"Chad was an excellent guide for this activity. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. He took the time to show us and educate us on the constellations and their meanings. Well done!"
CHECK THE SKY
Cloud decides the night
—
Cloud over tonight’s dark hours
—
Moon tonight
—
Full darkness tonight
Forecast cloud for The Windows, Arches National Park · month-by-month sky · checked · data from MET Norway
Sky brightness
No published measurement
None published for this site. Checked October 2026.
Bortle class (est.)
Not estimated
No sky-brightness measurement has been published for the Windows section of Arches National Park. It lies inside Arches National Park, an International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International, 2019). No Bortle class is estimated from satellite data.
Dark-sky designation
International Dark Sky Park
It lies inside Arches National Park, an International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International, 2019). Source, checked October 2026.
Elevation
Not published
No elevation published for the Windows trailhead. Checked October 2026.
Best months for the Milky Way
May, Jun, Jul
Most core hours above 20° in full darkness, weighted by night cloud (core season May to July). Computed with JPL DE421 and NASA POWER, checked October 2026.
Moab · Bryce Canyon · Zion · Monument Valley
Utah Stargazing Tours: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Monument Valley
Utah's national parks are certified dark sky parks, and small operators run telescope nights at the edge of each: a night hike under the arches of Moab, a permanent stargazing site at Bryce, a quick session in East Zion and a tribal tour of Monument Valley.
From
US$175
per person
Free cancellation
- 4.9 / 5 46+ Reviews
- 10 Dark-Sky Places Compared on This Site
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Moab Astrophotography Hike Includes
Two hours and about 2 miles of walking. The Arches entry pass is not included.
Highlights
- A guided night walk from the Windows trailhead in Arches
- The Milky Way by eye, and through your own camera
- Tips from the guide on night photography
- Red LED headlamps and tripods lent
- A DSLR camera or lens to rent
What's Included
- Guide
- Walking tour
- Red LED headlamps
- Tripods (if needed)
How a Utah Stargazing Tour Works
From the meeting point to the telescopes or the trail.
Pick Your Park
Moab for Arches and the darkest desert sites, Bryce for its high plateau, Zion's east side for a quick hour, Monument Valley for a tribal tour.
Drive to the Meeting Point
Most Utah tours do not pick up from hotels: you drive to a trailhead or the operator's own site, sometimes with no phone signal, so download the directions.
Wait for the Dark
Start times move with the season. Several tours run only on the darker nights of the month.
Telescopes or Cameras
The guide points out the constellations, then lines up the telescopes, or shows you how to photograph the Milky Way.
Photo Gallery
Utah After Dark
Sandstone arches, canyon rims and the desert sky.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
What the Tour Brings, and What You Bring
Moab dark sky tours includes
- Red LED headlamps
From the tour's GetYourGuide listing, checked October 2026.
Bring
- Warm layers, a hat and gloves: the night is colder than the day, in every month
- A red light, or a phone set to a red screen: white light ruins your night vision
- Binoculars rather than your own telescope: they need no setup and show far more than your eyes
- Closed shoes for uneven ground in the dark
Month by month
When the Sky Is Darkest at Arches National Park
Night cloud, Milky Way core hours and the next new moon in each month, at the observing site.
| Month | Night cloud | Full darkness | Milky Way core | Next new moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 52% | 11.1 h | 0 h | 7 Jan 2027 |
| February | 53% | 10.2 h | 0 h | 6 Feb 2027 |
| March | 52% | 9 h | 0.1 h | 8 Mar 2027 |
| April | 52% | 7.6 h | 0.9 h | 6 Apr 2027 |
| May best | 48% | 6.1 h | 2.1 h | 6 May 2027 |
| June best | 35% | 5.2 h | 2.5 h | 4 Jun 2027 |
| July best | 54% | 5.7 h | 2.1 h | 3 Jul 2027 |
| August | 51% | 7.1 h | 0.9 h | 2 Aug 2027 |
| September | 35% | 8.6 h | 0 h | 29 Sep 2027 |
| October | 37% | 9.9 h | 0 h | 29 Oct 2027 |
| November | 44% | 10.9 h | 0 h | 9 Nov 2026 |
| December | 56% | 11.3 h | 0 h | 8 Dec 2026 |
Night cloud: NASA POWER climatology (CLOUD_AMT_NIGHT), January 2001 to December 2025, at the observing site's grid cell (1819 m). Darkness and Milky Way hours: computed for 2027 with JPL DE421 via Skyfield (sun more than 18° below the horizon; galactic centre at least 20° up). No night temperatures shown: site elevation not published. Checked October 2026.
What you will see
The Sky Over Arches National Park, Month by Month
Computed star charts for the observing site on new-moon nights, at the hour the tours are out. The Milky Way is drawn schematically.
Night calendar
Dark Nights Coming Up at Arches National Park
The nights around a new moon are the darkest of the month. Dates are local to the observing site.
Next new moons
- 9 November 2026
- 8 December 2026
- 7 January 2027
- 6 February 2027
- 8 March 2027
- 6 April 2027
Meteor showers
- Leonids, peak night 17 November 2026 some moonlight
- Geminids, peak night 14 December 2026 some moonlight
- Ursids, peak night 22 December 2026 bright moon
- Quadrantids, peak night 3 January 2027 dark moon
- Lyrids, peak night 22 April 2027 bright moon
- Eta Aquariids, peak night 6 May 2027 dark moon
Milky Way season
Core season May to July. Best months: May, June and July.
Lunar eclipses
- 17 August 2027, 01:14 local: penumbral (a faint shading, easy to miss)
New moons, darkness and eclipse visibility: JPL DE421 via Skyfield. Meteor-shower peaks from the IAU Meteor Data Center's established-shower solar longitudes (Jopek & Kaňuchová); the peak night can shift by a day. Lunar eclipses: Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC. Moon labels: under 25% lit = dark moon, under 60% = some moonlight. Checked October 2026.
Tour or on your own?
Utah's Parks on Your Own, or With a Tour?
- Will you drive park roads at night and find a pull-out away from other cars' headlights?
- Do you have a telescope, or do you want deep-sky objects through a big one?
- Can you go without phone signal and restrooms at a remote site?
Yes to all three
Go on your own
Stay in the park after sunset and look up: Arches, Bryce Canyon and Zion are certified dark sky parks, and Bryce runs ranger astronomy programmes through the year.
No to any of them
Book the tour
A guide, telescopes or night-photography coaching, chairs and blankets, and on some tours hot drinks.
Check dates →Arches Night Hike vs. Bryce Canyon vs. Stargazing Moab
Three Utah stargazing tours side by side. Prices as of October 2026.
| Feature | ARCHES NIGHT HIKE Moab Dark Sky Tours, the Windows | Bryce Canyon Stargazing | Stargazing Moab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From US$175/per person | From US$59 | From US$200 |
| Rating | 4.9/5 (46 reviews) | 4.5/5 (63 reviews) | 5.0/5 (15 reviews) |
| Length | 2 hours | 1.5 hours | 2 hours |
| What You Do | Night walk and photography coaching | Telescopes at a permanent site | Deep-space telescopes with an astronomer |
| Gear | Headlamps, tripods; camera to rent | Telescopes, lasers, chairs, blankets | Telescopes, astro-binoculars, loungers |
| Facilities | A trailhead walk of about 2 miles | Restrooms on site | No cell service or restroom |
| Getting There | Drive to the Windows trailhead | Drive, or optional shuttle | Drive; download directions |
| Free Cancellation | Up to 24 hours ahead | Up to 24 hours ahead | Up to 24 hours ahead |
| Best For | Photographing the Milky Way | An easy, low-price night | Big telescopes |
| Check Availability | View Bryce Canyon Stargazing | View Stargazing Moab |
Other Utah Stargazing Tours
A telescope night beside Bryce Canyon, deep-space telescopes in the desert near Moab, and an hour with a telescope and hot chocolate in East Zion.
The Utah Stargazing Guide
Which Utah Stargazing Tour to Book
Eight tours in five places compared on site, gear, the weather policy and price.
The Utah stargazing tour to book is Moab Dark Sky Tours’ night hike from the Windows trailhead in Arches National Park: a guided walk under the arches, the Milky Way by eye, and coaching to photograph it with your own camera, with headlamps and tripods lent, from US$175 a person as of October 2026, rated 4.9 from 46 reviews. For telescopes rather than cameras, Bryce Canyon Stargazing runs a permanent site beside Bryce from US$59, and Stargazing Moab sets up deep-space telescopes in the desert near Moab from US$200.
Check Arches night hike dates →
Why Utah
Utah has more than 20 International Dark Sky Places, including all five of its national parks, and the world’s first International Dark Sky Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, certified in 2007. Arches and Bryce Canyon were certified in 2019, and Bryce runs ranger astronomy programmes year-round and an Astronomy Festival every June.
The Utah tours compared
| Tour (operator) | From | Rating (reviews) | Length | Place | Weather policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astrophotography and stargazing hike (Moab Dark Sky Tours) | US$175 | 4.9 (46) | 2 hours | Arches, the Windows | Not stated |
| Professional stargazing experience (Stargazing Moab) | US$200 | 4.9 (15) | 2 hours | Desert site near Moab | Cancelled by 5 pm, rescheduled |
| Bryce Canyon stargazing experience (Bryce Canyon Stargazing) | US$59 | 4.5 (63) | 1.5 hours | Beside Bryce Canyon | Not stated |
| East Zion stargazing with hot chocolate (East Zion Adventures) | US$20 | 4.2 (145) | 1 hour | East Zion | May not run in bad weather |
| East Zion sunset, s'mores and stargazing jeep (East Zion Adventures) | US$149 | 5.0 (5) | 2.5 hours | East Zion, private viewpoint | Not stated |
| Zion stargazing with hot drinks (Stargazing Zion) | US$213 | 4.8 (4) | 2 hours | Near Zion | Cancel free up to 2 days ahead |
| Monument Valley stargazing (Monument Valley Tribal Tours) | US$109 | 4.4 (43) | 2.5 hours | Monument Valley Tribal Park | Runs on the brightest-sky nights |
| Greater Zion dark sky UTV tour (Mad Moose) | US$169 | 4.9 (82) | 2 hours | Sand Hollow State Park | Rain or shine, no weather refunds |
Prices, ratings and review counts as of October 2026; operators change prices, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Who each one suits
Pick by park and by what you want to do under the sky:
Photograph it
Moab Dark Sky Tours
A night walk in Arches with photography coaching, headlamps and tripods. About 2 miles on foot; ages 6 and up.
Check dates →Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon Stargazing
A permanent site with telescopes, lasers, chairs, blankets, hot drinks and restrooms; an optional shuttle from Ruby's Inn.
See this tour →Deep-space telescopes
Stargazing Moab
An astronomer, deep-space telescopes, astro-binoculars, loungers and hot drinks at a remote desert site.
See this tour →Moab Dark Sky Tours starts at the Windows trailhead and walks about 2 miles; bring your camera, or rent a DSLR or lens. Photographers can join at any point in the lunar cycle; if you want the darkest sky, ask Moab Dark Sky Tours about the dates.
Stargazing Moab works at a remote desert site with no cell service or restrooms, and asks you to download its directions before you set out. It cancels for weather by 5 pm on the day.
Bryce Canyon Stargazing is the easiest: a permanent site with restrooms, chairs and blankets, start times that follow the season, and an optional shuttle from Ruby’s Inn and nearby hotels.
East Zion Adventures runs the cheapest hour in Utah, a short walk to a stargazing point with one telescope and hot chocolate, and a 2.5-hour jeep version with a campfire and s’mores.
Monument Valley Tribal Tours runs on Utah time, an hour ahead of Arizona from March to November, and the Tribal Park entry is extra.
Mad Moose’s UTV tour is a drive more than an astronomy night: you drive your own UTV in Sand Hollow State Park, with a large damage deposit and no weather refunds.
Cold, the drive and the moon
Cold. Every operator asks for warm clothing: the desert and the high plateaus are cold at night in every season.
The drive. Utah tours mostly meet at a trailhead or site, not your hotel, often without phone signal.
The moon. The night calendar lists the next new moons for Arches; the month chart shows when the Milky Way core is up.
For the desert parks within reach of Las Vegas, see Death Valley stargazing tours; for northern Arizona, Arizona stargazing tours.
Guest Reviews
What Recent Guests Say
4.9/5
from 46 verified reviews
"Stargazing at Arches was definitely a highlight of our trip. Chad was knowledgeable and took great care of everyone in our group. What a magnificent backdrop for the night. With a few adjustments to our camera settings we were able to get professional photos. While learning about the stars. Since the weather is such a big factor we really appreciated that the company kept in great contact with us prior to the tour to assure us that they were on top of the weather report. I would highly recommend this tour."
"Astrophotography photo results on my phone exceeded my expectations! Brandon was very patient with each of us & knowledge about our phone & camera settings. He was genuinely interested in each of us getting the most out of the experience. We had a gorgeous clear evening which obviously helps. Favorite activity of this trip!"
"Excellent adventure. Chad was a great guide. Took us to both sides of the Windows area inside Arches Park. Showed us how to set up both my SLR and my wife’s iPhone. Provided the tripods. While taking each picture, just starting up into the night sky was amazing. Wife had photos of the Milky Way. I got great shots of the Big Dipper. We’d absolutely do it again."
"I am new to photography and Brandon (sp?) was absolutely incredible! He was so knowledgeable, kind and offered informative facts about the area, astronomy and photographic techniques. I HIGHLY recommend this experience!"
"Our stargazing hike with Chad was amazing. He was so helpful in getting all our cameras and iPhones set up to take beautiful pictures. He was also full of information regarding the stars and constellations. He was clearly passionate about his job which made it so fun for all of us. Highly recommend this hike!"
"This was the highlight of my trip to Moab. The night sky was absolutely gorgeous with so many stars and planets to see. Brandon was great at pointing out the star formations, educating us on astronomy terms and the dark sky. Brandon is a photographer himself and helped us set up our phones to take photos. We each came away with amazing pictures of the dark sky. So memorable. Don't miss out on this."
"Very knowledgeable. We rented the camera and he edited a few pictures! We were excited to look through his telescope and see Saturn. Amazing experience we will never forget!"
Read all 46 verified reviews
See All ReviewsPick a Night, See the Price
Many stargazing tours on this site move you to another night if cloud cancels the session. Check the terms of the tour you pick before you pay. Starting from US$175 per person.
Check AvailabilityFAQ: Stargazing in Utah
Bryce or Zion, the dark sky parks, the tours and the moon, with prices as of October 2026.
In any of its national parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion are all certified dark sky parks. Utah has more than 20 International Dark Sky Places. Guided nights run at Moab, Bryce Canyon, East Zion and Monument Valley; compare them on this page.
Both are certified dark sky parks; Bryce Canyon is the one known for its astronomy programmes. It runs ranger astronomy programmes year-round and an Astronomy Festival in June. Zion's deep canyon limits the sky from the valley floor; the tours there work from the east side and nearby sites. See the Bryce card.
Yes: it was certified as an International Dark Sky Park in 2019. Bryce Canyon Stargazing runs a permanent site beside the park with telescopes, chairs, blankets, hot drinks and restrooms, from about US$59 as of October 2026. See the cards above.
Yes; the tours run on the park's east side and at sites nearby. East Zion Adventures runs a one-hour session with a telescope and hot chocolate from about US$20, and a jeep evening with s'mores; Stargazing Zion a two-hour session with loungers. Compare them in the table above.
No single measured answer is published for the tour sites. Natural Bridges National Monument was the world's first International Dark Sky Park, certified in 2007, and Utah's national parks are all certified. See the darkest stargazing destinations for the places with published measurements.
Mostly not: you drive to a trailhead or the operator's site. Bryce Canyon Stargazing runs an optional shuttle from Ruby's Inn and nearby hotels. Several sites have no phone signal, so download the directions first. The calendar shows the dates.
Yes: Moab Dark Sky Tours' night hike in Arches is built around it, with tripods lent and cameras to rent. Stargazing Moab's telescope session also sends you deep-space photos afterwards. Read how to photograph the Milky Way.
No published measurement. No sky-brightness measurement has been published for the Windows section of Arches National Park. It lies inside Arches National Park, an International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International, 2019). No Bortle class is estimated from satellite data. Checked October 2026.
May, June, July. Those months combine the most Milky Way core hours with the least night cloud at the observing site: the core stands at least 20° up for an hour or more of full darkness from May to July. Core hours computed with JPL DE421 via Skyfield; night cloud from NASA POWER (2001-2025), checked October 2026.
9 November 2026, 8 December 2026, 7 January 2027. The nights either side of a new moon are the darkest of the month. Dates are local, computed with JPL DE421 via Skyfield, checked October 2026.
About 47% night cloud cover on average across the year. The clearest month is September (35%), the cloudiest December (56%). NASA POWER climatology, 2001-2025, checked October 2026.
Still have questions? Email us at info@beststargazing.com
Night-cloud and night-low climatology: NASA POWER Project, January 2001 to December 2025 · Tonight's cloud: data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Moon, darkness and Milky Way geometry: JPL DE421 via Skyfield · Lunar eclipses: Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC · Meteor showers: IAU Meteor Data Center list of established showers · Sky data checked October 2026.