Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary
Pristine sky, where the Milky Way casts shadows on the ground.
The Oregon Outback is the largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world, covering 2.5 million acres of high desert in south-central Oregon. The nearest town is Paisley, population under 300. There is almost no artificial light for a hundred miles in any direction. Bortle 1 skies mean the Milky Way casts a visible shadow on pale ground, the zodiacal light extends from horizon to horizon, and the gegenschein is bright enough to locate without effort. This is as dark as the sky gets anywhere in the contiguous United States.
What's here
On the map
What to bring
Our picks for a good night under the stars.
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Nearby in Oregon
Antelope International Dark Sky Community
Tiny ranching community with Bortle 1 skies.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park
Remote canyon on the John Day River.
Crater Lake National Park
The deepest lake in the U.S. under dark skies.