The Dark Ranger Observatory
Our Location: Bryce Canyon, Utah
|
Only minutes from "civilization", but far, far, away from light pollution. Use that link to compare our stargazing experience with the darkest place on Earth that you have ever visited.
Q: Is it dangerous to drive in your area? AI told us it was dangerous.
A: You are probably thinking of Zion. Either way, it's not nearly as dangerous as it is to let AI drive you on a 2-lane highway anywhere! We know, we have a few Teslas between us.
Seriously though, our roads are perfectly safe! All the roads are paved (except our driveway). Utah doesn't take down guardrails at sunset. As long as you haven't been drinking and you know how to turn on the headlights of your car, you'll be fine. |
|
|
Dark Ranger Telescope Tours 1-mile South, East Fork Road #087 Bryce Canyon, UT 84764 435-590-9498 enter business name into your nav app * 
|
The Dark Ranger Observatory includes 2 different facilities: a public observatory (image at left) for public tours, and a nearby private observatory (above) for smaller private tours. Exact location of the private observatory is kept private (and that makes perfect sense) until late afternoon of your booking night -- you'll get a text and an email!
|
For the "Old School" Navigators:
Latitude: 37° 41' 17.08" N or 37.688078
Longitude: 112° 12' 0.35" W or -112.200097
The Summer Milky Way towers over the Dark Ranger Observatory (public facility) while "in-show". This photo is a non-exaggerated likeness of how the human-eye, after being adjusted to night vision, sees the Sagittarius Arm (northern hemisphere summer Milky Way) of our galaxy from our location.
Google Maps, like the interactive map below, will guide you to us correctly. Bing Maps and HERE WeGo can also be trusted. As far as we know, Apple Maps (though we had to sue them before they got it right) now also works.
Waze (because it's user-made and most users can't read maps let alone edit/make them) it might take you on a barely frightening back-woods, lengthy, "scenic" route, from which you might get temporarily lost while trying to follow those instructions. But we've never permanently lost anybody... as far as we know.
Otherwise... Just enter the business name "Dark Ranger Telescope Tours" into your other navigational app.
Waze (because it's user-made and most users can't read maps let alone edit/make them) it might take you on a barely frightening back-woods, lengthy, "scenic" route, from which you might get temporarily lost while trying to follow those instructions. But we've never permanently lost anybody... as far as we know.
Otherwise... Just enter the business name "Dark Ranger Telescope Tours" into your other navigational app.
Alternatively, if you are one of the few Earthlings with true map-reading skills and/or have image-to-landmark recognition, you can download helpful driving directions (similar to what is posted below) here:
| new_dro_directions.pdf |
Pictorial Directions to the Dark Ranger Observatory
|
If you are driving from Bryce Canyon or Tropic:
- Continue west on Hwy 12 until mile marker 11 - Turn left (south) onto East Fork Rd #087 - Drive 1 mile - Turn left (east) into our driveway |
If you are driving from Panguitch or Hatch (or Zion, LA, Seattle, Tierra Del Fuego):
- Continue east on Hwy 12 until mile marker 10 - Turn right (south) onto East Fork Rd #087 - Drive 1 mile - Turn left (east) into our driveway |
|
|
Then when you can see the observatory, GLOWING RED at night (see photo at top of page), on the left, start looking for our lit banner, also on the left hand side...
Continue through our open gate, park in our lower parking lot (unless you or a passenger are mobility-impaired, then use the handicap parking on top) and you are there!
"LookS like fun, But Your OBSERVATORY is far, FAR away from Where we Live...
Can THE Dark Rangers Come to us instead?
Yes we can! Follow this link to learn more about our "Road Show" Telescope Tours.
