If you were to visit the halls of a Texas elementary school, you would likely hear the faint tune small Texans singing “the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas!” Add in some clapping and you’ve got a concert pointing you to all the amazing places to stargaze in Texas. The stars wait for you in:
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park
- Big Bend National Park
- McDonald Observatory
- Enchanted Rock Natural State Area
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- Copper Breaks State Park
1. Palo Duro Canyon State Park
On a dark and cloudless night, the Milky Way paints an enigmatic landscape against the Lighthouse Formation in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Minimal light pollution, or the presence of artificial light, creates the ideal setting for exploring the sky with a twinkle in your eye. Just outside of Amarillo, Texas, Palo Duro Canyon State Park hosts moon gazing, full moon hikes, and star parties. Want to experience space in your own way? Pick your campsite with modern amenities, pop your tents the old fashion way, or reserve your time at one of the rim-side or canyon floor cabins.
2.Big Bend National Park
If you’re an adventurer ready to explore the night in an iconic place, Big Bend National Park in West Texas is a must-stop. With some of the darkest skies in the United States, clear nights can display more than 2000 distinct stars, the Milky Way, stunning meteor showers, and some planets. Visit the Chisos Basin area of the park to be surrounded by dreamy mountains, join a stargazing program at Panther Junction Visitor Center, or explore Santa Elena Canyon for a dynamic backdrop on your star-studded journey.
3.McDonald Observatory
Telescopes await you at McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas. Built from the donation of the standing fortune of W.J. McDonald in 1926, McDonald Observatory has 9 incredible research telescopes that help facilitate public education and the StarDate family of educational medias. From star parties, public tours, student activities and more, experience the stars and the science behind them!
4.Enchanted Rock Natural State Area
Take your spirit to the pink granite at Enchanted Rock Natural State Area! This 425-foot dome expands to blend into the landscape of the sweeping Texas hill country and holds the stories of centuries past. Pick your campsite, hike to the top, and be engulfed in a 360-degree view of galaxies far and wide. Don’t forget to join the stargazing events!
5.Guadalupe Mountains National Park
South of the New Mexico state line stands 84,416 acres of mountain, desert, and canyon known as Guadalupe Mountains National Park. With virtually zero light pollution, this remote oasis brings the stars to life, dancing across the 1,000-foot-high limestone cliff and landing at Guadalipe Peak, the highest point in Texas. 12 miles of the Captain Reef, a 400-mile-long buried fossil reef complex, creates the perfect space for seeking stars. Grab your blankets, pillows, and prepare to catch a falling star to use as you drift to sleep.
6.Copper Breaks State Park
For those who prefer the deep silence of the night, Copper Breaks State Park brings the distance you crave and the awe of bright Texas nights. On the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale, which measures how well the human eye can spot objects in space, rates Copper Breaks State Park as a Class 2 on their scale from Class 1 – 9. In simple terms, it’s dark out there! With little to no light pollution, join monthly star parties from April to November, explore the moon phases in beautiful detail, and go on a star-venger hunt for all the iconic constellations!
As you begin your star-studded adventure, make your first stop in Amarillo! Find the sunrise across the plains, grab an incredible bite on Route 66, gather all the gear you need for your outdoor dream, and awe at the starry backdrop illuminating the Lighthouse in Palo Duro Canyon.
While William Shakespeare would say “it is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves,” us Texans believe that a quiet night with the stars can change your future. Wherever the stars lead you, we hope you feel the vast beauty of seeing stars in Texas.
