Lodging · NC, US
Cataloochee Ranch
Cataloochee Ranch is a mountain ranch and lodge at 119 Ranch Drive in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, certified as DarkSky Approved Lodging in 2025. It sits at about 4,800 feet on the southeast edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, roughly 39 miles from Asheville. The ranch lists no dedicated stargazing program, so call 828-926-1401 to ask about sky viewing.
Official site (opens in new tab) View on OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab) Source (opens in new tab)
| Type | Lodging |
| State / Province | NC |
| Country | United States |
| Nearest town | Maggie Valley |
| Certified | 2025 |
| Coordinates | 35.5490, -83.0951 |
| Source | https://darksky.org/places/cataloochee-ranch/ (opens in new tab) |
Plan Your Night
Tonight’s moon
New Moon
0% illuminated. Rises 6:33 AM EST. Sets 4:58 PM EST. Times are local to the park.
Next new moon
November 9, 2026
The darkest, best-for-stargazing night in the current lunar cycle. See the full trip planner for the next 12 months of new-moon windows.
Upcoming meteor showers
- Leonids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, November 17, 2026
- Geminids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, December 13, 2026
- Ursids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, December 22, 2026
5 nearest dark sky places
- The Swag · 7 km (5 mi)
- Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute · 51 km (32 mi)
- Mayland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory · 83 km (51 mi)
- Obed Wild and Scenic River · 160 km (99 mi)
- Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area · 190 km (118 mi)