This Corner of Oregon Is Now the World's Largest Dark Sky Sanctuary-and It Has Geysers, Hot Springs, and Wild West Charm

"Spanning the state's southeastern corner, the Oregon Outback is a stretch of high desert punctuated by volcanic fissures, jagged rocks, and the odd town dating back to pioneer times. A former inland sea, today water mainly exists as seasonal wetlands, gurgling geysers, hot springs, and a hypersaline lake that's saltier than the ocean. It's rugged and remote, with few roads cutting across the expanse and herds of pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep roaming freely."

"That's because the Oregon Outback is home to the world's largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary, encompassing around 2.5 million acres of Lake County. Thanks to a lack of light pollution, low population, and limited rainfall and tree coverage, the region has the perfect recipe for clear, untouched dark skies ideal for stargazing."

"'Few people are unchanged after seeing a dark sky like that,' says Jeannie D'Agostino, a naturalist guide for Bend, Oregon-based Wanderlust Tours, a company that offers stargazing tours at Fort Rock State Natural Area. 'It's a magical place.'"

The Oregon Outback occupies southeastern Oregon, a high-desert region shaped by volcanic fissures, jagged rock, and remnants of a former inland sea. Water appears primarily as seasonal wetlands, geysers, hot springs, and a hypersaline lake saltier than the ocean. Sparse roads and low population support free-ranging pronghorn and bighorn herds across a rugged, remote landscape. The region contains about 2.5 million acres designated as the world's largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary, benefiting from minimal light pollution, limited rainfall, and open terrain. The sanctuary attracts astrophotographers, outdoor enthusiasts, and guided stargazing tours, offering profound night-sky visibility and off-grid backcountry experiences.

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