park, Swan Lake State Park, Warren Island State Park, Reid State Park, Popham Beach State Park |
Maryland | 2 | Wolf Den Run State Park, Point Lookout State Park |
Massachusetts | 3 | Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest, Lake Dennison Recreation Area, Mohawk Trail State Forest |
Michigan | 13 | Aloha State Park, Bewabic State Park, Fishermans Island State Park, Harrisville State Park, Hartwick Pines State Park, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, Indian Lake State Park, Ludington State Park, McLain State Park, Old Mission State Park, Palms Book State Park, Port Crescent State Park, Sleeper State Park |
Minnesota | 16 | Bear Head Lake State Park, Buffalo River State Park, Fort Ridgely State Park, Franz Jevne State Park, Glacier Lakes State Park, Gooseberry Falls State Park, Kilen Woods State Park, Lac qui Parle State Park, Lake Bronson State Park, Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park, Maplewood State Park, McCarthy Beach State Park, Munson Lake State Park, St. Croix State Park, Schoolcraft State Park, Tettegouche State Park |
Mississippi | 4 | Clark Creek Natural Area, Holmes County State Park, Leroy Percy State Park, Tishomingo State Park |
Missouri | 21 | Big Oak Tree State Park, Grand Gulf State Park, Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park, Mark Twain State Park, Montauk State Park, Onondaga Cave State Park, Pershing State Park, Prairie State Park, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, Van Meter State Park, Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Battle of Athens State Historic Site, Boones Lick State Historic Site, Dillard Mill State Historic Site, Locust Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site, Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site, Osage Village State Historic Site, Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site, Towosahgy State Historic Site, Union Covered Bridge State Historic Site |
Montana | 18 | Brush Lake State Park, Rosebud Battlefield State Park, Cooney State Park, Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park, Sluice Boxes State Park, Tower Rock State Park, Lewis & Clark Caverns State Parks, Elkhorn State Park, Lost Creek State Park, Granite Ghost Town State Park, Beavertail Hill State Park, Placid Lake State Park, Thompson Falls State Park, Yellow Bay State Park, Big Arm State Park, Finely Lake State Park, Wild Horse Island State Park, West Shore State Park |
Nebraska | 3 | Chadron State Park, Indian Cave State Park, Fort Robinson State Park |
Nevada | 8 | Walker River State Recreation Area, South Fork State Recreation Area, Lahontan State Recreation Area, Kershaw-Ryan State Park, Fort Churchill State Historic Park, Cave Lake State Park, Cathedral Gorge State Park, Buckland Station |
New Hampshire | 16 | Beaver Brook Falls Wayside, Cardigan Mountain State Park, Eisenhower Memorial Wayside, Flume Gorge, Forest Lake State Park, Franconia Notch State Park, Gardner Memorial Wayside Park, Governor Wentworth Historic Site, Milan Hill State Park, Pillsbury State Park, Sculptured Rocks Natural Area, Wadleigh State Park, Weeks State Park, Wellington State Park, Wentworth State Park, Winslow State Park |
New Mexico | 14 | Sugarite Canyon State Park, Santa Rosa Lake State Park, Rockhouse State Park, Percha Dam State Park, Pecos Canyon State Park, Oliver Lee Memorial State Park, Navajo Lake State Park, Morphy Lake State Park, Manzano Mountains State Park, Fenton Lake State Park, Eagle Nest Lake State Park, Caballo Lake State Park, Cerrillos Hills State Park, Bluewater Lake State Park |
New York | 17 | Allegany State Park, Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park, Bowman Lake State Park, Camp Hero State Park, Cedar Island State Park, Gilbert Lake State Park, Glimmerglass State Park, Highly Flow State Park, Krig Point State Park, Long Point State Park – Thousand Islands, Max V. Shaul State Park, Montauk Point State Park, Oquaga Creek State Park, Pixley Falls State Park, Robert G. Wehle State Park, Southwick Beach State Park, Whetstone Gulf State Park |
North Carolina | 2 | Pettigrew State Park, New River State Park |
North Dakota | 4 | Cross Ranch State Park, Fort Ransom State Park, Pembina Gorge State Recreation Area, Lake Sakakawea State Park |
Ohio | 3 | Lake Hope State Park, Jesse Owens State Park, Jackson Lake State Park |
Oklahoma | 9 | Beavers Bend State Park, Foss State Park, Great Plains State Park, Little Sahara State Park, Osage Hills State Park, Quartz Mountain State Park, Robbers Cave State Park, Roman Nose State Park, Salt Plains State Park |
Oregon | 50 | Bandon State Natural Area, Beachside State Recreation Site, Bob Straub State Park, Beverly Beach State Park, Bullards Beach State Park, Arcadia Beach State Recreation Area, Alfred A. Loeb State Park, Cape Arago State Park, Casey State Recreation Site, Clyde Holliday State Recreation Site, Crissey Field State Recreation Site, Deschutes River State Recreation Area, Detroit Lake State Recreate Area, Devils Punch Bowl State Natural Area, Ecola State Park, Driftwood Beach State Park, Fall Creek State Recreation Area, Farewell Bend State Recreation Area, Geisel Monument State Heritage Site, H. B. Van Duzer Forest State Scenic Corridor, Hilgard Junction State Recreation Area, Illinois River Forks State Park, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park, La Pine State Park, Lake Owyhee State Park, Lost Creek State Recreation Site, Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site, Nehalem Bat State Park, Neskowin Beach State Park, Oceanside Beach State Park,, Ona Beach State Park, Oswald West State Park, Otter Point State Recreation Area, Paradise Point State Recreation Area, Port Orford Heads State Park, Viento State Park, Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, Seal Rock State Recreation Site, Shore Acres State Park, Seven Devils State Recreation Site, Starvation Creek State Park, Winchuck State Recreation Site, William M. Tugman State Park, The Cove Palisades State Park, Sunset Bay State Park, Succor Creek State Natural Area |
Pennsylvania | 17 | Worlds End State Park, Upper Pine Bottom State Park, Trough Creek State Park, Simon B. Elliot State Park, Raymond B. Winter State Park, Poe Valley State Park, Poe Paddy State Park, Parker Dam State Park, Mount Pisgah State Park, McCalls Dam State Park, Little Pine State Park, Kinzua Bridge State Park, Elk State Park, Cook Forest State Park, Clear Creek State Park, Chapman State Park, Block Moshannon State Park |
South Carolina | 3 | Battle of Rivers Bridge State Historic Site, Hampton Plantation State Historic Site, Hunting Island State Park |
South Dakota | 19 | Rocky Point Recreation Area, Bear Butte State Park, Custer State Park, Shops Canyon Recreation Area, Angostura State Recreation Area, West Pollock Recreation Area, Lake Hiddenwood Recreation Area, Okobojo Point Recreation Area, Spring Creek Recreation Area, Cow Creek Recreation Area, Fisher Grove State Park, Burke Lake Recreation Area, Union Grove State Park, Lake Thompson Recreation Area, Lake Poinsett Recreation Area, Lake Cochrane Recreation Area, Pickerel Lake Recreation Area, Sica Hollow State Park, Roy Lake State Park |
Tennessee | 4 | Big Hill Pond State Park, Mousetail Landing State Park, Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park, Pickett CCC Memorial State Park |
Texas | 10 | Garner State Park, Hill Country State Natural Area, Lake Colorado City State Park, Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, Meridian State Park, Mission Tejas State Park, Old Tunnel State Park, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Possum Kingdom State Park, South Llano River State Park |
Utah | 10 | Escalante Petrified Forest, Fremont Indian State Park and Museum, Gunlock State Park, Huntington State Park, Millsite State Park, Palisade State Park, Red Fleet State Park, Scofield State Park, Heritage Park |
Vermont | 25 | Allis Interactive State Park, Amity Pond Natural Area State Park, Bomoseen State Park, Branbury State Park, Brighton State Park, Button Bay State Park, Camp Plymouth State Park, College State Park, Crystal Lake State Park, DAR State Park, Elmore State Park, Emerald Lake State Park, Green River Reservoir State Park, Half Moon Pond State Park, Jamaica State Park, Kingsland Bay State Park, Lake Shaftesbury State Park, Lake St. Catherine State Park, Little River State Park, Lowell Lake State Park, Molly Stark State Park, Silver Lake State Park, Townshend State Park, Underhill State Park, Woodford State Park |
Virginia | 4 | Natural Bridge State Park, James River State Park, Holliday Lake State Park, Grayson Highlands State Park |
Washington | 23 | Schafer State Park, Steamboat Rock State Park, Steptoe Butte State Park, Steptoe Battlefield State Park, Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park, Wanapum Recreation Area, Willie Keil’s Grave State Park Heritage Site, Rainbow Falls State Park, Rasar State Park, Rockport State Park, Lewis & Clark Trail State Park, Lake Wenatchee State Park, Lake Easton State Park, Ike Kinswa State Park, Griffiths-Priday State Park, Grayland Beach State Park, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, Fort Simcoe Historical State Park, Fort Columbia Historical State Park, Alta Lake State Park, Bogachiel State Park, Conconully State Park, Curlew Lake State Park |
West Virginia | 11 | Audra State Park, Babcock State Park, Blackwater Falls State Park, Cabwaylingo State Forest, Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Cathedral State Park, Cedar Creek State Park, Fairfax Stone State Park, Greenbrier State Forest, Lost River State Park, Moncove Lake State Park |
Wisconsin | 6 | Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area, Copper Falls State Park, Governor Thompson State Park, Whitefish Dunes State Park, Wildcat Mountain State Park, Yellowstone Lake State Park |
Wyoming | 7 | Sinks Canyon State Park, Keyhole State Park, Hot Springs State Park, Hawk Springs State Recreation Area, Glendo State Park, Curt Gowdy State Park, Buffalo Bill State Park |
The only states without Bortle 3 sites are: Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, New Jersey, and Rhode Island
The state with the most Bortle 3 sites is: Oregon with 50.
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