Stargazing at Dark Sky Park

Let rangers guide you through the wonders of space and night at Prineville Reservoir.

Nature rules the areas around Prineville in Central Oregon, with plenty of options during the day for hiking, biking, fishing and paddling. But it’s what hangs overhead that will have you in awe at night: a sky packed full of stars with little manufactured light.

Prineville Reservoir State Park — about a 50-mile drive northeast of Bend — became Oregon’s first state park to earn certification as an International Dark Sky Park in May 2021. It joined Sunriver as the only other “International Dark Sky Place” in Oregon and is now one of fewer than 200 such places around the world. The designation also recognizes the park for its work to educate and reduce light pollution with special bulbs that prevent skyglow.

While you could simply reserve one of the park’s RV sites, tent-camping sites or even a cabin, and gaze skyward with an app like SkySafari or Star Walk to guide you around the nebulas, this summer rangers at the 291-acre park will be offering dark-sky programs. These educational talks go deep into the benefits of a light-free night for animals and people, as well as the mysteries of space.

“You don’t need much,” says George Faria, a park ranger. “Just show up and hang out, and we’ll take care of the rest.”