These are the best stargazing sites in North America
On a clear night last November, I spent over two hours in a dome atop nearly 7,000-foot-tall Kitt Peak, an hour outside of Tucson, peering through one of their 20-plus telescopes. The moonless night along with the high and dry climate enabled our guide to share bright and clear highlights, including the Andromeda galaxy, the ringed planet Saturn with several of its moons, and a globular cluster. Outside the dome, we simply marveled at the stunning clarity of our galaxy home, the Milky Way.
In the United States, 99 percent of us live in areas impacted by artificial light pollution. While dark skies are essential for many nocturnal creatures and ecosystems, recent studies have also touted the health benefits of darkness for humans. To help preserve and better connect us with this at-risk natural resource, DarkSky International has designated 155 dark sky places across the United States, six in Canada, and two in Mexico for stellar stargazing and efforts to preserve darkness. The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is the first binational international Dark Sky Park. Photograph by Alan Dyer, VWPics/Alamy Stock Photo In search of the darkest sanctuaries
Among the five categories of dark sky certification, sanctuaries meet the most stringent requirements, says Amber Harrison, DarkSky Places program manager, and many are in the western part of the continent in less populated areas. Designated in 2024, the world's largest international sanctuary—half the size of New Jersey—is in the high desert of the Oregon Outback. This 2.5-million-acre sanctuary includes broad and flat basins, mountain ranges with elevations from 4,700 to 8,000 feet, and alkali lakes, says Dawn Nilson, a DarkSky delegate who consulted on the process.
'With little or no light pollution, you see these celestial objects against an inky black, smooth canvas,' says Nilson. 'What's particularly special about the Outback is you get to see all those stars reflected on flat, calm, alkali lakes.' Nilson usually doesn't take her telescope along because there's no need. 'With your naked eye, you can see the many colors of the stars and star-making factories, like the Orion Nebula and the Lagoon Nebula.' In this pristine darkness, you might even spy your shadow cast by starlight.
(9 must-see night sky events to look forward to in 2025)
Astro adventurers should be experienced 'remote travelers,' cautions Nilson, because there may be no cell service or facilities nearby. 'Always bring more layers for warmth than you think are necessary,' she advises. Outfitters, such as Bend's Wanderlust Tours, offer guided excursions, and Rose City Astronomers (partnered with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) hosts star parties. Oregon Astronomy will team you with telescopes and a NASA ambassador.
Other U.S. sanctuaries include Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Maine's Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the only one east of the Mississippi. Rainbow Bridge National Monument is one of Utah's 28 certified dark sky communities and parks. Photograph by Ralph Ehoff, Getty Images Southwest stargazing options
In the southwest, the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve spreads 15,000 square miles across southwestern Texas and Mexico and is the largest Dark Sky reserve. You'll find a constellation of guided options, from public telescope viewing at the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas at Austin to ranger-led night walks in Big Bend National Park to starry nights with DarkSky Texas.
On any dark sky-focused adventures, we all carry 'a superpower,' says Nilson: The human capacity for night vision. However, that scotopic, or low-level light vision, takes at least 30 minutes to activate fully and can be negated by a white flashlight or a glance at an illuminated screen. Seasoned stargazers recommend using red-light flashlights and scheduling your excursion during the new moon phase for optimal darkness.
(A practical guide to stargazing)
With 28 certified dark sky communities and parks, Utah has the highest concentration of certified skygazing options in North America. That includes Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the world's largest natural bridges and also a sanctuary. The catch: Getting there requires a two-hour boat ride on Lake Powell followed by a one-hour hike. The site is considered sacred by many indigenous cultures, including the Pueblo of Zuni and the Hopi Tribe. The Pleiades star cluster and the other stars of Taurus rising above Mount Kerkeslin in Jasper National Park. Composite Photograph by Alan Dyer, VWPics/Redux Look to northern skies
Straddling the Canadian border, the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is the first binational international Dark Sky Park and includes Montana's Glacier National Park and Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park. Known for its mountainous scenery and rich biodiversity, the area is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site, and both parks are UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Dark Sky Guides in Waterton Lakes will maximize your viewing, and you can join Glacier's summertime ranger-led astronomy programs.
In Quebec's Eastern Townships, guided astronomy activities abound at Parc National du Mont Mégantic, including an aurora borealis show in the AstroLab museum and guided stargazing with telescopes. (Activities are in French.) To achieve reserve status, local municipalities replaced 2,500 light fixtures and reduced local light pollution by 25 percent. In the park, you can hike to three mountain summits and explore diverse forest ecosystems.
In Alberta, Jasper National Park is designated a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, one of 17 in the country. The town is actually within the preserve's limits. Every October the Jasper Dark Sky Festival takes place, and features a planetarium and telescope viewing, Indigenous music and storytelling, and guided night hikes. The night sky viewing program at Kitt Peak National Observatory. Photograph by Greg Dale, Nat Geo Image Collection The Milky Way over the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. Photograph by Babak Tafreshi, Nat Geo Image Collection More easily accessed starry skies
Lately, both urban and rural areas are darkening their skies to boost astrotourism. New Brunswick offers 'easy access to dark skies,' says Stéphane Picard of Cliff Valley Astronomy. 'Even in our cities, you're no more than 15 minutes away from a very dark sky.' The province has three dark-sky preserves designated by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, including Fundy National Park, known for the highest tides in the world. Other parks and towns are applying for designations to create a coastal stargazing corridor.
'When you're looking towards the Bay of Fundy from the New Brunswick coast, you're facing the southern half of the sky which is where mostly everything arises,' says Picard. 'We call that the rising tides and rising stars region.' The province hosts star parties with telescopes throughout the year.
Several jurisdictions have designed stargazing trails, including Tucson's Astro Trail with 11 dark sky experiences and Montana's Trail to the Stars with 45 recommended sites. With 12 Dark Sky Parks and another dozen working toward certification, Colorado has a self-guided 'Experience the Night' itinerary, chock full of daytime activities and night-gazing sites, including Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Mexico's first urban night sky place, Joya-La Barreta Ecological Park, between Querétaro and San Miguel de Allende, focuses on educating the public about the value of darkness.
(Why Tucson is one of the best places in the world to see the night sky)
East Coast residents seeking closer options can head to Pennsylvania's Cherry Springs State Park, which is within the larger Susquehannock State Forest and has laser-guided night sky tours. West Virginia's Watoga State Park's name derives from the Cherokee name for 'starry waters,' and travelers may spy abundant constellations here.
As stargazing gains in popularity, DarkSky International has developed its principles of responsible astrotourism, which emphasizes respect for local cultures and environmental health, along with sustainable growth. Hartley hopes that immersive dark sky experiences will inspire people to 'make some simple steps in and around your house and your neighborhood and your city to reclaim a little natural darkness.'
(Big Sky, brighter stars: Why Montana is 2025's ultimate stargazing destination) Amy Brecount White is a Virginia-based writer with work seen in National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, National Parks Traveler, Sierra Magazine, and more. She focuses on travel, particularly immersive outdoor adventures and moments full of wonder. See more at amybrecountwhite.com.
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National Geographic
25-07-2025
- National Geographic
How one shipwreck and a cargo of lost gold sparked a U.S. financial panic
The S.S. Central America sank off the coast of South Carolina in 1857, taking with it 425 lives and a fortune in gold rush bounty. When the Central America sank, it became the worst maritime disaster in America's history. The loss of the gold shipment in the hold contributed to a nationwide economic crisis. Photograph by Logic Images, Alamy Stock Photo As the sun slipped below the horizon on the evening of September 8, 1857, a festive atmosphere prevailed in the first-class dining room aboard the S.S. Central America. The side-wheel paddle steamer had left Havana that morning under fair skies and was making its way to New York City on the second and final leg of a voyage that had begun five days earlier in Panama. Aboard were 477 passengers and a crew of 101. Seated at the captain's table that night was a newlywed couple, Ansel and Adeline Easton. They'd been married in San Francisco and were taking the sea route back east for their honeymoon. For those who could afford the trip, it was the swiftest and by far the most pleasant means of traveling from coast to coast in the days before the transcontinental railroad. If the weather was favorable, one could make the journey in as little as 24 days: first by steamer from San Francisco to Panama City, then a short hop by rail across the isthmus followed by another steamer from the Caribbean side to destinations up the East Coast. 'Captain Herndon had arranged to have us at his table,' Adeline wrote later, 'and as he was a most delightful man, we enjoyed it very much.' As well they might. Captain William Lewis Herndon was as noted for his gifts as a raconteur as he was for his distinguished naval career. At 43 years old, he'd spent 29 colorful years at sea and in 1851 led a scientific expedition along the entire length of the Amazon River. When one of the passengers at his table that evening brought up the subject of shipwrecks and a recent news story about a crew who abandoned their passengers to save themselves, Herndon gently steered the conversation into calmer waters. Adeline recalled it vividly: 'How well I remember Captain Herndon's face as he said, 'Well, I'll never survive my ship. If she goes down, I go under her keel. But let us talk of something more cheerful.' ' Four nights later Herndon was to live up to his words, going down with his ship after putting up a heroic fight to save his passengers. The haunting face of a young woman (left) is one of the scores of daguerreotypes found on the wreck. A popular new form of photography at the time, the portraits show the loved ones of prospectors and other passengers aboard the ship when it sank off the South Carolina coast with the loss of 425 lives. Photograph by Jason Bean, USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images California or bust Ever since 1848, when a man named James Marshall stumbled across a flake of gold at Sutter's Mill in California, the American economy had been booming, fueled by the seemingly endless wealth coming out of the Sierra Nevada. Hundreds of thousands of prospectors flocked to California, about half of them taking the sea route via Panama or Nicaragua, earning gold rush fortunes for the shipping companies, among them the U.S. Mail Steamship Company. In 1852 it brought on a new ship for the East Coast to Central America run: a 278-foot-long side-wheel paddle steamer christened the S.S. George Law but later renamed the Central America. Over the next five years the ship would carry as much as one-third of the gold transported via the Panama route, either as consignments from the mint or in the carpetbags and money belts of homeward-bound prospectors who'd struck it rich. The decade following the discovery of gold strengthened the U.S. economy but would prove devastating to Native Americans who were stripped of their ancestral lands, as well as Chinese immigrants who were met with discrimination and violence at the goldfields. And by 1857 there were signs that the gold rush was tapering. Worried investors feared the U.S. economy might be overheated, overextended, and overly reliant on gold rush bounty. On its September run the Central America was carrying some 15 tons of gold rush gold in bullion and freshly minted coins from the new San Francisco mint, all destined for New York City's banks, which desperately needed the gold to shore up reserves and stave off the looming financial crisis. (These Chinese immigrants opened the doors to the American West) The glittering wealth in the hold was far from the only fortune that came aboard the paddle steamer in Panama. Many of its passengers were returning prospectors who had hefty stashes of gold nuggets, dust, and bars secreted in their luggage. It was not for nothing that the Central America would be called the Ship of Gold. Its untimely loss contributed to what became known as the Panic of 1857, a major economic depression in the United States. This gold bar from the Central America was among the estimated 15 tons of gold aboard ship. Photograph by Jae C. Hong, AP Photo The discovery of the wreck by treasure hunters in 1988 and subsequent salvage expeditions retrieved not only mountains of bullion and gold coins—pristine eagles ($10) and double eagles ($20)—but also an altogether more fascinating treasure of daguerreotypes and personal possessions that breathe life into the story of the ship and the backgrounds of its passengers. In one of the most striking images, a young woman in a black lace top gazes into the camera. A mother and child appear in another. There are jars of shaving cream and beauty products; a cup with the inscription 'To my mother'; the oldest known pair of denim jeans; and the steamer trunk that Ansel and Adeline Easton took on their honeymoon, still filled with their fine clothes beautifully preserved. (Clothing from 1600s shipwreck shows how the 1 percent lived) Bailing for time On September 9, six days after leaving Panama and now steaming up the Carolina coast, the ship was met by what modern meteorologists would describe as a Category 2 hurricane packing sustained winds of 105 miles an hour. By the following morning the sea had risen, and the ship was being tossed. For commercial reasons the Central America had been designed to carry no ballast, using instead the weight of its coal to fulfill the same function. But with every bucket of coal burned to fire the engines, the ship grew lighter and thus rode higher in the waves. It soon became dangerously unstable. Adding to the crew's woes, the hull developed a leak the engineer couldn't trace. As water poured into the bilge, the vessel began to list to starboard, rendering the paddle wheels ineffectual. With the loss of power, the Central America was at the mercy of the waves. (Shipwreck of royal 'party boat' revealed) By the morning of September 11, the crew was busy fighting a round-the-clock battle that would ultimately involve every man on board forming a bucket brigade to keep the sinking ship afloat long enough to attract the attention of a passing vessel. The well-to-do Ansel Easton pitched in, taking off his coat, kissing his new wife, and heading below to do his duty. The following afternoon a two-masted brig, the Marine, itself damaged in the storm, spotted the Central America's distress signal and fought its way to the doomed ship. Captain Herndon had lifeboats lowered and managed to transfer all the women and children to the Marine, a terrifying ordeal for all involved. Adeline Easton initially refused to leave her husband but was persuaded when he assured her that he'd be on the next boat. He wasn't. Conditions were far too dangerous to continue the operation. As dusk fell that evening, and to the horror of those watching, the Central America sank with the loss of 425 men. Herndon was last seen standing by the rail on the wheelhouse, cap in hand, his head bowed, as his ship went down. Over the next several hours some lucky survivors were plucked from the sea, among them Ansel, who was reunited with Adeline a week later at the National Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia. 'Great joy is too deep for words,' she wrote. 'Kindness loaded us with everything we needed. One lady insisted on presenting us with a trunk. I laughingly told her I didn't have a thing to put in it.'
National Geographic
21-07-2025
- National Geographic
The little-known Sicilian town that feeds the world's almond craze
Avola, set in the heart of Sicily's Ionian coast, might be unknown to many at first glance. But behind its humble name lies the beating heart of a successful business, where the almonds produced are considered among the finest in the world. With its strategic position, overlooking the Gulf of Noto, it has a rich history intertwined with the art of the almond cultivation (from Italian 'mandorla') that has been shaped by the influence of Phoenician and biblical symbolism, creating a one-of-a-kind cultural and gastronomic legacy. 'Centuries of tradition and hard-work, passed down from generation to generation, are rooted in Avola's fertile lands' says Salvatore Rizzo, a third-generation farmer raised in the town. 'The quality of these almonds is the result of intensive irrigation techniques first introduced by the Arabs, that helped turn this nut into a cornerstone of the Italian patisserie'. Avola's history Avola, commonly known as the hexagonal city, preserves a deep identity typical of a true Mediterranean melting pot. The town was once seen as a golden land for its position along the Sicilian coastline, which inevitably attracted Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines, each of whom left an indelible mark. With an earthquake in 1693, much of this legacy was shaken, making Avola a living mosaic of Sicily's layered past. The method of growing almonds from Avola's almond trees—also known as mandorlo—follows the rhythms of nature. Photograph by Adam Eastland, Alamy Stock Photo (Top) (Left) and Photograph by siculodoc, Getty Images (Bottom) (Right) Today, the past can be seen through its still-standing Baroque places of worship, historical buildings, old recipes, and stunning landscapes. 'I've always been drawn by Avola's quiet resilience, seen through the eyes of locals. It feels like being suspended between past and future," says Rizzo. 'On a normal day, you'll spot kids enjoying almond biscuits and elders pouring soap mixture into molds, still making scibina by hand." Over the centuries, there's still a creativity that doesn't come prepackaged and it's rare in nearby bigger cities. (10 must-do experiences in Sicily) The almond-growing process The method of growing almonds from Avola's almond trees—also known as mandorlo—follows the rhythms of nature. Trees are carefully planted by hand, spaced far apart to allow their root systems to stretch deep into the volcanic soil. A testament to meticulous selection can be seen in the harvesting process, done by hand, aided by gently shaking off the branches to loosen the ripe Pizzuta almonds. Today, farmers manage the work without any artificial tools, unlike in ancient times when irrigation was essential. Much of Avola's almonds are used to make traditional Sicilian sweets, from marzipan and rich cassata to sugared almonds. Beyond the kitchen, they are used by the cosmetic industry, where their oils and creams are renowned for their soothing properties. An operator carefully inspects the Avola almonds, discarding broken or damaged ones to ensure only the finest proceed to the peeling stage. Photograph by Francesco Vigliotti (Ancient ruins, city tours and cannoli on a family tour of western Sicily) 'The almond tree of Avola is still nurtured thanks to methods that have nothing to do with modern agriculture and is probably one of the first introduced crops by conquerors of the Sicilian coast' says Rizzo. "Avola's porous soil lives in symbiosis with Southern Italy's dry summers and mild winters, which create great conditions for the healthy blooming of its prized almonds.' One of the oldest and most renowned almond producers in Avola is Nastasi Mandorle, a family-run business with two locations in town, just a few miles from Syracuse. The company's roots date back to 1898, when entrepreneur Lorenzo Nastasi, together with his two sisters, began cultivating almonds in the surrounding countryside. Nastasi practices a dry-farming approach, which relies entirely on natural rainfall and the nutrient-rich soil of Avola. Given the particular terrain and the summer blossoming, almonds are harvested from July to September, carefully hulled and sun-dried for three days, in order to preserve their sweet oils and woody hull, also named mallo. Where to try it Nastasi: A trusted name in the almond business, Nastasi's factory is a stop you can't miss if you're a food enthusiast. The well-stocked store offers a wide range of products, from silvered and whole-peeled almonds to fragrant almond pastes, pistachios, and hazelnuts. A visit to this place guarantees a full immersion in Avola's almond history. Various stages in the traditional processing of the Avola almond, a jewel of Sicilian agriculture. Photograph by Francesco Vigliotti Nama : Nama is a family-run business founded by the Tiralongos. If you are looking for a sweet snack, head here. This centuries-old factory welcomes its visitors with a curated selection of Avola's finest nuts, including fresh almonds, organic products (creams, almond oil), and nut pestos, all made with devotion to the land. Pippo Si Pappa Bar : This lovely cafe is famous for its silky and fresh almond granita (rated the best in town), warmed brioche, local ricotta, and artisanal ice-cream. Where to stay Avola offers countless charming accommodations for a relaxing stay. Morfeo Charming Rooms & Relax is the best option to quickly reach the city center, and it features a private pool, a spacious garden, and suites with private balconies. Le Torrette Rooms and Apartments is a cozy bed-and-breakfast with its own restaurant and a bicycle rental service, which is a perfect way to explore the coast. When to go Avola is an urban jewel year-long, but it's best enjoyed in summer (July-September), when you can sunbathe on beaches with crystal-clear waters and witness the almond harvest. October is a good compromise for those who are more inclined toward tasting tours. The temperature is pleasantly breezy, and never too hot. Getting there Avola is easy to reach from major Italian metropolises. Flights from Catania Fontanarossa (CTA) or Comiso Airport operate all year-long. Alternatively, you can take a high-speed train to Catania (Italo or Frecciarossa), followed by a bus to Avola that takes about 1.5 hours. (How chocolate went from rough to refined in one Sicilian town) Maria Salvati is an Italian freelance journalist and copywriter. Born and raised in Rome, she writes about lifestyle, politics, and travel with a focus on Italy's culture. Her work has appeared in Business Insider, Thrillist, and Fodor's. Follow her on Instagram @mariasalvati2
National Geographic
17-07-2025
- National Geographic
Here's why stargazers are flocking to the Oregon Outback
Southeast Oregon is a patchwork of high desert, mountains, and volcanic landscape, stitched together by river canyons and long stretches of solitude. When darkness falls on clear nights across this region, visitors can watch a shimmering blanket of stars emerge. In March 2024, The 2.4-million-acre Oregon Outback officially became the largest dark sky sanctuary in the world. DarkSky International, an organization dedicated to preserving dark places to mitigate the harmful effects of pervasive light pollution, has awarded the designation to Lake County, home to nearly 500,000 residents. This special recognition marks the first phase of the proposed Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary, which upon completion, could expand to 11.4 million acres. (A practical guide to stargazing) Community effort for a dark sky sanctuary "From a local government point of view, it's a question of managing how much tourism can we actually accommodate before it becomes cumbersome," says James Williams, a Lake County Commissioner, who ensured that residents' concerns were heard during the dark sky sanctuary application process. He was just one of many imporant people who helped make the Oregon Outback an international dark sky sanctuary. Bob Hackett, director of Travel Southern Oregon, first proposed the idea for a sanctuary after noticing the increasing popularity of dark sky tourism. To Hackett, it was a good opportunity to draw attention to the natural beauty of this remote region in Oregon. However, some locals were afraid that sanctuary status would impose restrictions on private land, particularly on ranching and farming activity. However, conversations eased residents' concerns once there were no foreseeable restrictions on private property. Some changes were necessary for public land. A light management plan would protect the existing darkness. As the plan evolved, Hackett says, 'We just kept checking in with people and making sure everyone was on board.' A light management plan provides straightforward guidance for public places, such as motion-activated lights and positioning light fixtures downward. Different governing bodies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, manage the Oregon Outback; so, the designation as a dark sky sanctuary required extensive collaboration across agencies. It took five years and six light management drafts to get all parties on board and the application approved. (These are the best stargazing sites in North America) Stargazers can witness the awe of a starry summer night and the Milky Way high above the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Photograph By Babak Tafreshi, Nat Geo Image Collection How to reach the Oregon Outback Stargazers looking for city comforts can make Bend their home base, where they'll find plenty of options for food, hotels, and access to outdoor adventures, like rock climbing and hiking. Most visitors fly to Portland and then drive three hours to Bend, but flying into Redmond Municipal Airport is another option. It's 16 miles north of Bend with direct flights to many U.S. cities in the West. Road trippers can make the 40-mile drive from Bend to Fort Rock, a tuff ring or low, wide, bowl-shaped volcanic crater located on an Ice Age lakebed. Fort Rock is technically outside of sanctuary bounds, but it's a stunning location for stargazing. Visitors may want to consider booking a stargazing tour with Wanderlust Tours, which offers tours from Bend to Fort Rock with expert guides, who provide insight into the region's landscape and the night sky. Tourists enjoy dinner and drinks at a picnic area with a view of Fort Rock as the sun dips below the horizon—and then the light show, the Milky Way, reveals itself in the sky. (10 of the best places for stargazing in the UK) Tourists can also stay in Lakeview and Paisley, Ore., two small towns at the edge of the sanctuary, and both have several motels that provide guests easy access to venture out for stargazing. Located outside of Paisley, Summer Lake Hot Springs has cozy, rustic cabins and camping facilities. Guests also have access to on-site outdoor and indoor mineral spring pools. Travelers visiting the Oregon Outback for stargazing can make the city of Bend their home base with options for food, hotels, and other outdoor activities. Photograph By Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, a sanctuary for American pronghorn and other wildlife, has three established campgrounds with vault toilets, which provides a remote camping experience for those seeking it. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are free of charge. Backcountry hiking requires a permit; please note that fires are not allowed. In addition to the aforementioned places, Southeast Oregon has several hiking trails that lead to campgrounds and or scenic overlooks, such as the 750-mileOregon Desert Trail, which stretches across the Oregon Outback. You can hike short portions from Paisley, Lakeview, or Valley Falls to find secluded darkness, but only experienced backcountry hikers should take on this trail, where cellphone service is not available. The eastern portion of Fremont-Winema National Forest features several trails, ranging in skill level from the easy 4.4-mile Lake of the Woods Area Trail to the challenging 4.6-mile Mount McLoughlin Trail. (10 of the dreamiest stargazing trains in the U.S.) In addition to stargazing, travelers can visit the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, a sanctuary for American pronghorn and other wildlife. Photograph By Michael Durham/Minden Pictures How to be a responsible dark sky tourist Travelers visiting the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary should plan ahead. First, tourists visiting the area should establish their comfort level when choosing a place to stay. Do you want to stay in a motel in a small town after a night of stargazing to sleep in a comfortable bed? Do you want to bring everything you need to camp without cell service or running water? Some remote locations lack readily available emergency service. 'Our search and rescue is entirely volunteer,' says Williams. 'If you get stuck on backroads or lost on trails, it might take us a while to come find you.' Know your limits when it comes to how far you venture, the lay of the land (expected terrain), and the weather you might encounter along the way. Map out gas stations and note their operating hours, and as responsible travelers, be mindful to leave natural spaces as you found them. 'It's a good idea to brush up on Leave No Trace principles,' says Courtney Braun, co-owner and guide at Wanderlust Tours. 'A lot of the Outback doesn't have facilities like bathrooms, so you need plans for a toilet system.' While visiting the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in southeast Oregon, visitors can take a dip in a natural hot spring. Photograph By Greg Vaughn/Alamy Bring a headlamp with a red-light option, which preserves night vision and won't disrupt wildlife. Minimize the use of lights at night while prioritizing safety. In addition to respecting the land and the dark, it's important to respect the people who call this place home. 'When you see a fence that says no trespassing—it's probably a good idea not to trespass,' says Williams. Travel Southern Oregon's website also provides information about the Oregon Outback and best practices when visiting. (Big Sky, brighter stars: Why Montana is 2025's ultimate stargazing destination) Britany Robinson is a freelance journalist covering travel and the environment from the shoreline of Connecticut, where she also writes essays and obituaries. Follow her on Instagram.
