Finding a Dark Place

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 03/12/2018 at 10:42 • Filed to: None

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My wife and I are making plans for our annual Summer Family Tour. We’ve been east, west, and Midwest, but this time, we thought we’d try the Great Plains, somewhere we’ve never been. We thought we might make Mt. Rushmore our destination. But then we thought it might be fun to find a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , somewhere in the US where there is minimal light pollution, somewhere my boys might still be able to see the Milky Way. Considering that we are starting in Austin, does anybody have any suggestions? Or any suggestions of what to see/do in that part of the country? Here’s one possible route:

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 10:58

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Nothing to add other than I envy your relative proximity to someplace where you can see the Milky Way in the night sky.

functionoverfashion > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 10:59

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You shouldn’t have to be that far into the dark on that map to see the Milky Way. Maybe it’s just the resolution of the map, but I live in the middle of New Hampshire, which doesn’t LOOK like a dark spot on that map... but I could see the milky way even last night with partial clouds. So on that note, the Black Hills should be plenty dark, if you’re looking to go up there anyway.

Edit: I zoomed in with the dark sky map and I’m in the light green, just outside yellow. I can see *a little* ambient light, but stars are generally very clear here to the naked eye

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:00

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If you’re going through Amarillo you should check out Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It was just a really neat campground and area to hike. I had some decent stargazing there even though it was mostly cloudy. I’m sure on a clearer night it would be better. I had even better over in NM in Manzano state park but that’s a bit out of your way.

benjrblant > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:01

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There’s a lot of good spots in Southern Colorado along your more western route. The Great Sand Dunes are about an hour and a half west of I-25 and separated by the Sangre De Cristo mountains and Blanca Peak. This will get you into some high plains and mountains without the I-70 headaches and light pollution from nearby towns. There’s also some NSF campsites up and down that mountain range, mostly on the eastern side near highway 69.

I haven’t spent much time in northern New Mexico but its beautiful and high on my list. Capulin Volcano is kinda cool. It’s definitely remote and I’d imagine quite dark in that area at night.

Wacko > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:10

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i live in a Dark place

well actually close to the brightest spot in my circle.

I just look out the windows at night and see all the stars.

ttyymmnn > Wacko 03/12/2018 at 11:11

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Too far to drive this summer, though.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:12

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IMO I would take the easterly return segment and flip it westerly. You would see so much more interesting geography. I’ve done the I-25 route from denver to billings a couple of times, it’s just getting interesting in the middle of Wyoming.

Also don’t forget my state:

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:16

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Sooo, it looks like Carhenge is on your route?

Nibbles > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:16

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Sections of 285 in the San Luis valley are pretty dang dark. Not far off your path either.

ttyymmnn > WilliamsSW 03/12/2018 at 11:18

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It might be!

HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:19

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I know of a couple, but they aren’t on your route. Sorry.

ttyymmnn > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 03/12/2018 at 11:19

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I was going to go north on the easterly route, and return via Denver. We’ve already driven that road (southbound) from Austin to Wichita. Not much to see.

Nibbles > Nibbles 03/12/2018 at 11:19

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Also you’ll be cutting the top corner of New Mexico, so there is some super dark in the Grenville / Des Moines area

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:23

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It’s a cool place to stop for an hour or two. There are numerous car art installations there besides Carhenge.

The Sand Hills of Nebraska ought to qualify as a very dark place - -if you’re really trying to push it, though, the middle of the box defined by Alliance, Valentine, Norfolk and North Platte is probably as dark as you’ll get.

For Sweden > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:25

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More evidence that East of the Mississippi was a mistake.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:26

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Probably won’t have to go too far. Looks like the dark green areas are good enough.

That said, this place is good largely because the rock in the area is very bad at reflecting light. I’d suggest looking for actual designated Dark Sky areas near you rather than just winging it based on the map. You might be surprised what shows up.

http://cleardarksky.com/csk/

ttyymmnn > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 03/12/2018 at 11:28

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Awesome link. Thanks.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 11:29

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I’m not a fan of driving through Nebraska or Kansas. Kansas is more entertaining than Nebraska, and that’s saying something.

BigBlock440 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 03/12/2018 at 11:30

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Most people live someplace you can see the milky way. Maybe not every night, but if conditions are right (at least several times a year) you can see it in the darker yellow areas, maybe even the brighter yellow areas.

Source: I live on the border of a dark yellow/bright yellow area, have seen the milky way many times just by walking out my front door.

wafflesnfalafel > For Sweden 03/12/2018 at 11:45

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yeah - it’s interesting the east half, west half difference is so distinct

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 12:03

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Don’t know when you’re coming through, but if you go a little more east on I-80 you would be near me and another Oppo. We track day a lot on the weekends.

If you go even farther to Omaha, they have the big SAC Museum, lots of planes.

ttyymmnn > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 03/12/2018 at 12:07

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I’d love to see the SAC museum, but that might be a bit too far off the route.

Nakazoto > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 12:27

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With the route you outlined, you’ll be driving within a mile of our place here in Hico. It gets pretty dark out here. There’s a little light pollution from the town, but other than that, it’s pretty spectacular. On a good, cool night, after your eyes adjust you can sometimes see satellites moving across the sky.

Hammerdown > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 12:32

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Honestly, everything between Mount Rushmore and I-80 is pretty desolate. You won’t have a problem seeing things from there. If I were you I’d stay a night in Wall, SD or somewhere close, then drive out to the Badlands (30 or so miles) for your nighttime viewing. It’s gorgeous during the daytime and the light pollution would be very minimal, since it’s a National Park.

I’d also encourage you to spend a little time in the Black Hills around Mt. Rushmore if you can spare the time. They’re awesome. Needle’s Highway, Iron Mtn Rd and Spearfish Canyon are all fantastic drives.

Source: I’m a native South Dakotan.

ttyymmnn > Nakazoto 03/12/2018 at 12:34

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That’s the sort of thing I’m looking for. Thanks.

Pickup_man > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 12:43

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Honestly it gets plenty dark in the Black Hills, with all the trees around it blocks a lot of light. I’d recommend staying in one of the smaller towns, Keystone, Deadwood, Custer, Hill City, etc. instead of Rapid City itself.

As for things to do, there’s plenty. There’s a lot of ATV/SxS rentals in the area, and lots of good trails which are clearly marked. Mt. Rushmore obviously, and check out Crazy Horse while your in that area as well. There’s a couple of cave tours in the area, Jewel Cave in Custer is the only one I’ve been too, along with a couple of mine tours as well I believe. There are a couple of helicopter tours in Custer and Keystone, and Hill City has an old steam train tour throughout the Hills. There’s tons of good hiking trails as well, and some very beautiful lakes. Ones I recommend are the Pactola Reservour, Sheridan Lake, and Sylvan Lake, which is a state park and has some great hiking trails around the lake. Then there’s all of the little historic towns in the area which are fun to walk around and check out the little shops and whatnot. Definitely take a drive up Spearfish canyon if you can, along with Needles Highway. You can go to Sturgis, which has a pretty good motorcycle museum, but honestly it’s pretty unimpressive outside of rally time.

As for food and beer, if you’re into those things. Great burgers can be found at the Sugar Shack along Highway 385, Moonshine Gulch Saloon in Rochford, and Lewie’s outside of Lead/Deadwood, (forewarning these are all kinda dives, but really good food) and a good little pizza place in Custer, Slate Creek Grille in Hill City is also good. My favorite breweries in the area are Miner Brewing Company/Prairie Berry and Sick-N-Twisted in Hill City, Crow Peak in Spearfish, and Firehouse in Rapid City. There are plenty of others as well.

It might be a little out of your way, but the Badlands are pretty cool to see, and on the way you could stop out and see the old missile silos if that interests you. There’s also Wall Drug, but again it’s a ways out of Rapid, and not something you’ll regret missing, it’s basically a bunch of souvenir shops and touristy things.

LastFirstMI is my name > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 14:08

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Have you ever been to the Davis Mountains or McDonald observatory in West Texas? Amazing stargazing! One of the few positives of living in the forgotten half of the state- sunsets and stars.

If you take the western route and want some fun 2-lane driving, road 1061 out of Amarillo is a blast. Norheastern New Mexico between Clayton and Raton is also really desolate and great for stargazing.

ttyymmnn > LastFirstMI is my name 03/12/2018 at 14:10

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My wife and I went to the McDonald Observatory about 15 years ago. We got a private tour by the head astronomer, and got to watch them shoot a laser at the Moon. We’ve been wanting to take our boys out that way, but we need to plan farther in advance. We want to stay at the hotel in Big Bend SP.

LastFirstMI is my name > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 14:13

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Isn’t that place cool? I hope I can take my kids to Big Bend too- but it’s hard to get to if you don’t live in the area!

ttyymmnn > LastFirstMI is my name 03/12/2018 at 14:16

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Hell, it’s hard to get to if you DO live in the area.

Dusty Ventures > ttyymmnn 03/12/2018 at 14:37

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If you’re going to Rushmore you NEED to go to the South Dakota Badlands as well. It’s just a few hours east of Rushmore. There’s also Jewel Cave an hour or so west, one of the longest known caves in the world (160 miles mapped so far, but measurements of the air currents suggest they may have only explored 10% at this point).

ttyymmnn > Dusty Ventures 03/12/2018 at 14:38

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Thanks for the tip!

LastFirstMI is my name > For Sweden 03/12/2018 at 14:59

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If Europeans had landed on the West coast first, nobody would live on the east coast.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Hammerdown 03/12/2018 at 20:10

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Everything west of Chamberlain is great. Well, relative to the rest of that part of the country. Highway 16a, whatever that one is, beautiful.

Source: native Minnesotan who’s spent a fair amount of time in and driving through SD.

Hammerdown > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 03/13/2018 at 08:02

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16a is Iron Mountain Rd, so we’re on the same page there!