Explore The Upper Peninsula’s First International Dark Sky Park

If you're searching for a fantastic location to enjoy stargazing this winter, consider  Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

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This is a prime spot for anyone who loves to stop what they're doing and look to the night sky and simply get lost in its wonder.

Keweenaw Dark Sky Park became the first International Dark Sky Park in the Upper Peninsula in 2021. It's the third in Michigan, joining the Headlands International Dark Sky Park in northwest lower Michigan and Dr. T.K. Lawless International Dark Sky Park in southwest Michigan.

There are nearly 200 International Dark Sky Places in the world.

What is a Dark Sky Park?

Dark Sky Parks are publicly- or privately-owned spaces protected for natural conservation that implement good outdoor lighting and provide dark sky programs for visitors.

Living here in the Flint area we kind of get screwed if we want to sit outside and look at the stars. It's just not ideal for stargazing due to all the light pollution. Some nights are better than others but most nights it's a real struggle to see what the night sky has to offer.

Ashley Wilson, IDA’s director of conservation:

Keweenaw Dark Sky Park offers a unique experience to stargazing in the Midwestern United States. The historic wilderness lodge allows visitors to view the magnificence of the night sky in a window of the pristine boreal landscape while also having the opportunity to further engage with the nocturnal environment with astrophotography and lighting management workshops.

Upcoming Stargazing Events

• Lights Out
  January 8, 2024 - January 14, 2024

• Stargazing: Night Sky Photography Workshop
  January 12, 2024, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm EST

• Stargazing: Northern Lights Photography Workshop
  January 12, 2024, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm EST

• Lights Out
  February 6, 2024 - February 12, 2024

• Lights out
  March 6, 2024 - March 12, 2024