Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve in Stanley, Idaho

Central Idaho’s vast expanses of undisturbed natural landscapes provide a unique backdrop for taking in the night sky. At the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, community members, public land managers, and private landowners have come together to protect this treasured resource. In 2017, the site became the first designated Dark Sky Reserve in America as decided by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), making it one of only 12 worldwide at the time. (As of 2025, the list of Dark Sky Reserves has grown to 25.) Also in 2017, the city of Ketchum— located inside the reserve—received the ti...