Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States New Mexico Mogollon Cosmic Campground

Cosmic Campground

This remote camping site offers incredible stargazing opportunities.

Mogollon, New Mexico

Added By
Discordant Cello , Lisa Suarez
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Compass Rose (Atlas Obscura User)
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Gila National Forest is well known for its wide array of outdoor activities. From mountain climbing to hot spring soaking to exploring ancient ruins, there’s something for everybody in these parts. Near the edge of these protected lands, where pine forests give way to shrubland, is one more natural attraction. In order to appreciate this one, however, you will need to look not at the earth around you, but the sky above.

Cosmic Campground is a certified Dark Sky Sanctuary certified by DarkSky International. DarkSky has several categories of Dark Sky Places, but Cosmic Campground is one of only a handful of Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world. That distinction is reserved for the most remote and darkest places in the world. In fact, the nearest major source of light to Cosmic Campground is over 65 kilometers away. It is the first of its kind to be located in North America. 

A lack of light pollution isn’t the only feature that makes this campground prime real estate for amateur astronomers. Its distance from population centers, as well as the desert climate, keep the sky free of smog and clouds during most of the year. At 5,358 feet in elevation, there is much less atmosphere above you than there would be at lower elevations. The only nearby trees are low-lying junipers, giving campers a low horizon and unparalleled access to the night sky. 

The utility of the site as a stargazing spot isn’t just in the location, but the design. Away from the campsites, there are four concrete pads that are set aside specifically as platforms for telescopes. Campground regulations ask visitors to arrive during daylight hours, to avoid disturbing others with their headlights. There is perhaps no better spot for observing the cosmos and thinking about your place within it.

Related Tags

Astronomy Stars Dark Skies Camping

Know Before You Go

The campground is free with 8 designated campsites. This is a primitive campground. The only amenities are vault toilets and picnic tables. Bring your own shade, drinking, and rinsing water. There is no trash service, so haul out what you hauled in!

Community Contributors

Added By

Discordant Cello, Compass Rose, mikewalker

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

March 6, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://darksky.org/places/cosmic-campground-dark-sky-place/
Cosmic Campground
Mogollon, New Mexico, 88039
United States
33.47948, -108.92251
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Catwalk Recreation Area

Mogollon, New Mexico

miles away

Mogollon Ghost Town

Mogollon, New Mexico

miles away

Clifton Cliff Jail

Clifton, Arizona

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mogollon

Mogollon

New Mexico

Places 2

Nearby Places

Catwalk Recreation Area

Mogollon, New Mexico

miles away

Mogollon Ghost Town

Mogollon, New Mexico

miles away

Clifton Cliff Jail

Clifton, Arizona

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mogollon

Mogollon

New Mexico

Places 2

Related Stories and Lists

The United States of Camping

List

By Michelle Cassidy

Related Places

  • The 729-acre Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area was the first in Nebraska to be named an International Dark Sky Park.

    Valentine, Nebraska

    Merritt Reservoir

    In addition to fishing and camping, this spot in Nebraska’s Sandhills is one of the world’s darkest places.

  • Bald Mountain Canyon in Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area

    Washoe County, Nevada

    Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area

    An internationally-recognized dark sky sanctuary lies in northern Nevada, near the Oregon line.

  • Silver Cliff Stars

    Westcliffe, Colorado

    Smokey Jack Observatory

    Located in the world's highest-altitude Dark Sky Community, this observatory welcomes amateur and professional astronomers alike.

  • The Milky Way visible from the Tatacoa Desert.

    Villavieja, Colombia

    Tatacoa Astronomia

    A self-taught astronomer fell in love with the stars and built his own observatory in Colombia.

  • Up to 7,000 stars are visible to the naked eye on a dark night at the stargazing park.

    Tonopah, Nevada

    Tonopah Stargazing Park

    Take in the beauty of the Milky Way at one of the best sites for stargazing in Nevada—a state with some tough competition.

    Sponsored by Travel Nevada
  • De Kangxi-Verbiest Hemelglobe

    Leuven, Belgium

    De Kangxi-Verbiest Hemelglobe (Kangxi-Verbiest Star Globe)

    A replica of a 17th-century map of the stars stands in the courtyard of a Belgian university.

  • Bare Dark Sky Observatory

    Burnsville, North Carolina

    Bare Dark Sky Observatory

    A mountaintop space observatory that is certified dark.

  • Teide Observatory

    Güímar, Spain

    Teide Observatory

    A large collection of solar and night-time telescopes dot a small area on the Teide mountain range.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.