The darkest, clearest places to stargaze in the U.S.

Great Basin National Park is huge—it covers much of Nevada, Oregon and Utah and even pokes into sections of California, Idaho and Wyoming—so it may come as no surprise that you're bound to find some unpolluted areas in this great expanse of land. Best of all, the park only sees about 131,802 visitors per year, which means you likely won't be disturbed by anyone else as you turn towards the heavens. 

Located near the Mexican border in southwest Texas, Big Bend's massive surface area and little to no light pollution makes it one of the best spots to stargaze in the country. Make yourself comfortable among the cacti—Big Bend is the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United States—as you behold the stars, or find a spot in the Chisos mountain range to get an even better vantage point.

California's coast is a nature-lover's Eden, with gorgeous beaches, redwoods and parks up and down the Pacific. The best spot to stargaze, though, is Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP)—which consists of Redwood National Park, Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks. The combined RNSP spans 139,000 acres and features old-growth temperate rainforests, very low light pollution and a yearly footfall of only 504,722 visitors—a great combination to see the stars with little interruption. 

Want to really get off the grid? The North Cascades, located in Washington, is a vast terrain of wilderness that only sees a measly 38,000 visitors a year! No light pollution is basically a give-in. Filled with a varied species of animals and birds, the remote park is a peaceful destination to enjoy the stars and some alone time with nature. 

This northern Minnesota park, located close to the Canadian border, is already known for its stunning forestry and lakes. Throw in the facts that the park welcomes just 232,974 yearly visitors and has low light pollution, and you have the best park to stargaze in the Midwest. Voyageurs is a maze of interconnected water highways, so plan ahead for this water-based park by bringing your own watercraft or reserving a watercraft for solo-floating under the stars. 

Northern California's Lassen Volcanic is criss-crossed by a beautiful network of stunning lakes and trails, but the real showstopper is the park's namesake volcanoes and their jagged peaks littered around the park. Even more amazing, thanks to extremely low light pollution, the stunning scenery is mirrored in the night sky as the constellations are clear at night. We can't give a better reason than that to stargaze in this gorgoeus park. 

Just east of El Paso, Guadalupe Mountains takes up 86,368 acres of the Lone Star State. Famed for having three major ecosystems located within in the park (as well as protecting the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef and the four highest peaks in Texas), Guadalupe Mountains offers plenty to see during both day and night. But you're here for night. With just 188,883 visitors a year, the parks offers one of the best opportunities in the country for clear, uninterrupted alone time with the stars above. 

Home to the tallest dunes in North America, the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado covers a range of terrains to explore, from wetlands and alpine to tundra and grasslands. With low light pollution and an average 527,546 visitors a year, you'll be able to see everything in the sky at night, including shooting stars. Experience a truly starry sky on moonless nights, or a surreal walk on the dunes under bright full moonlight. 

With 704,512 annual visitors, Crater Lake is one of the more popular parks in this list—but its namesake body of water make it all worth it. Crater Lake was formed 7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak—it's now the deepest lake in the USA and one of the most pristine on earth with a deep blue color and clear water clarity. The lake also provides the perfect backdrop to reflect the glistening stars in the sky. 

Canyonlands's countless canyons and fantastically formed buttes—carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries—make it a popular destination for adventure-seekers in the Southwest. With panoramic views of more than 337,000 acres of desert landscape, it's also one of the best national parks to gaze at the stars. It also boasts one of the darkest skies in the USA—affected by less than 0.002 artificial light!