A Practical Guide to
Sleeping Under the Stars
The View is Stellar
If you have never fallen asleep under a sky so bright you can trace constellations with your finger, this trip will change what you think a night outdoors can be.
Southwest Idaho offers some of the clearest, darkest skies in the country. It’s not everywhere you can lie back and watch the Milky Way stretch from ridge to ridge. That’s a feeling you carry long after you return home.
Southwest Idaho is home to forests, mountains, and desert landscapes far from city lights, including one of Idaho’s three official International Dark Sky Parks at Bruneau Dunes State Park. That’s bucket list material.
Check out our stargazing guide for the best dark sky locations.
Stargazing from a yurt
Unique Places to Lay Your Head
Camping
Southwest Idaho is well known for its camping scene, thanks to its beautiful, untouched wilderness. The number of great stargazing spots is too high to count, but a perfect place to start is right in the heart of the Bruneau Dunes Dark Sky zone. The Bruneau Dunes State Park offers the same pristine night sky used by scientists at the nearby observatory.
Lowman Yurts
Tucked deep in the forest and far from city lights, these yurts deliver true dark sky conditions. Step outside and see the night sky framed perfectly above the trees. The nearby lodge also features a pizzeria, drinks, and live music once you’re ready to step back into reality. This is an easy drive-in location.
Cascade Dome
This clear glass dome, often called a “bubble hotel,” lets you fall asleep while staring straight at the stars. Minimal ambient light and easy access to year-round outdoor recreation make this undoubtedly one of the most distinctly Idaho places to spend the night. Perfect for travelers who want a little adventure with their stargazing.
Idaho City Yurts
These backcountry yurts are a bit more substantial than the others on this list. With fully equipped kitchens and dining spaces, they start to feel like a home away from home. Some require a hike or snowshoe, depending on the season, and the reward is a wide-open view of the sky above the pines. Some are drive-up, some are hike-in, so check access details before you go.
Photo Credit: Visit Idaho
Packing Guide
Most of these locations are within an hour or two of Boise, but some require travel on forest roads or a short hike, so check ahead. That might also mean bringing headlamps or some other light source, depending on where you’re staying.
Colder nights usually mean fewer clouds and better viewing conditions, so bring more layers than you think you’ll need. Pack blankets to sit or roll up in. All of the campground and some of the yurts will require you to bring your own bedding anyway, so it doesn’t hurt to be prepared! And, for the darkest skies, avoid full moon nights.
Stargazing is fun on its own, but to take it to the next level, we recommend downloading a planetarium app. These can help you plan around meteor showers and other celestial events, plus they act like a personal cosmos tour guide while you’re out. Most let you identify stars and planets in real time by pointing your phone skyward. Here are a few to consider…
- SkyView: Includes augmented reality viewing and tracking for the International Space Station.
- Stellarium Mobile: A mobile version of the well-known desktop planetarium software.
- Star Walk 2: A popular educational tool.
- Night Sky: Only available on iOS and popular for a reason. This one allows you to track where the Northern Lights may be visible, which does occasionally happen in Southwest Idaho!
Not Your Average Starry Night
It’s difficult to describe the experience of a night of stargazing in Southwest Idaho, so we won’t even try. It’s just one of those things that has to be seen to be believed. Idahoans know it — that’s why we won’t shut up about it. Come see for yourself. It’s wild.
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