Dark Skies - Canadian Rockies

This forecast tracks dark sky conditions at Jasper National Park—one of the world's largest accessible Dark Sky Preserves. We combine Bortle scale darkness with moon phase, cloud cover, and atmospheric clarity to predict exceptional astrophotography conditions.

Jasper National Park covers over 11,000 square kilometers of protected darkness, with virtually no light pollution across the entire preserve. The combination of high elevation, dry continental air, and minimal artificial light makes this one of the finest astrophotography locations in North America.

What makes Jasper astrophotography exceptional:

• Certified Dark Sky Preserve - Jasper holds one of the largest Dark Sky Preserve designations worldwide
• Bortle 1-2 skies - True dark sky conditions where the Milky Way casts shadows and zodiacal light is visible
• Mountain silhouettes - Dramatic peaks provide compelling foregrounds for Milky Way compositions
• Accessibility - Unlike many dark sky locations, Jasper offers easy access with full services and accommodations

Best conditions occur during new moon periods from June through September, when the Milky Way galactic core is visible. Autumn brings earlier darkness and occasional aurora activity as a bonus. Popular locations include Medicine Lake, Pyramid Lake, and Maligne Lake, but nearly anywhere away from Jasper townsite offers exceptional darkness.