Experience the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary
One of the darkest places in the world for stargazing and astrophotography Plan Your VisitLearn About Our Dark Sky
Premier Destination: Lake County, Oregon
The Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary (OOIDSS) welcomes stargazers, astronomers, and nature enthusiasts seeking an unparalleled night sky experience. Located in the remote high desert of Lake County, Oregon, this sanctuary offers some of the most pristine dark skies in the continental United States.
Certified in 2024 by DarkSky International
Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary, the OOIDSS, became the first and only sanctuary in Oregon and one of the few certified Dark Sky Sanctuaries worldwide. This recognition honors not only the region’s outstanding natural darkness but also the collaborative efforts of local communities, land managers, and conservationists to preserve and protect this irreplaceable resource.
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How to Visit the Oregon Outback
A Place Where the Night Comes Alive with Wildlife and Starlight
Imagine standing in a place so vast and still, the horizon seems endless—and as night falls, a velvety-black sky unfolds overhead, glittering with countless stars. Welcome to the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary—the largest certified dark sky sanctuary in the world and one of the last places in the U.S. where you can experience a true, unspoiled night.
What's So Special About the Oregon Outback?
The Outback boasts land elevations over a mile-high, broad vistas sweeping across sage-scrub basins and alkali lakes, mountain top visits, and a very dry climate. With a sparse population and minimal lights, astrophotography that normally takes hours to image elsewhere takes just minutes instead in the Bortle 1 night skies over the Outback, some of the most pristine skies found in the contiguous United States.
