Clayton Lake State Park
Pristine sky, where the Milky Way casts shadows on the ground.
Clayton Lake sits on the high plains of northeastern New Mexico with Bortle 1 skies and almost no nearby light pollution for dozens of miles in any direction. The park is certified by DarkSky International and hosts a dedicated dark sky observing area. The same flat horizon that makes the plains feel empty during the day makes them exceptional for astronomy after dark, with the full Milky Way visible from horizon to horizon on moonless nights.
What's here
On the map
What to bring
Our picks for a good night under the stars.
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Nearby in New Mexico
Capulin Volcano National Monument
Gold Tier cinder cone with 360-degree rim views over the high plains.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
Gold Tier dark sky park and UNESCO site with archaeoastronomical great houses.
Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary
The Northern Hemisphere's first International Dark Sky Sanctuary, built for astronomy.