Dark Sky Parks
Blue Ridge Parkway
Asheville, North CarolinaBortle 2 Best in Fall
Truly dark sky, with the zodiacal light clearly visible.
The Blue Ridge Parkway stretches 469 miles along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, passing through some of the darkest skies in the eastern United States along the way. Multiple pull-offs and overlooks give access to ridge-top terrain with unobstructed views across mountain valleys. Fall is the premier season, combining dark sky conditions with the Appalachian leaf color that draws millions of visitors to the region each year.
What's here
On the map
What to bring
Our picks for a good night under the stars.
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