# Dark-sky preserve

A dark-sky preserve (DSP) is an area, usually surrounding a park or observatory, that restricts or reduces light pollution or maintains and protects naturally dark night skies. Different terms have been used to describe these areas as national organizations and governments have worked independently to create programs. DarkSky International (DarkSky) uses "International Dark Sky Reserve" (IDSR) and "International Dark Sky Park" (IDSP) among others when certifying Dark Sky Places.

## History

DarkSky International was founded in 1988 to reserve public or private land for an exquisite outlook of nocturnal territories and starry night skies. Dark-sky preserves are specifically conserved for their cultural, scientific, natural, or educational value and public enjoyment.
In 2007, the Mont Mégantic Observatory in Quebec was the first site to be certified as an International Dark Sky Reserve by DarkSky. The same year, Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah became the first International Dark Sky Park. The Gabriela Mistral Dark Sky Sanctuary in the Elqui Valley of Chile was designated as the world's first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2015.
A dark-sky preserve, or dark-sky reserve, should be sufficiently dark to promote astronomy. The lighting protocol for a dark-sky preserve is based on the sensitivity of wildlife to artificial light at night.
Canada has established an extensive and stringent standard for dark-sky preserves, that addresses lighting within dark-sky preserves and influences from skyglow from urban areas in the region. This was based on the work of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

## Dark Sky Places

DarkSky International's Dark Sky Places program currently offers five types of designations:
* International Dark Sky Communities – Communities are legally organized cities and towns that adopt quality outdoor lighting ordinances and undertake efforts to educate residents about the importance of dark skies.
* International Dark Sky Parks – Parks are publicly or privately owned spaces protected for natural conservation that implement good outdoor lighting and provide dark sky programs for visitors.
* International Dark Sky Reserves – Reserves consist of a dark "core" zone surrounded by a populated periphery where policy controls are enacted to protect the darkness of the core. These sites are established by a partnership of multiple land managers.
* International Dark Sky Sanctuaries – Sanctuaries are the most remote (and often darkest) places in the world whose conservation state is most fragile. The geographic isolation of these places significantly limits opportunities for outreach, so this designation is designed to increase awareness of these sites and promote their long-term conservation.
* Urban Night Sky Places – These places do not qualify for designation within any other category but are recognized for their efforts to educate the public on the benefits of proper outdoor lighting that ensures safety while minimizing potential harm to the natural nighttime environment. Urban Night Sky Places can be municipal parks, open spaces, or similar properties near or surrounded by an urban environment, but whose planning and design actively promote an authentic nighttime experience in the midst of significant artificial light.
Dark Sky Developments of Distinction recognize subdivisions, master planned communities, and unincorporated neighborhoods and townships whose planning actively promotes a more natural night sky but does not qualify them for the International Dark Sky Community designation. This designation was retired in 2020.
Further designations include "Dark Sky Nation", given to the Kaibab Indian Reservation, and "Parashant International Night Sky Province-Window to the Cosmos", given to Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument.

## Dark sky preserves, reserves, and parks

As of January 2023, there are 201 certified Dark Sky Places globally: 38 Communities, 115 Parks, 20 Reserves, 16 Sanctuaries, 6 Developments of Distinction and 6 Urban Night Sky Places.
| Country | Name | Location | Area (in ha) | Bortle Scale | Status | Notes |
| Australia | The Jump-Up, Australian Age of Dinosaurs | Queensland | 1,400 | 1–2 | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated on April 27, 2019 |
| Australia | Warrumbungle National Park | New South Wales | 23,312 | 1 | Dark Sky Park | Designated on July 4, 2016 |
| Australia | Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary | South Australia | 63,000 | | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated July 2023 |
| Australia | River Murray Dark Sky Reserve | South Australia | 320,000 | 2 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated October 2019 (gold tier) |
| Austria | Naturpark Attersee-Traunsee | Upper Austria | 10,600 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated April 2021 |
| Brazil | Desengano State Park | Rio de Janeiro | 22,400 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated December 2021 |
| Canada | Beaver Hills | Alberta | 29,300 | 4.5 | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated on September 3, 2006 |
| Canada | Cypress Hills | Alberta / Saskatchewan | 39,600 | 2 | | Designated on September 28, 2004 |
| Canada | Jasper National Park | Alberta | 1,122,800 | 1–2 | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated on March 11, 2011 |
| Canada United States | Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park | Alberta / Montana | 460,600 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated April 2017 |
| Canada | Wood Buffalo National Park | Alberta / NWT | 4,480,700 | 1–2 | UNESCO World Heritage Dark Sky Preserve | Designated on June 28, 2013 |
| Canada | Cattle Point | Oak Bay, British Columbia | 5 | | Urban Star Park | Designated March 29, 2013 |
| Canada | McDonald Park | British Columbia | 5 | 2–3 | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated in 2003 |
| Canada | Fundy National Park | New Brunswick | 20,700 | 2 | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated on October 31, 2011 |
| Canada | Irving Nature Park | Saint John, New Brunswick | 243 | | Urban Star Park | Designated on July 1, 2011; First RASC-designated Urban Star Park |
| Canada | Kouchibouguac National Park | New Brunswick | 23,920 | 2 | | Designated on June 6, 2009 |
| Canada | Mount Carleton Provincial Park | New Brunswick | 17,427 | 2 | | Designated on July 18, 2009 |
| Canada | Kejimkujik National Park | Nova Scotia | 40,400 | 2 | | Designated on August 7, 2010 |
| Canada | Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre | Ontario | 129 | 2 | | Designated on November 3, 2012, by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada |
| Canada | Bruce Peninsula Fathom Five National Marine Park | Ontario | 16,700 | 2–3 | | Designated on March 29, 2009 |
| Canada | Gordon's Park | Ontario | 43.7 | 2–3 | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated on August 15, 2009; designation is only for the Park though Manitoulin Island (276,611 ha) follows dark-sky practices |
| Canada | Lake Superior Provincial Park | Ontario | 155,600 | 1-2 | | Designated in July 2018 |
| Canada | Killarney Provincial Park | Ontario | 64,500 | 1-2 | | Designated in May 2018 |
| Canada | North Frontenac Township | Ontario | 116,000 | 1–2 | | Designated on August 3, 2013, first Municipality in Canada to achieve Dark Sky Preserve Status. |
| Canada | Point Pelee National Park | Ontario | 2,000 | 3–4 | | Designated in 2006 |
| Canada | Quetico Provincial Park | Ontario | 471,800 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated February 2021 |
| Canada | Torrance Barrens | Ontario | 1,906 | 3 | | Designated in 1999; first Canadian dark sky preserve |
| Canada | Mont Mégantic Observatory | Quebec | 527,500 | 2–3 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated Sept. 2007; first IDA International Dark-Sky Reserve |
| Canada | Parc du Mont-Bellevue | Quebec | 159 | 5 | Urban Night Sky Place | Designated September 2022 |
| Canada | Mont-Tremblant National Park | Quebec | 146,600 | | Dark Sky Park | Designated August 2023 |
| Canada | Grasslands National Park | Saskatchewan | 92,100 | 1 | | Designated on October 2, 2009 |
| Chile | Gabriela Mistral | Elqui Valley | 36,400 | | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated in 2015 |
| Croatia | Jelsa | Hvar | 12,120 | | Dark Sky Community | Designated 2022 |
| Croatia | Petrova Gora-Biljeg | | 2,930 | | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2019 |
| Croatia | Vrani kamen | | 8,000 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2019 |
| Czech Republic Slovakia | Beskydy Dark-Sky Park | Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic Čadca District, Slovakia | 30,800 | 3–4 | | Designated on March 4, 2013; The second world's bilateral dark-sky park |
| Czech Republic | Manětín Dark-Sky Park | Plzeň Region | 34,600 | 3–5 | | Designated on September 15, 2014 |
| Czech Republic Poland | Jizera Dark-Sky Park | Liberec Region, Czech Republic Lower Silesia, Poland | 7,500 | 3–4 | | Designated on November 4, 2009; the first European dark-sky park and the first world's bilateral dark-sky park |
| Denmark | Dark Sky Park Bulbjerg | Frøstrup | 1,250 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2023 |
| Denmark | Mandø | | 846 | | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2024 |
| Denmark | Møn and Nyord | Zealand | 1,100 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2017 |
| France | Pic du Midi de Bigorre | Hautes-Pyrénées | 311,200 | 2–4 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated an IDA International Dark Sky Reserve in December 2013; First IDA International Dark Sky Reserve in Europe. |
| France | Alpes Azur Mercantour | Beuil | 225,000 | | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated in 2019. |
| France | Cévennes National Park | Cévennes | 360,000 | | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated in 2018. |
| France | Regional Natural Park of Millevaches in Limousin | Millevaches | 335,000 | | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated in 2021. |
| Germany | Winklmoosalm | Bavaria | 79 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated May 2018 |
| Germany | Westhavelland Nature Park | Brandenburg | 152,900 | | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated an IDA International Dark Sky Reserve on February 12, 2014 |
| Germany | Eifel National Park | North Rhine-Westphalia | 10,700 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2014 |
| Germany | Rhön Biosphere Reserve | Rhön Mountains | 172,000 | 3 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated in 2014. |
| Greece | Aenos National Park | Cephalonia | 2,860 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated June 2023 |
| Hungary | Bükk National Park | Bükk Mountains | 43,130 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2017 |
| Hungary | Hortobágy Starry Sky Park | Various counties | 10,000 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated on January 31, 2011; IDA's third international dark-sky park (Silver tier) |
| Hungary | Zselic National Landscape Protection Area | Somogy County / Baranya County | 9,042 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated on November 16, 2009 |
| India | Indian Astronomical Observatory | Hanle in Ladakh | 70,000 | | | Designated in September 2022. |
| Ireland | Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve | Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry | 70,000 | 1–3 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated an IDA International Dark Sky Reserve on January 27, 2014 |
| Israel | Makhtesh Ramon | Southern District | 110,000 | 2–3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated September 14, 2017 |
| Japan | Minami-Rokuroshi | Fukui Prefecture | 1,230 | | Urban Night Sky Place | Designated August 2023 |
| Japan | Bisei Town, Ibara City | Okayama Prefecture | 7271 | 4.5 | Dark Sky Community | Designated November 2021 |
| Japan | Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park | Okinawa Prefecture | 40,658 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated April 2018 |
| Japan | Kozushima Dark Sky Island | Oshima Subprefecture | 1,858 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated November 2020 |
| Mexico | Joya-La Barreta Ecological Park | Querétaro | 245 | | Urban Night Sky Place | Designated September 2023 |
| Mexico United States | Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve | Chihuahua / Coahuila / Texas | 3,885,000 | 3 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated April 2022 |
| Namibia | NamibRand Nature Reserve | Hardap Region | 202,200 | | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated in 2012. |
| The Netherlands | De Boschplaat | Terschelling, Friesland | 2,400 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated on October 7, 2016 |
| The Netherlands | Lauwersmeer | Friesland | 5,000 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated October 2016 |
| New Zealand | Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve | Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, Mackenzie Basin, Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki | 436,700 | 3 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated on June 9, 2012 |
| New Zealand | Aotea / Great Barrier Island | Great Barrier Island | 28,500 | 2 | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated in 2017 |
| New Zealand | Oxford Forest Conservation Area | North Canterbury | 11,350 | | Dark Sky Park | Designated in 2024 |
| New Zealand | Stewart Island-Rakiura | Stewart Island | 174,600 | 2 | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated in 2019 |
| New Zealand | Wai-iti Dark Sky Park | Tasman District | 135 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated in 2020 |
| New Zealand | Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve | Wairarapa | 366,500 | 2 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated in 2023 |
| Niue | Niue | Niue | 25,900 | 2 | Dark Sky Sanctuary / Dark Sky Community | Designated in 2020. First whole country to become an International Dark Sky Place. |
| Poland | Bieszczady Starry-Sky Park | Subcarpathia | 113,846 | 2–3 | | Designated on March 8, 2013 |
| Poland | Sopotnia Wielka | Silesian Voivodeship | | | Dark Sky Community | Designated November 2023 |
| Poland Slovakia Ukraine | East Carpathian Dark-Sky Tripark | Bieszczady Starry-Sky Park (Poland) Poloniny Dark-Sky Park (Slovakia) Transcarpathian Dark-Sky Park (Ukraine) | 208,667 | 2–3 | | Designated on September 9, 2016; first world's trilateral dark-sky park |
| Slovakia | Poloniny Dark-Sky Park | Poloniny National Park | 48,519 | 2–3 | | Designated on December 3, 2010 |
| Slovakia | Veľká Fatra Dark-Sky Park | Veľká Fatra National Park (part of) | 325 | 3–4 | | Designated on June 12, 2015 |
| South Africa | !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 95,000 | | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated in 2019 |
| South Korea | Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park | North Gyeongsang Province, Yeongyang County | 390 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated on November 1, 2015 |
| Spain | Albanyà | Catalonia | 9,440 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated June 2017 |
| Ukraine | Transcarpathian Dark-Sky Park | Uzhansky National Nature Park | 46,302 | 2 | | Designated on June 10, 2016 |
| United Kingdom | Sark | Channel Islands | 545 | 3 | Dark Sky Community | Designated on January 31, 2011; IDA's first international dark-sky island (Silver tier) |
| United Kingdom | Bodmin Moor Dark Sky Landscape | Cornwall | 43,400 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated July 2017 |
| United Kingdom | West Penwith | Cornwall | 13,584 | 3-4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated December 2021 |
| United Kingdom | Exmoor National Park | Devon / Somerset | 18,100 | 3 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated October 10, 2011 |
| United Kingdom | Cranborne Chase National Landscape | Dorset / Hampshire / Wiltshire | 98,300 | 4-4.5 | Dark Sky Reserve (Provisional) | Designated October 2019 |
| United Kingdom | Moore’s Reserve | Hampshire / Sussex | 162,700 | 4.5 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated May 2016 |
| United Kingdom | OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory | Northern Ireland | 1,402 | 1-2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated September 2020 |
| United Kingdom | Northumberland International Dark Sky Park | Northumberland | 148,200 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated on December 9, 2013 |
| United Kingdom | North York Moors National Park | North Yorkshire | 143,600 | 4 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated December 2020 |
| United Kingdom | Yorkshire Dales National Park | North Yorkshire | 218,000 | 4-4.5 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated 2020 |
| United Kingdom | Mata ki te Rangi (Eyes To the Sky) | Pitcairn Islands | 4,325 | 1 | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated March 18, 2019 |
| United Kingdom | Galloway Forest Park | Scotland | 75,000 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated on November 16, 2009 |
| United Kingdom | Isle of Coll | Scotland | 7,700 | 1 | Dark Sky Community | Designated on December 9, 2013 |
| United Kingdom | Moffat | Scotland | 18,700 | 4 | Dark Sky Community | Designated 2016 |
| United Kingdom | North Ronaldsay Dark Sky Island | Scotland | 700 | 5 | Dark Sky Community | Designated 2021 |
| United Kingdom | Tomintoul and Glenlivet – Cairngorms National Park | Scotland | 24,400 | 3-4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2018 |
| United Kingdom | Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli) | Wales | 179 | 2 | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated February 22, 2023 |
| United Kingdom | Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park | Wales | 134,700 | 4 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated February 19, 2013 |
| United Kingdom | Elan Valley Estate | Wales | 18,000 | 3-4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2015 |
| United Kingdom | Snowdonia National Park (Eryri) | Wales | 213,200 | 4 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated 2015 |
| United Kingdom | Presteigne and Norton Dark Sky Community | Wales | 4,000 | | Dark Sky Community | Designated 2023 |
| United States | Chiricahua National Monument | Arizona | 4,860 | 1 | Dark Sky Park | Designated April 2021 |
| United States | Flagstaff | Arizona | 17,100 | 5 | Dark Sky Community | Designated 2001, first Dark Sky Place certified by the IDA |
| United States | Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument / Walnut Canyon National Monument / Wupatki National Monument | Arizona | 17,500 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2016 |
| United States | Fountain Hills | Arizona | 5,270 | 6 | Dark Sky Community | Designated 2018 |
| United States | Grand Canyon National Park | Arizona | 493,100 | 1-2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated June 2016 |
| United States | Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument | Arizona | 404,700 | 1 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2014 |
| United States | Kartchner Caverns State Park | Arizona | 290 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated August 2017 |
| United States | Oracle State Park | Arizona | 1,619 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2014 |
| United States | Petrified Forest National Park | Arizona | 59,460 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated June 2018 |
| United States | Pipe Spring National Monument | Arizona | 16 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated March 2021 |
| United States | Sedona | Arizona | 4,970 | 4 | Dark Sky Community | Designated 2014 |
| United States | Anza-Borrego Desert State Park | California | 237,100 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated January 2018 |
| United States | Death Valley National Park | California | 1,374,300 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2013 |
| United States | Joshua Tree National Park | California | 321,800 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated July 26, 2017 |
| United States | Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park | Colorado | 12,440 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2015 |
| United States | Curecanti National Recreation Area | Colorado | 17,003 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated August 2021 |
| United States | Dinosaur National Monument | Colorado / Utah | 85,098 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated April 2019 |
| United States | Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument | Colorado | 2,427 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated June 2021 |
| United States | Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve | Colorado | 60,310 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2019 |
| United States | Hovenweep National Monument | Colorado / Utah | 310 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2014 |
| United States | Jackson Lake State Park | Colorado | 1,320 | 3-4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated September 2020 |
| United States | Lake Fork Earth and Sky Center | Colorado | 24 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated September 2020 |
| United States | Mesa Verde National Park | Colorado | 21,200 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated April 2021 |
| United States | Norwood | Colorado | 104 | 5 | Dark Sky Community | Designated 2019 |
| United States | Top of the Pines | Colorado | 71 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated November 2021 |
| United States | Big Cypress National Preserve | Florida | 290,000 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2016 |
| United States | Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park | Florida | 21,853 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2016 |
| United States | Stephen C. Foster State Park | Georgia | 32 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated November 2016 |
| United States | Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve | Idaho | 366,742 | 3 | Dark Sky Reserve | Designated December 2017 |
| United States | Craters of the Moon National Monument | Idaho | 303,500 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated August 2017 |
| United States | Middle Fork River Forest Preserve | Illinois | 688 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2018 |
| United States | Potawatomi Wildlife Park | Indiana | 116 | 4.5 | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated in 2003 |
| United States | Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine Woods | Maine | 29,900 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated May 2021 |
| United States | Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument | Maine | 35,400 | 3 | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated May 2020 |
| United States | Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area | Michigan | 3,720 | | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated April 2024 |
| United States | Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park | Michigan | 340 | 4.5 | Dark Sky Park | Designated January 2020 |
| United States | The Headlands | Michigan | 220 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated in 2011 |
| United States | Keweenaw Dark Sky Park | Michigan | 226 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated in June 2022 |
| United States | Lake Hudson State Recreation Area | Michigan | 890 | 3 | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated in 1993 |
| United States | Negwegon State Park | Michigan | 1,513 | | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated in 2016 |
| United States | Port Crescent State Park | Michigan | 2,400 | 3 | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated in 2012 |
| United States | Rockport Recreation Area | Michigan | 4,800 | | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated in 2016 |
| United States | Thompson's Harbor State Park | Michigan | 2,068 | 2 | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated in 2016 |
| United States | Wilderness State Park | Michigan | 4,254 | 2 | Dark Sky Preserve | Designated in 2012 |
| United States | Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness | Minnesota | 440,000 | 1 | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated in 2020 |
| United States | Voyageurs National Park | Minnesota | 88,200 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated in 2020 |
| United States | Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge | Montana | 3,730 | | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated October 2022 |
| United States | Medicine Rocks State Park | Montana | 140 | 1 | Dark Sky Park | Designated December 2020 |
| United States | Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area | Nebraska | 295 | 3-4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2022 |
| United States | Great Basin National Park | Nevada | 31,230 | 1 | Dark Sky Park | Designated in 2016 |
| United States | Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area | Nevada | 40,990 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated April 2019 |
| United States | Capulin Volcano National Monument | New Mexico | 320 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated August 2016 |
| United States | Chaco Culture National Historical Park | New Mexico | 13,759 | 2–3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated on August 28, 2013 |
| United States | Clayton Lake State Park | New Mexico | 79.6 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated June 29, 2010 |
| United States | El Morro National Monument | New Mexico | 517 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated December 2019 |
| United States | Fort Union National Monument | New Mexico | 290 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated September 2019 |
| United States | Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument | New Mexico | 399 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated September 2016 |
| United States | Tonto National Monument | New Mexico | 450 | 4-4.5 | Dark Sky Park | Designated May 2019 |
| United States | Tumacácori National Historical Park | New Mexico | 150 | 4-4.5 | Dark Sky Park | Designated May 2018 |
| United States | Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge | New Mexico | 230 | 6 | Urban Night Sky Place | Designated October 2019 |
| United States | Valles Caldera National Preserve | New Mexico | 36100 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated February 2021 |
| United States | Geauga Observatory Park | Ohio | 450 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated on August 20, 2011 |
| United States | Oregon Outback | Oregon | 1,007,421 | | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated on March 11, 2024 |
| United States | Prineville Reservoir State Park | Oregon | 120 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated May 2021 |
| United States | Cherry Springs State Park | Pennsylvania | 430 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated as a State DSP in 2000 by the Pennsylvania DCNR; Designated as an International DSP on June 11, 2007, by the IDA. |
| United States | Bee Cave | Texas | 2,221 | 9 | Dark Sky Community | Designated 2023 |
| United States | Big Bend National Park | Texas | 324,219 | 3-4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated February 11, 2012 |
| United States | Big Bend Ranch State Park | Texas | 125,800 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated November 2017 |
| United States | Black Gap Wildlife Management Area | Texas | 41,680 | 3 | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated August 2021 |
| United States | Copper Breaks State Park | Texas | 782 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated August 6, 2014 |
| United States | Devils River State Natural Area — Del Norte Unit | Texas | 8,030 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Sanctuary | Designated January 2019 |
| United States | Dripping Springs | Texas | 30,300 | 5 | Dark Sky Community | Designated February 11, 2014 |
| United States | Enchanted Rock State Natural Area | Texas | 682 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated August 6, 2014 |
| United States | Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park | Texas | 640 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated November 2021 |
| United States | Milton Reimers Ranch Park | Texas | 982 | 4.5 | Dark Sky Park | Designated November 2021 |
| United States | UBarU Camp and Retreat Center | Texas | 57.5 | 2–3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated in 2015; only DSP in the USA on private land |
| United States | Antelope Island State Park | Utah | 11,660 | 4.5 | Dark Sky Park | Designated April 2017 |
| United States | Arches National Park | Utah | 31,000 | 3-4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated July 2019 |
| United States | Bryce Canyon National Park | Utah | 14,500 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated August 2019 |
| United States | Canyonlands National Park | Utah | 136,500 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated August 2015 |
| United States | Capitol Reef National Park | Utah | 99,000 | 1 | Dark Sky Park | Designated April 2015 |
| United States | Cedar Breaks National Monument | Utah | 2,490 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated March 2017 |
| United States | Dead Horse Point State Park | Utah | 2,170 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated June 2016 |
| United States | East Canyon State Park | Utah | 295 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated August 2020 |
| United States | Fremont Indian State Park | Utah | 486 | 2-3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated March 2021 |
| United States | Goblin Valley State Park | Utah | 4,012 | 3-4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated September 2016 |
| United States | Goosenecks State Park | Utah | 40 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated March 2021 |
| United States | Jordanelle State Park | Utah | 2,710 | 4.5 | Dark Sky Park | Designated January 2021 |
| United States | Natural Bridges National Monument | Utah | 3,090 | 2 | Dark Sky Park | Designated in 2007; first international dark-sky park |
| United States | North Fork Park | Utah | 1,000 | 4.5 | Dark Sky Park | Designated 2015 |
| United States | Rainbow Bridge National Monument | Utah | 41,400 | 5 | Dark Sky Park | Designated April 2018 |
| United States | Rockport State Park | Utah | 480 | 4 | Dark Sky Park | Designated January 2021 |
| United States | Timpanogos Cave National Monument | Utah | 100 | 5 | Urban Night Sky Place | Designated September 2020 |
| United States | Zion National Park | Utah | 58,800 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated June 2021 |
| United States | Sky Meadows State Park | Virginia | 754 | 4.5 | Dark Sky Park | Designated April 2021 |
| United States | Goldendale Observatory | Washington | 2 | | Dark Sky Park | Designated June 29, 2010 |
| United States | Newport State Park | Wisconsin | 960 | 3 | Dark Sky Park | Designated in 2017 |

## Protected zones
### Around observatories

| Name | Country | Radius (in km) |
| Mount John University Observatory | New Zealand | 37 |
| Kitt Peak | US | 56 |
| Mont Mégantic Observatory | Canada | 50 |
| Palomar Observatory | US | 48 |
| Mount Hopkins | US | 40 |
| Monte Ekar Observatory | Italy | 30 |
| Asiago Astrophysical Observatory | Italy | 30 |
| Mount Laguna | US | 24 |
| Observatoire de Haute-Provence | France | 15 |
| Ondřejov Observatory | Czech Republic | 10 |
| Kleť | Czech Republic | 10 |
| Dominion Astrophysical Observatory | Canada | 5 |
| McDonald Observatory | US | 92 |
| Molėtai Astronomical Observatory | Lithuania | 3.5 |

### Other

Some regions, like the following, are protected without any reference to an observatory or a park.
* Regions of Coquimbo, Atacama, and Antofagasta in northern Chile
* The island of La Palma of the Canary Islands
* The Big Island of Hawaii
* Florida beach communities restrict lighting on beaches, to preserve hatchling Sea Turtles.

## By country
### Canada

In the Canadian program, lighting within the area must be strictly controlled to minimize the impact of artificial lighting on wildlife. These guidelines are more stringent than in other countries that lack the extensive wilderness areas that still exist in Canada. The management of a Canadian DSP extends their outreach programs from the public that visit the site to include the promotion of better lighting policies in surrounding urban areas. Currently, dark-sky preserves have more control over internal and external lighting than other programs.
With the increase in regional light pollution, some observatories have actively worked with cities in their region to establish protection zones where there is controlled light pollution. These areas may not yet have been declared dark-sky preserves.
Although dark-sky preserve designations are generally sought by astronomers, it is clear that preserving natural darkness has positive effects on the health of nocturnal wildlife within the parks. For example, the nocturnal black-footed ferret was reintroduced to the Grasslands National Park dark-sky preserve and the success of the reintroduction is enhanced by the pristine natural darkness maintained within the park by the DSP agreement.

## Scotland

The island of Rùm in the Hebrides was declared a Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2024. The island has a small population who value the dark sky, and know that too much artificial light negatively affects the young of the Manx Shearwater birds that breed on the island. The local population worked to gain this designation. It is the second such designation in Europe, and the first in Scotland.