Stargazing at Dinosaur National Monument: A Dark Sky Park

Is stargazing at Dinosaur National Monument on your bucket list? I’m sharing a list of FAQs and 7 of the best tips for making your stargazing experience epic!

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Did you know that Dinosaur National Monument is one of the darkest places on earth? For this reason, it is a certified Dark Sky Park. As part of our fall break last year, we knew we wanted to add stargazing to our list of activities. However, we went in October and there were no programs. This didn’t stop us from planning our own dark sky activity for our family.

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If you are planning to go stargazing at Dinosaur National Monument, check out the list of FAQs I’ve put together. Then continue reading to see the best tips to create a memorable stargazing experience with your family.

Stargazing at Dinosaur National Monument FAQs

How can I find out if Dinosaur National Monument is hosting a dark sky program?

During the busiest times of the year (late-May thru mid-October), the Visitor’s Center offers dark sky programs hosted by the rangers at Split Mountain Campground. You can always call the Visitor’s Center or check their calendar to find out if and when they are running the program.

Does it cost money to go stargazing?

Going stargazing at Dinosaur National Monument does not cost money. However, it does cost money to get into the park, except for free entrance days to the national parks and monuments. (Check here for the current year’s free entrance days.) The stargazing programs led by the rangers are included with all passes: standard, annual, America the Beautiful and the 4th grade pass. Current fees are listed HERE.

Even during the times of year when there are no ranger-led stargazing programs, you will need to pay to get into Dinosaur National Monument. We used my son’s 4th grade pass to get in for free, but even if we’d had to pay a standard fee, we would have been able to go in and out of the park for 7 consecutive days.

How do I get to the Split Mountain Campground and stargazing area?

The Split Mountain Campground is 5 miles from the visitor’s center. There are clear signs letting you know which way to go to get to the campground. The designated spot for stargazing is at the very back of the campground.

The campsites are set up in a semi-circle. If you follow the (one way) road to the end, before it starts curving back around, you will see a path that takes you to the benches and stargazing area.

Where do I park for stargazing at Dinosaur National Monument?

During the busy season (mid-May thru mid-October), you will need to park in the main parking lot of the Split Mountain Campground. From here you can walk down the small road that takes you to the campsites. At the end of the road, before it starts curving back around, you will see a path that leads to the stargazing area. *see map below*

When we went in mid-October, they were not hosting any ranger-led programs. This meant that it wasn’t very busy at the campground. We were the only group who were stargazing that night and were able to park right next to the stargazing area.

When should I go stargazing at Dinosaur National Monument?

The answer to the question depends on what type of experience you are looking for. We visited in October, but they had just stopped their program the week prior. I liked going during this time of year because it got darker earlier so we weren’t out as late with our kids.

If you want to participate in a ranger-led stargazing program, you will need to visit the park between late May and mid-October. Going during the busiest time of the year also means you may not get a spot in the program or it might be too crowded for your liking.

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Are there bathrooms available at Split Mountain Campground?

Yes, there are both flush toilets and vault toilets. The flush toilets are only seasonal, but the vault toilets are available year round.

What do I need to bring when I go stargazing?

• Telescope and/or binoculars
• Jacket, coat, and/or blanket (summer lows in Vernal are mid-50s)
• Snacks and drinks, such as hot cocoa and popcorn
• Red light lantern or red light flashlight
• Star maps and/or stargazing app (see suggestions under tip #7 below)

7 Best Tips for Stargazing at Dinosaur National Monument

1. Get there early. Whether you are participating in a ranger-led program or stargazing independently, give yourself time to arrive early. You’ll need time to park, unload, walk to the designated stargazing area and set up.
2. Give your eyes time to adjust to the dark and avoid looking at bright lights. Arriving early also allows your eyes time to adjust to the dark. According to the Dinosaur National Monument website, they suggest a minimum of 30 minutes. During this time, your eyes start making a chemical called rhodopsin, which helps your eyes see better in the dark. [source]
3. Bring a red light lantern. Looking at a bright object, such as a flashlight or a screen, means your eyes have to start over with making rhodopsin and you won’t be able to see the stars as well. If you do need to turn on a light, make sure to have a red light lantern or red light flashlight with you. An alternative is to cover your regular flashlight with red film.
4. Bring a telescope. The ranger-led programs will have a telescope available for you to look through. However, if you are going stargazing at a time when they don’t have a program, you will want to bring a telescope. We borrowed a telescope from our local library for our visit, but have since purchased a basic one to use at home and take camping.
5. Bring snacks and drinks. Before going stargazing, we popped some popcorn and boiled some water to keep in a thermos so we could make hot chocolate. Some hot cups with lids, single serve packets of hot cocoa and a frother made it easy. Just remember to bring a garbage sack with you to collect any trash. They have big garbage bins in the parking lot of the campsite. (We always keep a small trash can in our car.)
6. Check the weather. The darker the night, the better you’ll be able to see the sky. This means you need to check the weather for clear skies and for the phase of the moon. A cloudless sky and new moon will give you the best experience. However, if the moon is crescent shaped you can still see a lot of stars and planets. (This is what happened when we went.)
7. Download a constellation app. Stargazing at different times of year will give you the opportunity to see different constellations. Printing out a star chart or downloading a stargazing app will really add to your experience. Here are a few constellation apps available on Android and iOS: Star Walk, SkySafari and Star Tracker.

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