Grand Canyon is the ‘Dark Sky Place' to Visit

David Perkins, Director of Sustainability at Xanterra (2nd from left), Grand Canyon National Park Ranger, Rader Lane, and Program Manager Vicky Stinson (center) receiving the International Dark Sky Place of the Year Award from members of the The International Dark-Sky Association, Ruskin Hartley, IDA Executive Director (far left) and Ken Kattner, IDA President (far right). Friday, November 8, 2019, Tucson, Arizona.

Karen Wright for the International Dark-Sky Association

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) presented Grand Canyon National Park the International Dark Sky Place of the Year Award in Tucson, Arizona, on Friday, November 8, 2019.

According to the IDA, the award is given in recognition of a recent exceptional achievement to an International Dark Sky Place.

“The Grand Canyon team and our Partners are so proud to receive this award, but the real winners are the millions of visitors that have the opportunity to experience the park’s pristine night skies,” said Grand Canyon National Park Program Manager Vicky Stinson.

An inventory was made of more than 5,000 exterior lights.

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The park achieved its International Dark Sky Park certification earlier this year after beginning the process in 2013 with an inventory of more than 5,000 exterior lights throughout the park. Through the inventory process, approximately 35% of the existing exterior lights were found to be dark sky compliant.

A three-year retrofit process began in 2016, which included retrofitting more than 1,750 light fixtures to make the park approximately 69% dark sky compliant. A majority of the retrofit was funded by the park’s official nonprofit partner, the Grand Canyon Conservancy; Xanterra also contributed through the installation of over 800 retrofits.

Visible glare, before (top) and after, dark sky compliant light fixtures were installed on the north porch of El Tovar Hotel.

NPS/M.Quinn

For the last three years, numerous park staff worked as a team toward achieving the International Dark Sky Park certification, including Craig Chenevert, Brian Donehoo, Santiago Garcia, Rader Lane, Mark Rose and Vicky Stinson.

The park is in the process of retrofitting more exterior light fixtures to obtain the goal of being 90% compliant, and will be focusing efforts at the North Rim, Phantom Ranch, and the South Rim. According to the IDA, the amount of lights inventoried and retrofitted makes Grand Canyon National Park one of the largest, most complex, International Dark Sky Parks in the world.

The IDA certification does not carry legal or regulatory authority; however, it demonstrates a commitment by parks to improve night skies through the use of more energy efficient, sustainable lighting. To learn more about Grand Canyon’s certification process, visit: https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/dark-sky-designation.htm.

The IDA certification does not carry legal or regulatory authority; however, it demonstrates a commitment by parks to improve night skies through the use of more energy efficient, sustainable lighting. To learn more about Grand Canyon’s certification process, visit: https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/dark-sky-designation.htm.

The Grand Canyon Star Party takes place every June

NPS/M.Quinn

The park also hosts year-round educational programming and an annual free dark sky party that runs for eight days in June on both rims.

The Grand Canyon Sky Party features ranger-led constellation tours, talks, photography workshops and hours of star gazing. The next Grand Canyon Star Party will be held June 13-20, 2020, and advance camping or lodging reservations are recommended. To learn more about the start party, visit: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm.

Located in Northern Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park encompasses 277 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands, and limitless views of starry skies.

Desert View Watchtower illuminated by moonlight under a starry night sky.

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