Oregon’s Magnificent Dark Skies

Look up in the sky after midnight and you might catch a glimpse of the Orionid meteor showers. The Orionid meteors come from one of the most famous comets, Halley, which is currently near the middle of its 76-year orbit around the sun. While the comet won’t make its appearance in Earth’s night sky until 2061, it leaves a trail of debris behind that our planet passes through every year, resulting in the Orionids.

Oregon’s Magnificent Dark Skies, some of the largest expanses of magnificent dark skies in the US. There are few experiences as humbling as staring into the cosmos. But while most of the stars above our cities and towns are obscured by the light we emit, it’s easy enough in Oregon to drive off into darkness to discover their greater beauty.

International Dark Sky Week, April 12-21, celebrates the wonders of the night sky, and raises awareness on light pollution.

The amazing Geminid meteor shower occurs every year December 4th to December 17th, 2026. which is firmly in what is typically Oregon’s rainy season.

Amateur astronomers have long gathered to celebrate Oregon’s magnificent dark skies. Founded in 1987, the annual Oregon Star Party (OSP), attracts up to 1,000 stargazers to the Ochoco National Forest 45 miles east of Prineville. OSP is considered to have the darkest skies of any major star party in the contiguous United States. Tentatively scheduled April 21-28, 2025.

Oregon DARK SKY TOURISM DESTINATIONS

Planetariums: Kendall Planetarium at OMSI (Portland), Chemeketa Community College Planetarium (Hayesville), Eugene Science Center Planetarium, Mt. Hood Community College Planetarium Sky Theater (Gresham)
Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast

Public Observatories: Pine Mt. Observatory (La Pine), Oregon Observatory (Sunriver), Haggart Observatory (Clackamas), Worthy Hopservatory (Bend). The Carlton Observatory is currently on-campus at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.
Carlton Bed and Breakfasts

The Oregon Outback Dark Sky Sanctuary

The world’s largest ‘dark sky sanctuary’ is now in Oregon. A section of southeastern Oregon is now home to the largest “dark sky sanctuary” in the world. The area spans 2.5 million acres of Lake County. It was certified this month by DarkSky International, a U.S.-based nonprofit that aims to reduce light pollution.

International Dark-Sky Association’s (IDA) Certified Dark Sky Places:
Prineville Reservoir State Park Oregon’s first International Dark Sky Park
Sunriver Resort – Oregon’s First Dark Sky Place (Development of Distinction)

Space-Themed Attractions/Museums: Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum (McMinnville), OMSI (Portland), and Eugene Solar System Trail where you can bike, run, walk, or skate along a 4.5-mile section (9 miles round trip) of paved path along the Willamette River discovering a scaled model of the sun and planets. Then you can visit Earth’s closest star, Proxima Centauri, and its exoplanet, Proxima b, located at the Eugene Science Center.
Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast

Cloud Cap Inn listed on Dark Sky Finder

Cloud Cap Inn is located at 6,000 feet elevation on the rouged northeast side of Mount Hood, and is listed on Dark Sky Finder. The air is exceptionally clear because of the altitude. There’s a light dome from Portland to the west, but the rest of the sky is very dark, with great views of Hood to the south.
Old Parkdale Inn Bed and Breakfast

The John Day Fossil Beds happen to lie under some of the darkest skies in the state, which you can experience from Wilson Ranches Retreat outside of Fossil, Oregon. You could even pull out a lounge chair and gaze right from their lawns and fields.

The Oregon Coast has some amazing dark skies, perfect for stargazing. So take a stroll at night discover the magic of the celestial world.

Meteor Showers, Eclipses, Quasars and More

Dark-sky adventures are about more than stars. If you time it right, you can also witness meteor showers, lunar and solar eclipses, and planetary conjunctions (also called alignments), which occur when two or more planets appear to be very close together in the sky.

Since 1989, the Oregon Bed and Breakfast Guild has served as a statewide information network for its member properties, providing a unified voice for the industry with state regulatory and tourism agencies.

Now known as The Oregon Association of Independent Inns, we’re the same trusted organization, with a new name, a fresh look, and an expanded focus on independent lodging properties beyond traditional bed and breakfasts. Member properties represent a wide range of accommodations, from small guest cottages, cabins, and intimate two-room B&Bs to larger country inns, boutique hotels and dude ranches.

Order Oregon Association of Independent Inns Gift Certificates Now. They are available in $50 increments and can be redeemed at any one of our member inns. With more than 20 member inns to choose from and an 18-month expiration period, recipients have ample time to redeem their stay at the inn that best suits their travel style.

Three Ways to Order Gift Certificates:

Order online. Don’t include your credit card information on that form. We will call you for payment information

E-mail info@obbg.org or call OBBG at 503-893-4210.  Please leave a message as this line is monitored by our busy innkeepers. We’ll get back to you for the details: who will be the recipient of your thoughtful gift, acquire your payment method and shipping information. We’ll send them by mail, to either you or the recipient, with delivery confirmation. The recipient will have a great time getting away to a high-quality destination of their choice.

Oregon Association of Independent Inns are ready to share Oregon with you: it’s environment, culture, and heritage. Combine gracious hospitality with ambiance at an inspected and approved member of the Oregon Association of Independent Inns.