The Headlands

The Headlands International Dark Sky Park covers 550 to 600 acres on the Straits of Mackinac, about 3.8 miles west of downtown Mackinaw City in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Designated in 2011, it was the sixth International Dark Sky Park in the United States and the ninth in the world, and it's protected to remain dark indefinitely.

Why The Headlands is a top stargazing spot

The park preserves more than two miles of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline along with old-growth forest, giving it open, unobstructed views over the water free of nearby development. Its skies are rated Bortle Class 2, close to the darkest conditions achievable, and that darkness isn't temporary: The Headlands is designated to stay dark for good. Combined with the lakeside setting, it's a level of protection and quality that few dark-sky sites in the country can match.

What you can see

Open sightlines across Lake Michigan and the Straits of Mackinac give stargazers wide, unobstructed horizons for watching the Milky Way rise over the water, visible from late spring through early fall and at its best on cloudless, moonless nights. Meteor showers are visible through much of the year too: the Perseids in August, the Draconids in October, the Orionids and Leonids in November, and the Geminids in December. On the right night the aurora borealis makes an appearance as well, generally when geomagnetic activity reaches KP4 or higher on the Planetary K-index, most often around the spring and fall equinoxes in late March and September.

Visiting The Headlands at night

The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round, with no entrance fee, and five miles of trails wind through the old-growth forest to the shoreline. On-site you'll find a Waterfront Event Center, a Visitor Information Center and a gift shop, and weekly stargazing programs run on Wednesday evenings. There's no camping, but a large guest house can be rented for overnight groups of 20 or more; check the Michigan tourism page for booking details. Parking fills quickly on clear nights, so arrive before sunset if you want a spot near the trailhead, since it's about a one-mile walk out to the viewing area.

Best time to go

Late spring through early fall gives the best combination of Milky Way visibility and comfortable viewing weather, while aurora chances peak around the equinoxes, with forecasts typically giving only a day or two's notice. Whatever the season, plan your trip around a new Moon for the darkest possible sky, allow 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to fully adapt once you're out on the shoreline, and bring a red light instead of a white torch to protect your night vision and that of everyone else nearby.

Getting there

The Headlands is at 15675 Headlands Road, about 3.8 miles west of downtown Mackinaw City, Michigan. For current conditions or to plan a group visit, the park can be reached at 231-427-1001 or [email protected] before you set out.

See your named star from here

A shoreline this dark, protected for good and open around the clock, is a fitting place to find a star you've named through Star Register. Bring your certificate's coordinates and a stargazing app, look the star up first in our catalogue, or get started with our packages; see more certified dark-sky sites on our observatories page.