The Utah Office of Tourism Celebrates Governor Cox’s Fifth Annual Declaration of Dark Sky Month
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (April 1, 2025) — The Utah Office of Tourism celebrates Governor Spencer Cox’s fifth annual declaration of April as Dark Sky Month. Astrotourism and dark sky messaging complement the Red Emerald Strategic Plan, which aims to elevate life in Utah through responsible tourism stewardship. April in Utah has been celebrated as Dark Sky Month since 2021.
Utah is home to some of the darkest skies on earth and currently leads the world in dark sky preservation with 26 accredited DarkSky International places.
“Preserving the night sky is vital to Utah’s long-lasting tourism economy and a dynamic visitor experience,” said Natalie Randall, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film. “Utah State Parks, national parks, and local communities have shown tremendous leadership in prioritizing night sky preservation and offering unique year-round programs for both residents and visitors.”
A unique natural resource, Utah’s dark skies have proven to be a reliable revenue generator for the state, which in turn improves the quality of life for residents. The trend is expected to grow; astrotourism could lead to an estimated $5.8 billion in spending in the Colorado Plateau and support over 113,000 new jobs in the next 10 years.
"While Utah’s stunning state parks draw visitors from across the globe during the daytime hours, you don't want to miss out on the magic that begins after sunset," Utah State Parks Director Scott Strong said. "Dark sky programs offer visitors a unique perspective. Experiencing state parks like Goblin Valley, Kodachrome Basin, and Dead Horse Point under the starry sky is an experience that you're sure to remember forever.”
Utah’s 26 accredited DarkSky International places include Natural Bridges National Monument, the first ever dark sky designated park in the world, all five of Utah’s Mighty 5® national parks, 9 state parks, 5 towns and more.
Visitors and residents can go to visitutah.com/stars for a suite of resources to learn how to experience, enjoy and protect the state's vast night skies.
Dark Sky Images - here
Utah State Parks Dark Sky Events & Program - here
Beginner’s Guide to Dark Skies Exploration - here
Gov. Spencer J. Cox’s 2025 Utah Dark Sky Month Declaration - here
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About the Utah Office of Tourism
The Utah Office of Tourism (UOT) fulfills its mission to improve the quality of life for Utah residents through revenue and tax relief by attracting quality, well-prepared domestic and international visitation and motivating tourism spending within a sustainable tourism economy. The UOT partners with communities to develop tourism economies and storytelling consistent with their local vision and encourages stewardship and industry support through local engagement and ambassadorship. To advance these goals, the UOT manages year-round strategic marketing, industry research, media relations, cooperative marketing, in-state public relations, website and visitor experience enhancements, and destination management and development programs. Learn more at travel.utah.gov and visitutah.com.
