The Largest Dark Sky Sanctuary in the World Is Located in the United States

With a total solar eclipse occurring in April and some of the most stunning northern lights displays in over a decade, 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year for astrotourism in the U.S. To add to the thrill, southern Oregon has just been recognized as the world’s largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary, covering an impressive 2.5 million acres.

A Dark Sky Sanctuary is a designation awarded by DarkSky International, an organization committed to protecting and promoting dark skies across the globe. To qualify for this honor, an area must demonstrate “exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights... specifically safeguarded for its scientific, natural, or educational significance.” Only locations that fulfill rigorous criteria, including the use of dark sky-friendly lighting and community outreach, receive this designation.

This newly recognized sanctuary is situated in a remote, lightly populated region known as the Oregon Outback. Predominantly made up of public lands, it is renowned for its wildlife, including pronghorn, bighorn sheep, sage grouse, wild horses, and white-tailed jackrabbits; diverse landscapes that vary from river valleys to mountain ranges; and a clear view of the night sky, perfect for stargazing.

“As Oregon's population grows and light pollution trends escalate, the vastness and quality of the [Oregon] Outback’s dark skies will continue to provide a starry sanctuary for both people and wildlife,” stated Dawn Nilson, an environmental consultant who oversaw and authored the DarkSky application for the area.

While it is already the largest, the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary is set to expand more than fourfold in the upcoming years—this recognition is just the first of three stages. The initial phase includes regions like Summer Lake, the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, and part of the Fremont–Winema National Forest. In the subsequent phases, the sanctuary will also integrate significant areas of Harney and Malheur counties. Ultimately, the Sanctuary will stretch across 11.4 million acres in southern Oregon, which is about one-fifth of the state’s total land area.

Gaining this certification required numerous federal, state, and local officials to work together to define project boundaries and establish a joint Lighting Management Plan. This plan involved decommissioning 14 light fixtures and retrofitting 60 on both public and private properties. The entire process took four years of cooperation among various stakeholders to achieve the desired outcome.

“This four-year partnership unites many of the aspects we strive for in regenerative tourism,” stated Bob Hackett, executive director of Travel Southern Oregon, in a press release. He emphasized that this collaboration “enhances the experience for visitors to Lake County, opens new opportunities for local businesses, and assists agencies and residents in managing their lands in a way that honors the tradition of clear night skies for future generations.”

With the designation of the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary, there are now 19 such sanctuaries spread across five continents. Other notable examples include !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park in South Africa, the Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge in Montana, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in Australia, and the entirety of Niue and the Pitcairn Islands, both located in the South Pacific. Previously, the largest Dark Sky Sanctuary was the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota, covering one million acres.

Since its establishment in 2001, DarkSky International has awarded the Dark Sky designation to over 200 locations (including Sanctuaries, Reserves, Parks, and Communities) in 22 countries. In 2023, the nonprofit also recognized its first Dark Sky Lodge: Under Canvas Lake Powell–Grand Staircase in Utah.