In 2023, the light-pollution foes at DarkSky International added a category for "DarkSky Approved Lodging" to their register of places where the nighttime environment is exceptionally preserved.
The nonprofit, formerly known as the International Dark-Sky Association, has certified scores of Dark Sky Places across 22 countries, helping to keep stars and other celestial bodies visible in parks and communities at a time when artificial light conceals Cassiopeia et al. for more than 80% of the world's population.
While there are of course plenty of campsites and lodges at the national parks, wilderness sanctuaries, and remote towns previously recognized by DarkSky, the organization only recently began highlighting specific accommodations for stargazing kudos.
The first property to get the nod was Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase, an encampment of upscale "safari-inspired tent accommodations" in southern Utah.
At the time of the announcement, DarkSky and Under Canvas explained that the resort earned the distinction by employing "on-site dark-sky approved lighting" and by committing to "protecting and preserving the nighttime environment through conscientious design, operations, and guest education."
According to DarkSky, all approved locations on its lists "go through a rigorous review and certification process, including regular reporting and periodic recertification."
The Utah retreat, one of several operated by Under Canvas (and more of the company's locations have since earned DarkSky approval), sits in a region rich in natural attractions, with the red rocks and mesas of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the Colorado River's photogenic Horseshoe Bend meander, and Lake Powell marinas all nearby.
In addition to staying in luxury tents outfitted with king-size beds and private bathrooms, Under Canvas guests have access to amenities such as an onsite restaurant, a fire pit for s'more construction (and consumption), hiking trails to the property's own slot canyon, and complimentary activities including yoga, children's programming, and, at night, astro-walks under the Milky Way.
There are even some Stargazer tents with windows above the bed for viewing the night sky while you're comfortably supine.
(Stargazer tent at Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase in Utah | Credit: @Baileymade_)
Go to UnderCanvas.com for more information or to book a stay.
And for more ideas on travel destinations without light pollution, see our roundup of great Dark Sky Parks in the U.S. and Europe.