Dark-sky places in Montana
Montana has three certified dark-sky places: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in the northern Rockies, Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge in the northwest, and Medicine Rocks State Park on the eastern plains. Two are Dark Sky Sanctuaries, the category for the most remote, darkest places.
Certified dark-sky places in Montana
| Place | Designation | Managed by | Nearest city |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge | International Dark Sky Sanctuary (2022) | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 27 mi W of Kalispell |
| Medicine Rocks State Park | International Dark Sky Sanctuary (2020) | Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks | 198 mi E of Billings |
| Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park | International Dark Sky Park (2017) | National Park Service (Glacier NP) and Parks Canada (Waterton Lakes NP) | 61 mi N of Kalispell |
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 Montana stargazing trip
Friday and Saturday nights when the Moon is down for most of full darkness, worked out for Billings; 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 27
- 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 6–7, 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, Dec 24–25, Dec 31
Stargazing in Montana
Montana’s certified dark skies sit at both ends of the state. In the northwest, Glacier National Park and Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park form the first International Dark Sky Park to cross an international border, certified in 2017; rugged mountains and isolation keep their skies very dark. Nearby, Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge in the Salish Mountains became an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2022. Far to the southeast, near Ekalaka, Medicine Rocks State Park was named Montana’s first Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2020. All three host star parties or night programs.
Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge
Lost Trail is a 9,225-acre refuge in Pleasant Valley, in the Salish Mountains of northwestern Montana, home to moose, elk, bears, wolves and Canada lynx. All of its outdoor lighting is dark-sky friendly, and a planned conservation area would protect about 122,000 more acres around it. The refuge is open 24 hours a day and has several designated parking areas for safe night viewing, plus an interpretive exhibit and maps with stargazing tips. Refuge staff host on-site stargazing programs with the Big Sky Astronomy Club. Activities by day include wildlife watching, photography, hiking and hunting.
Medicine Rocks State Park
Medicine Rocks State Park, near Ekalaka in Carter County, is a small, remote park in southeastern Montana known for its unusual rock landscape, history and wildlife. It is open year-round and has 8 first-come, first-served campsites plus one reservable group site. A Night Sky Trail leads to a viewing area, and the park and the Carter County Museum hold events such as star parties with telescopes and red lights provided, guided evening hikes and bat walks with detectors. Montana residents who pay the state parks fee with their vehicle registration pay no day-use fee; others pay a small entrance fee.
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta together cover about 1.1 million acres of mountains, lakes and glaciers. In Glacier, nightly astronomy programs run in summer at Apgar on the west side and St. Mary on the east, where the Dusty Star Observatory at the visitor center has a 20-inch telescope; no tickets are needed. Special star parties at Logan Pass require a ticket per vehicle. Going-to-the-Sun Road over Logan Pass usually opens fully only in late June or early July, while Apgar and St. Mary have primitive camping year-round.
Questions and answers
When are the star parties in Glacier National Park?
Glacier's nightly astronomy programs run in summer at Apgar and St. Mary, with no tickets needed. Special Logan Pass star parties need a ticket sold at the visitor centers.
Can you see the northern lights from Montana's dark-sky places?
Yes, during geomagnetic storms the aurora can appear low in the north. Check our Montana northern lights forecast.
Is Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge open at night?
Yes. DarkSky International says refuge lands are open 24 hours a day, with designated parking areas for night sky viewing.
What should I bring to a dark-sky park in Montana?
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 Montana · Tonight's sky in Montana
Sources
- Astronomy Programs - Glacier National Park, National Park Service
- Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, DarkSky International
- Medicine Rocks State Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
- Operating Hours & Seasons - Glacier National Park, National Park Service
- Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge, DarkSky International