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This Is the First U.S. County to Be Fully Dark Sky Certified—and It Just Added the World's First Dark Sky Airport
In late April, Teton County—home to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Grand Teton National Park, and part of Yellowstone National Park—made history as the first county in the world to be certified as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International. Just 10 days later, Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) followed suit, becoming the first airport ever to earn the designation as an International Dark Sky Place, a recognition typically reserved for parks, preserves, and remote communities.
But these "world's first" designations come as little surprise when you consider the data. Light pollution is the enemy of dark skies, and Teton County's small, low light-impact communities help keep night skies pristine. The town of Jackson, the county's largest population center, has just over 10,000 residents, while the tiny community of Kelly is home to only 254. Add to that the vast stretches of protected open space—including all of Grand Teton National Park, 40 percent of Yellowstone, parts of three U.S. National Forests, and the 24,700-acre National Elk Refuge—and it's clear why Teton County is leading the way in night sky conservation.
Similarly, the Jackson Hole Airport is the only commercial airport located within a national park, which incentivizes the airport to take care of the area's natural resources—dark skies included. 'JAC staff dedicated hundreds of hours to updating lighting fixtures and programming to adhere to responsible lighting practices," DarkSky International said in a release. "These measures will not only improve the stargazing experience, but they will also help protect the wildlife in Grand Teton National Park as well as surrounding areas that rely on the natural nocturnal environment to thrive.'
The state's journey towards these dark sky designations started in 2013 when Wyoming Stargazing began hosting weekly public stargazing programs.
'The stars are literally etched into our DNA,' said Samuel Singer, the executive director of Wyoming Stargazing, in a press release. 'If dark night skies ever disappear, we will have lost a part of what it means to be human.'
Teton County and Jackson Hole Airport's efforts to improve lighting policies not only improve the experience of every visitor that will come to its two national parks, but every creature living within them as well.
'This community commitment to ensuring future generations of park visitors and county residents all have access to the beauty Wyoming skies offer in the night is something we are all proud to be a part of,' said Chip Jenkins, a Grand Teton National Park superintendent, in a statement.
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This Lesser-known Wyoming Town Is an Affordable Alternative to Jackson Hole—and It's Surrounded by 1,300 Alpine Lakes
Pinedale is a small Wyoming town known for its access to 1,300 glacial lakes, biking trails, and surrounding mountain ranges. Visitors can enjoy year-round outdoor activities like swimming, fishing, and skijoring, as well as cultural events like the Winter Carnival. Affordable lodging, local dining spots, and small-town vibes make Pinedale a charming alternative to Jackson Hole. No matter what your Instagram or TikTok For You pages may tell you, there's more to Wyoming than Jackson Hole. The Tetons aren't the only mountains to climb, and Jenny Lake isn't the only glacial body of water to jump in after a long hike or day of wildlife viewing. Pinedale, Wyoming, is the perfect example. Located just over an hour from Jackson, Wyoming, (and the newly opened Sylvan Lodge at Snake River Sporting Club) this 2,022-person town is located at the base of the Wind River Range, the Wyoming Mountain Range, and the Gros Ventre Mountains, making it a hub for outdoor adventure. 'Pinedale is a Western town that has not lost its small-town appeal. [It's] surrounded by three mountain ranges and has something for everyone from trails to hike to hunting, fishing, or just enjoying an art show or concert at the local library,' Kaddy Fyfe-Shivers, the director of Main Street Pinedale, tells Travel + Leisure . 'We enjoy all four seasons to the fullest in Pinedale and have activities for all of them.' Here's what you need to know before planning a trip to Pinedale, Wyoming. Street signs in Pinedale, Wyoming. While Pinedale has an impressive range of things to do, it's best known for its biking trails (mountain, road, gravel, and fat biking are all possibilities) and its water-based activities. If you're interested in the former, start your journey at Geared Up in downtown Pinedale, where the team offers rentals as well as repair services and gear for purchase. You'll then have all sorts of options that you can take your two wheels for a spin—from the paved pathways around town to the 14-mile-long Fremont Lake Road. If swimming, boating, or fishing are more up your alley, plan your trip between mid-May and early October. This time of year allows visitors to explore the 1,300 lakes within a 30-mile drive of Pinedale. One of the most-visited bodies of water is Fremont Lake, the second-largest natural lake in the Cowboy State. Less than four miles from Pinedale, the glacial lake is around 12 miles long and just a half mile wide, and it hosts a number of recreational activities, including water skiing, fishing, swimming, and sailing. Have time to check out two more lakes during your visit? Add Half Moon Lake and the Green River Lakes to your itinerary. Fyfe-Shivers also recommends planning your trip around the Winter Carnival—where you'll get to see skijoring (a famous Western sport that involves a person on skis being pulled by a horse, dog, or vehicle)—and the Green River Rendezvous in July. The latter honors the explorers who made their way out West in the 1800s. For even more Pinedale history, stop by the Museum of the Mountain Man, open every day from May through October and by appointment in the off-season. No matter when you're visiting or what your Pinedale game plan entails, be sure to keep sustainable, respectful travel practices in mind. 'Tourists need to remember to clean up after themselves and not feed the animals. They visit, but this is our home,' Fyfe-Shivers says. Brewing coffee at Pine Coffee Supply. Fyfe-Shivers has a couple of favorite places to fuel up before a day of activities. She recommends The Grazing Goat for the 'best pizza in Sublette County,' and Los Cabos for its 'nice selection of Mexican food and portion size.' For more of a Western vibe, go for the Wrangler Cafe, Stockman's Saloon & Steakhouse, or the Corral Bar & Grill. On the drinks side of things, Pine Coffee Supply provides a caffeine fix, and Wind River Brewing Company serves up the perfect post-bike ride or paddle refreshments. Guest bedroom at Pinedale Cozy Cabins. Pinedale doesn't quite have the caliber of luxury hotels you'd find in Jackson Hole, but that's part of its charm—and its affordability. Fyfe-Shivers recommends the Pinedale Hotel (nightly rates start at $94 per night). For those who want lakefront views and easy access to water, check out Lakeside Lodge, where the nightly rate starts around $85. In town, Pinedale Cozy Cabins—with its two-bedroom cabins that come with living rooms and kitchens—or The Log Cabin Motel are great family-friendly options, and rates start at $358 and $65, respectively.
National Geographic
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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.
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Travel + Leisure
14-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
These Are the Best (and Worst) U.S. Destinations for Public Bathroom Access
If you are a Type A travel planner, you know there is more to consider than making sure you get through your lists of restaurants to try and sights to see. And one of the most important things to plan for is where you will be able to use the bathroom when out and about. But if you are traveling in the United States, the answer may be difficult. That's because the U.S. faces a public bathroom shortage, according to a new study from Tena, an adult incontinence brand. In fact, for every 100,000 people, there are just eight public bathrooms. (And if you've ever had to wait in a long line for a restroom, you can begin to understand just how dismal that statistic really is.) To help travelers who don't want to factor in midday returns to their hotel for bathroom breaks, Tena ranked the best cities and states for public bathroom access, factoring bathroom cleanliness, wheelchair accessibility, overall density of public restrooms, and discoverability of the public restrooms. And there were some clear winners: Wyoming, Montana, and Hawaii offer the best overall public restroom access in the U.S. Wyoming offers one of the largest caches of public restrooms with an average of 118 public bathrooms appearing on state-level map searches. These are mostly easy to find, spaced out, and well reviewed. Plus, the state ranks No. 1 for having the most wheelchair-accessible bathrooms in the country. Montana similarly scored well, in part because Visit Montana offers a list of public restrooms available across the whole state, making them ultra easy for visitors and locals to find. For its part, Hawaii has an abundance of public restrooms with the island of Oahu alone boasting more than 215 state-maintained public bathrooms. However, only 120 appear on Google Maps for the entire state, meaning finding the restrooms may require a bit more local insight. When it comes to overall cleanliness, North Dakota's public restrooms came in first place. Overall, 94 percent of the bathrooms analyzed in the state had a rating of four stars or higher. Alaska, Indiana, and New Mexico also scored high, each with 88 percent of bathroom reviews at four stars or above. The study's least impressive states were New Hampshire and Kentucky, each of which had a low number of public restrooms available (No. 11 and No. 20, respectively). These are the top five states for public restroom: 1. Wyoming2. Montana3. Hawaii4. Oregon5. Idaho
