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Dark-sky places in Maine

Maine has two certified dark-sky places, both in the North Maine Woods: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, a Dark Sky Sanctuary, and the Appalachian Mountain Club's Maine Woods lands, a Dark Sky Park. The Park Service calls Katahdin Woods and Waters home to the darkest skies east of the Mississippi.

Certified dark-sky places in Maine

PlaceDesignationManaged byNearest city
AMC Maine WoodsInternational Dark Sky Park (2021)Appalachian Mountain Club52 mi NW of Bangor
Katahdin Woods and Waters National MonumentInternational Dark Sky Sanctuary (2020)National Park Service70 mi N of Bangor

Designations by DarkSky International. Check each place's own site for opening hours, fees and night access before you go.

Moon-free weekends for a Maine stargazing trip

Friday and Saturday nights when the Moon is down for most of full darkness, worked out for Portland; dates are the same across the state, give or take a night.

  • November 2026: Nov 6–7, Nov 13–14
  • December 2026: Dec 4–5, Dec 11–12
  • January 2027: Jan 1–2, Jan 8–9, Jan 29–30
  • February 2027: Feb 5–6, Feb 27
  • March 2027: Mar 5–6, Mar 12
  • April 2027: Apr 2–3, Apr 9, Apr 30
  • May 2027: May 1, May 7–8, May 28–29
  • June 2027: Jun 4–5
  • July 2027: Jul 2–3, Jul 9–10, Jul 30–31
  • August 2027: Aug 7, Aug 27–28
  • September 2027: Sep 3–4, Sep 25
  • October 2027: Oct 1–2, Oct 29–30
  • November 2027: Nov 26–27
  • December 2027: Dec 3–4, Dec 24–25, Dec 31

Stargazing in Maine

Maine’s darkest skies are in the North Maine Woods, a vast, mostly uninhabited forest that runs north and west toward the Canadian border. DarkSky International describes it as possibly holding the last truly pristine night skies in the US east of the Great Plains. Both of the state’s certified places are on its edge. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, east of Baxter State Park, became an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2020, the first certified dark-sky place in New England. The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine Woods lands in central Maine followed as a Dark Sky Park in 2021. Supporters hope the two may one day anchor a larger dark-sky reserve.

AMC Maine Woods

The Appalachian Mountain Club manages about 100,000 acres of forest in central Maine for conservation, sustainable forestry and backcountry recreation, and it is New England’s only International Dark Sky Park. The easiest way to see its sky is to stay at one of AMC’s three lodges, Medawisla, Gorman Chairback or Little Lyford, which have cabins and serve as bases for hiking, paddling, fishing and, in winter, cross-country skiing. AMC runs celestial programs at the lodges, so check its events calendar before you book. The lands sit on the edge of a huge, largely uninhabited forest, so there is little artificial light in any direction.

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

Katahdin Woods and Waters covers about 87,500 acres of forest, mountains and free-flowing rivers east of Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin. Rangers and volunteer astronomers measure the darkness with a sky quality meter, on which larger numbers mean a darker sky; the best reading so far is 21.88, close to the meter’s limit of about 22. The monument has drive-to and backcountry campsites, several of which require reservations on Recreation.gov in season, so you can stay out after dark. The Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters also hold an annual Stars Over Katahdin event with volunteer astronomers.

Questions and answers

Can you see the northern lights in northern Maine?

During strong geomagnetic storms the aurora can be seen from northern Maine. See our Maine northern lights forecast for the current outlook.

How dark is Katahdin Woods and Waters?

The Park Service reports a best sky-quality reading of 21.88 magnitudes per square arcsecond, close to the sky quality meter's darkest limit of about 22.

Can I stay overnight at the AMC Maine Woods lodges?

Yes. AMC runs Medawisla, Gorman Chairback and Little Lyford lodges and cabins inside the Dark Sky Park.

What should I bring to a dark-sky park in Maine?

A red flashlight, warm layers, a chair or blanket and, if you have them, binoculars. Plan the date with our Moon phase calendar, and use our Bortle scale guide to understand how dark your destination is.

Dark-sky places in other states · Northern lights in Maine · Tonight's sky in Maine

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