Death Valley Dark Sky Festival

Ready to get acquainted with some of the darkest skies on the planet? Death Valley’s Dark Sky Festival belongs on your calendar if you’re looking to experience an unforgettable celestial show. This Death Valley National Park event invites you to listen in on space and night sky lectures from the pros at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Caltech, and the National Park Service, along with astrophotography workshops for all camera formats and skill sets, astronomy walks, and of course unbeatable stargazing with thousands of stars, constellations, planets, and galaxies visible to the naked eye.

Accessible from Beatty, Amargosa Valley, and Pahrump, Death Valley National Park is an incredible place to explore by day, and just as breathtaking (if not more!) at night. With some of the best stargazing in the country thanks to almost zero surrounding light pollution, Death Valley National Park has been designated as a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park—the highest rating of darkness by DarkSky. By day, get in on guided hikes and ranger-led lectures, all kinds of family activities, and an exploration fair. During the evening hours, visitors can participate in night sky photography meetups and workshops, along with a star party that celebrates the spectacular skies overhead with viewings of the universe through some of the biggest and highest-powered telescopic devices you may ever encounter (many of them larger than you)!

While admission to this event is free, admission to the park in order to access the event is not. For a full list of Death Valley fees and passes, click here. For a complete schedule of Dark Sky Festival events and more information on planning your trip to Death Valley, get in touch with the park directly at (760) 786-3200.