Discover five certified dark sky parks in Iowa that offer spectacular and secluded opportunities for stargazing.
If gazing at the night sky is your thing, then take note. These dark sky parks in Iowa are stargazing hotspots.
Haven’t heard of a certified dark sky park? It is land (publically accessible even if privately owned) that is recognized for exceptional night sky quality and is therefore protected for educational, scientific, cultural, or natural value. Parks are ranked on the Bortle Scale–a nine-point scale that measures how bright the night sky is and how much light pollution there is. On the scale, one means excellent dark sky, while nine means inner-city sky.
While the sky may not be quite as dark as in some less populated states in the country (Iowa actually boasts some 3.2 million residents), there are definitely more secluded or rural pockets of the state where the night sky can really shine. Read on to learn more about Iowa’s best certified dark sky parks. (For a full list, you can visit the official dark sky website.)
We promise you’ll find out about the meaning behind “half the park is after dark.” Whether you are simply stargazing, doing astrophotography, hosting an astronomy club event, enjoying astrotourism or just throwing or joining a star party, these five spots in Iowa have lower light pollution and allow the stars to really pop. Read on to learn more and plan your stargazing adventure.
1. Eden Valley Wildlife Reserve
Baldwin
The closer to the sky, the better the stargazing, right? If that theory holds true, then Eden Valley Wildlife Reserve in Baldwin is a great spot to get up close and personal with the night sky. The 200+ acre park is located on the banks of Bear Creek and features great hiking around forested hills as limestone bluffs tower overhead. The observation tower is a popular spot for stargazing as it offers 360-degree views of the sky and its many stars three levels up.
2. Nine Eagle State Park
Davis City
Sitting along the Missouri border just off Interstate 35 (near Davis City) is one of the most notable dark sky parks in the state. With a Bortle Scale rating of 2 (the highest in the state, in fact), Nine Eagle State Park is a bit of a hidden gem in Decatur County. The park is full of rolling hills, an oak forest, a lake and campground, and nine miles of hiking trails. But at night, it’s an ideal spot for stargazing, given its distance from any bustling cities.
Consider camping in the park to watch the sky several nights in a row. Hook-ups, dispersed, and primitive sites are all available.
3. Palisades-Kepler State Park
Mount Vernon
The bluffs and wooded hilltops running along the Cedar River in eastern Iowa are a lovely setting to contrast the sky as dusk turns into the dark night sky.
This state park is a bit of a surprising dark sky park, given its proximity to nearby Cedar Rapids, but continues to draw in amateur photographers and stargazing hobbyists to enjoy the twinkling stars as darkness falls. On the southern edge of the park, you’ll also find the Eastern Iowa-Dows Observatory and the Cedar Amateur Astronomers Club. This is a great place to get access to interesting public programs and large telescopes for peering deeper into the galaxy.
4. Whiterock Conservancy
Coon Rapids
This spot in western Iowa claims to have the darkest skies in the state. You’ll just have to go see for yourself.
Light pollution is purposely kept low in the park, and it hosts a variety of stargazing programs throughout the year to introduce visitors to the night sky. There’s also an annual star party hosted by the Ames Area Amateur Astronomers held in August. Camping or Airbnb rentals are also available at Whiterock Conservancy if you’d like to make an extended visit. The conservancy itself is a 5,500-acre non-profit land trust that balances sustainable agriculture, natural resource protection, and public recreation on the landscape that runs along the Middle Raccoon River. There are some 40 miles of trails to enjoy when you aren’t staring up at the night sky.
5. Preparation Canyon State Park
Moorhead
Of course, a location in the Loess Hills would be on the list of best places to stargaze in Iowa.
Preparation Canyon State Park covers 344 acres near Moorhead in western Iowa. The height of the hills over the surrounding flatter landscape (all of which are relatively untouched by humans) is an ideal spot for taking in the incredible night sky views. We are told that during the summer months, you are all but guaranteed to see the Milky Way from atop the park’s hills. There are several hike-in camping sites if you want to get fully off the grid for a few days and nights.
Other dark sky spots
Interested in visiting even more spots that are ideal for astortourism? You can count your lucky stars! Check out the other dark sky parks in Iowa, including:
- Lake Darling State Park
- Lake of Three Fires State Park
- Lake Sugema
- Lake Wapello State Park
- Loess Hills State Park
- Moore-Gosch Memorial Park
- Okamanpedan State Park
- Prairie Rose State Park
- Rock Creek State Park
- Springbrook State Park
- Stephens State Park
- Yellow River State Forest
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