A clear, dark, night sky is a true wonder to behold. If you’re in search of the best place to go stargazing, make sure to head on out to the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. The residents inside this incredible reserve keep light to a minimum, so you can experience the wonders of the sky above you!

If stargazing has always been at the top of your list, then it’s time you visited Central Idaho’s Dark Sky Reserve.
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The first and only reserve of its kind in the United States, this is a gold tier dark sky preserve, the highest ranking available. It encompasses 1,416 square miles across Central Idaho.
This is the twelfth dark sky reserve in the entire world.
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It’s also the third largest on the globe. With 80% of America’s citizens living in cities with light pollution blocking the night sky, visiting a dark sky preserve is an amazing adventure.
The preserve was designated on December 18, 2017.
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This was after years of effort put in by communities in Idaho, especially Ketchum, which was designated a "dark sky community," separately from the reserve.
Only a three hour drive from Boise, this is a quick trip for most people in the state to visit.
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There are so many places within the reserve to stay. Daytime activities are just as fun as night time stargazing, with wonderful spots like Sun Valley, and Sawtooth National Recreation Area within the boundaries of the dark sky preserve.
It’s the perfect place to see comets, the Milky Way, and billions of stars.
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The night sky will truly come alive for you in a way that’s not possible when obscured by city lights. A 2016 poll found that less than 20% of Americans can see the Milky Way from their homes.
This is a true treasure that’s a glorious result of the commitment of reducing light pollution from all of the communities within the designated area.
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They worked hard to save this treasure for all of those who value the view of our night sky. Now it’s accessible and available for anyone who wants to soak it all in!
Enjoying the night sky can be loved by everyone from a professional astronomer to a child learning his constellations.
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It’s a breathtaking experience that your whole family will love. Put any town within this reserve on list for your next weekend away, and enjoy the wonderful night sky!

Have you ever gone out and stargazed in the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve? What did you think? Was it absolutely stunning? Let us know in the comments below!

One of the areas in this reserve, Fodor’s 2020 Go List Named Sun Valley, Idaho A Top Destination In The U.S.

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Featured Addresses
Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, State Hwy 75, Stanley, ID 83278, USA