4 of the Best Places to Stargaze in Southwest Montana

Southwest Montana is one of the best places in the country for stargazing. Rural landscapes and sparsely populated areas mean there’s far less light pollution than most places, and the big skies the region is known for give you plenty of room to take it all in. The cosmos really shine once you travel outside of the region’s three major cities of Butte, Dillon, and Helena. On a clear night, you can expect to see the Milky Way, meteor showers, and thousands of stars overhead. On especially lucky nights, you might even spot the northern lights dancing across the sky.

For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.

— Vincent van Gogh

From the ghost town at Bannack State Park to the shores of Canyon Ferry, Southwest Montana is home to some truly spectacular stargazing spots. You don’t need fancy equipment or special training to enjoy night sky viewing, just a willingness to look up and maybe a blanket to lie down on. We’ve rounded up four of our favorite stargazing locations across the region, each one worth staying out just a little bit later for.

Night sky photograph taken at Homestake Pass near Butte, Montana, looking up at the dense and luminous core of the Milky Way galaxy glowing in shades of purple, blue, and silver against a deeply dark sky, with the bold black silhouette of a mountain ridgeline and scattered pine trees cutting across the lower frame, the faint outline of a tall structure or post visible against the stars, showcasing the exceptional dark sky conditions found along the Continental Divide in southwest Montana just minutes from Butte, Montana. Photo by Sarah Bolt, Tempest Technologies. — The galaxy stretches wide above the Continental Divide at Homestake Pass near Butte, Montana | Sarah Bolt, Tempest Technologies

1. Canyon Ferry Reservoir and the Montana Learning Center

Just east of Helena, Montana, is Canyon Ferry Reservoir, stretching far and wide in every direction, giving you an unobstructed view of the night sky that’s hard to compare to anywhere else in the region. Away from Helena’s light pollution, stars reflect off the calm water while the Milky Way stretches across the night sky.

Panoramic night sky photograph of the Milky Way galaxy arching over Canyon Ferry Lake near Helena, Montana, with vivid green and teal aurora-like atmospheric glow illuminating the horizon, golden light reflecting off the calm glassy water below, silhouetted evergreen tree line framing the shoreline, and thousands of stars visible in the dark sky above southwest Montana's most iconic reservoir, taken at the Montana Learning Center, a premier destination for stargazing and astronomy education in Montana. — The Milky Way over Canyon Ferry Lake at the Montana Learning Center near Helena, MT | Ryan Hannahoe with MLC

What sets Canyon Ferry apart from the other locations on this list is the Montana Learning Center, a STEM education facility on the north side of the lake just minutes outside of Helena. The Montana Learning Center is home to the largest public-use telescope in Montana. They also offer telescope rentals, and a knowledgeable instructor will send you off with some tips and tricks on how to use it before you head out for an incredible night of stargazing. One of the most popular offerings at the Montana Learning Center, though? The public night sky viewing events they host during the summer as part of their Beyond the Big Sky series. Before you make the drive out, check their SkyCam for current conditions and their Clear Sky Weather Chart for forecasts of how clear the night skies will be.

If you want to make a night of it, there are plenty of campgrounds situated around Canyon Ferry, each offering impressive night sky views. Hellgate Campground sits right on the east banks of the reservoir, while White Earth Campground and The Silos Marina and Campground also offer fantastic views from the west side of the reservoir.

2. Bannack State Park

Night sky and Milky Way galaxy photographed above a traditional canvas tipi at Bannack State Park campground in southwest Montana, with thousands of stars and the bright core of the Milky Way arching overhead in vivid blue and teal tones, surrounded by a silhouetted treeline and the dark rolling landscape of Beaverhead County, Montana, offering a glimpse of the immersive stargazing and historic camping experience available at one of Montana's most beloved ghost town state parks — A canvas tipi stands beneath a sky full of stars at Bannack State Park campground near Dillon, Montana | Sarah Bolt, Tempest Technologies

Bannack was Montana’s first territorial capital, back before Montana was even a state! Buildings from the 1860s gold rush still line the streets of what was once a booming mining town. Now a State Park and preserved as a national historic landmark, Bannack sits empty, and it’s one of the region’s most famous ghost towns. It’s a really cool stop to make during the daytime, but it’s even more impressive after dark. Located about 25 miles from Dillon, Montana, the park sits well outside the reach of any city lights, making it one of the darkest spots in the region. Bannack also has a reputation for paranormal activity, so depending on who you ask, you might not be the only one out there after dark.

If you want to sleep under the stars, Vigilante and Road Agent Campgrounds are both located right inside of Bannack State Park.

3. Earthquake Lake

Earthquake Lake, also called Quake Lake, is a place that didn’t exist before 1959. You read that right! Quake Lake arose as a consequence of the largest earthquake ever recorded in Montana! The 7.2 magnitude earthquake triggered a landslide into the Madison River, completely blocking the flow. It’s located between West Yellowstone and Ennis, and you’ll drive past it if you take Highway 287 between the two towns. During the summer, the visitor center is open every day, but after sunset, Quake Lake becomes one of the darkest and most memorable places to watch the night sky in Southwest Montana.

Vertical night sky photograph taken at Earthquake Lake in southwest Montana's Madison River Valley, capturing the brilliant core of the Milky Way galaxy arching over a dramatic mountain ridgeline, with the eerie silhouettes of standing dead trees rising from the still reflective water below, a haunting and beautiful reminder of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake that created this unique geological landmark, showcasing southwest Montana's extraordinary dark sky photography locations and the otherworldly landscape of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness corridor near West Yellowstone. Photo by @fatkitty13 on Instagram. — Standing dead trees rise from the still waters of Earthquake Lake beneath a star-scattered sky | Photo by @fatkitty13 on Instagram

There are a few campgrounds along Highway 287 that serve as great home bases for night sky viewing at Quake Lake, but if you’re looking for a warm, cozy bed and a hot shower in the morning, there are lodging options in both Ennis and Virginia City, and each are just a short drive from the lake.

4. Homestake Pass

Landscape night sky photograph of the Milky Way galaxy arching over a yurt at Homestake Lodge near Butte, Montana, with a warmly lit yurt glowing from within against the deep darkness of the surrounding landscape, tall silhouetted evergreen trees framing the right side of the frame, rolling foothills and mountains visible in the background beneath a sky dense with stars, highlighting one of Southwest Montana's most unique dark sky lodging, off road ATV and UTV, and Nordic ski destinations in the Deer Lodge National Forest. Photo by Sarah Bolt, Tempest Technologies. — A glowing yurt tucks into the darkness at Homestake Lodge near Butte, Montana, as stars fill the sky above | Sarah Bolt, Tempest Technologies

Probably best known for its seemingly endless miles of public land and trails along the Continental Divide just east of Butte, Montana, Homestake Pass is also one of the most underrated stargazing locations in the region. Up on Homestake Pass, views open up in every direction, with ridgelines framing the night sky. Being surrounded by public lands means you have plenty of room to spread out, settle in for a while, and be far away from light pollution. If you want to spend the night up here, check out Homestake Lodge, offering cabin stays as well as the opportunity to stay in a yurt (pictured above).

Tips and Tricks

You don’t need special equipment or a degree in astronomy to enjoy stargazing, just a sense of wonder and the motivation to travel just a little outside of town. With that being said, there are a few things to keep in mind that might help make your stargazing experience in Southwest Montana just a little bit more enjoyable!

Wide-angle night sky photograph taken in Polaris, Montana, in the Beaverhead Mountains of southwest Montana, showing the glowing core of the Milky Way galaxy rising above a dense stand of tall dark evergreen trees with warm amber light spilling from a small cabin nestled among the pines, dry sagebrush meadow stretching across the foreground, and golden hillsides rolling into the distance beneath a brilliant star-filled sky, capturing the remote and rugged beauty of stargazing in one of Montana's most secluded and least light-polluted valleys. Photo by @lindsaymichelle_photography on Instagram. — Stars shine over the pines in Polaris, Montana | Photo by @lindsaymichelle_photography on Instagram

Try to time your stargazing outings as close to the new moon as possible. During a new moon, the illuminated side of the moon faces away from Earth, meaning it shines little to no light into the night sky, leaving the stars at their most visible.
Give your eyes time to adjust. It can take 15 to 30 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark. If you need extra light, consider a red-light headlamp, these preserve your night vision better than traditional flashlights.
Bring a physical planisphere or use an astronomy app to identify constellations, planets, stars, and more. Our top pick is Stellarium, available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. If you plan to use an app, just be sure to download it before heading out, as many of these remote locations have limited cell coverage.
Pack extra layers. Even during the middle of summer in Southwest Montana, the temperatures can drop after dark. Trust us, you’ll be glad to have an extra layer or two!
Speaking of packing, bring something to sit on! If you’re planning on being out there a while, you’re going to want a camp chair or a blanket to get comfortable.