Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve

Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve was the first designated International Dark Sky Reserve in the United States, covering nearly 1,500 square miles of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and surrounding wilderness. The Stanley Basin sits at the center, a high mountain valley surrounded by the Sawtooth Range with virtually no permanent artificial light sources within the reserve boundary. The Milky Way is visible on most clear nights from June through September, and the combination of mountain scenery and genuine darkness makes this one of the premier stargazing destinations in the country.