Park · NM, US
Clayton Lake State Park
Clayton Lake State Park is a lake park near Clayton, New Mexico, certified as New Mexico's first dark sky park in 2010. The Lake Observatory has a 14-inch Meade telescope, the park has 26 developed campsites, and it is open 24 hours at 5,186 feet. Avoid water contact at the lake because of an algae toxin warning.
Official site (opens in new tab) View on OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab) Source (opens in new tab)
| Type | Park |
| State / Province | NM |
| Country | United States |
| Nearest town | Clayton |
| Certified | 2010 |
| Coordinates | 36.5814, -103.3088 |
| Source | https://darksky.org/places/clayton-lake-state-park-dark-sky-park/ (opens in new tab) |
Plan Your Night
Tonight’s moon
New Moon
1% illuminated. Rises 5:59 AM MST. Sets 4:18 PM MST. 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
- Black Mesa State Park · 48 km (30 mi)
- Capulin Volcano National Monument · 63 km (39 mi)
- Fort Union National Monument · 170 km (106 mi)
- Trinchera Ranch · 201 km (125 mi)
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve · 244 km (152 mi)