Sanctuary · ME, US
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in northern Maine is an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, certified in 2020, reached through Patten. The National Park Service says its skies are the darkest east of the Mississippi River. Front-country and backcountry camping can be reserved inside the monument, and the park's Current Conditions page covers road and weather updates before you drive in.
Official site (opens in new tab) View on OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab) Source (opens in new tab)
| Type | Sanctuary |
| State / Province | ME |
| Country | United States |
| Nearest town | Patten |
| Certified | 2020 |
| Coordinates | 45.9766, -68.7335 |
| Source | https://darksky.org/places/katahdin-woods-and-waters-dark-sky-sanctuary/ (opens in new tab) |
Plan Your Night
Tonight’s moon
New Moon
1% illuminated. Rises 5:59 AM EST. Sets 3:30 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
- AMC Maine Woods · 88 km (55 mi)
- Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve · 197 km (123 mi)
- Mount Carleton Provincial Park · 211 km (131 mi)
- Irving Nature Park · 219 km (136 mi)
- Parc du Mont-Bellevue · 256 km (159 mi)