WI Dark Sky Places

Current Dark Sky Projects in Wisconsin

Protecting The Dark Sky Places: One Star at A Time

Wisconsin is working on dark sky initiatives across the state—efforts you can join to help protect Wisconsin’s dark sky places and keep the stars shining bright. For more information, contact the individual organizations listed below.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

The “Starry Skies Initiative” of Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is working with the National Park Service and the local communities of Bayfield, Red Cliff, Washburn, and Ashland to preserve some of the darkest skies in the Midwest over the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. For more information, contact Friends of the Apostle Islands, P.O. Box 1574, Bayfield, WI 54814 (715) 449-6900 or visit their website at friendsoftheapostleislands.org.

Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative

The Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative began in 2021 with the goal of establishing an International Dark Sky Park incorporating Wildcat Mountain State Park, Kickapoo Valley Reserve and Tunnelville Cliffs on 13,300 acres in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin. By the time the application process was completed in the fall of 2023, regional light pollution had increased more than 50%, making the land temporarily ineligible for Dark Sky Park status. It became apparent that regional lighting changes, especially adoption of LEDs emitting high levels of “blue” light were largely to blame. Undaunted, the Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative is taking action to change the local story by replacing local lighting and empowering decision makers and residents with the knowledge to do the same to bring back our night. For more information, visit http://www.4darkskies.org/.

Copper Falls State Park

The Town of Morse Comprehensive Planning Committee, working with the Copper Falls State Park superintendent, the City of Mellen, and the Park Friends group are seeking a DarkSky International designation for Copper Falls State Park. This initiative pursues our economic, recreational, and community development objectives. The Park’s quality night sky is a resource for astrotourism and education. The Park Naturalist is preparing a relevant summer program, the superintendent is on board with protective artificial light management, and we are outlining an aggressive policy advocacy program and educational outreach on light pollution. The target group is our seventh generation who will enjoy and be awe-struck by the Milky Way on a starry night. For more information contact Jim Brennan, james.m.brennan@gmail.com or (715) 274-3405.

Newport State Park

Wisconsin’s Only Dark Sky Park!

Located in Ellison Bay, this is Wisconsin’s only wilderness state park became the first state park in Wisconsin to be designated by International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) as an International Dark Sky Park, the only park in Wisconsin to hold the distinction. Located at the far end of the Door Peninsula and on the shores of Lake Michigan, Newport State Park is one of the darkest spots in the state. The park is one place where you will find out what a dark sky truly looks like, making it a prime destination for anyone from casual stargazers to astronomers. For more information, visit https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/

Join us in protecting Wisconsin’s night skies.

Get involved with DarkSky Wisconsin and help reverse light pollution across our state.