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TORREY, Utah — Capitol Reef National Park has one of the darkest skies in America, which gives it a bright, beautiful view of the stars.
The park in southern Utah joins a pretty short list of “Gold Tier International Dark Sky Parks” from the International Dark Skies Association. There are only 13 gold-tier rated parks, including two others in Utah.
In order to get rated as a dark sky park, the park needs “exceptional starry skies and natural nocturnal habitat where light pollution is mitigated and natural darkness is valuable,” according to the IDSA's rating system. Capitol Reef has worked on a multi-year program to educate everyone who comes to the park, while changing lighting practices.
Weber County North Fork Park also was rated by the IDSA with a bronze-tier, which means they make the best of what they have while having light pollution.
There are three tiers of dark sky ratings: gold, silver and bronze. A gold-tier level means there is natural, non-polluted or near-natural light.
In 2007, Natural Bridges National Monument in southeast Utah received the first gold-star rating and Hovenweep National Monument in southwest Colorado and southeast Utah was given a gold star in 2014.
To make this ranking, Capitol Reef submitted this 117-page application.
