The park ranked first with an overall score of 93.1 out of 100, beating out many Canadian and American destinations
Windsorites hoping to observe the night sky don’t need to travel very far to get some great views.
A new study by a private company has ranked Point Pelee National Park as the best spot in North America for stargazing.
Researchers at DuelBits gave the park an overall score of 93.1 out of 100, based off factors like cloud coverage, accessibility, sky brightness, online ratings, crowdedness and air quality.
Other Canadian locations such as Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area, Elk Island National Park and Beaver Creek Conservation Area ranked second, eighth, and ninth respectively.
Gordon Orr, CEO of Invest WindsorEssex and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, said Point Pelee’s proximity to major population centres in southwestern Ontario and Michigan makes it an accessible nature-based experience.
“For us, the important message is that visitors don’t have to travel far from an urban centre to experience a truly dark sky,” Orr said, adding that the park’s biggest advantage is its designation as a Dark Sky Preserve.
“It helps protect the natural nighttime environment and provides visitors with an opportunity to experience the stars in a way that is increasingly difficult to find in urban and heavily developed areas,” he said.
According to Orr, interest in stargazing and nature-based activities has continued to grow in the region among tourists.
“Visitors are increasingly looking for experiences that allow them to slow down, connect with nature and get away from the pace of everyday life,” he said. “From a destination perspective, that is particularly valuable since experiences such as stargazing can encourage visitors to stay overnight rather than treating the region as a day trip.”
In wake of Wednesday’s Perseid meteor shower, the park announced it would remain open overnight to allow visitors to catch the annual celestial event.
According to Parks Canada, West Beach and the Visitor Centre parking lots are the best car-accessible stargazing locations. The park will often extend its operating hours during astrological events or darkest nights for stargazing opportunities.
“Point Pelee has long been one of Windsor Essex’s most remarkable natural assets, and being recognized as a premier stargazing destination brings attention to another side of the park and another reason for visitors to experience our region,” Orr said.
Top 10 locations in North America for stargazing
- Point Pelee National Park (Ontario)
- Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area (Ontario)
- Joshua Tree National Park (California)
- Cape Cod (Massachusetts)
- Death Valley National Park (California)
- Flagstaff (Arizona)
- Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (North Carolina)
- Elk Island National Park (Alberta)
- Beaver Creek Conservation Area (Saskatchewan)
- Alabama Hills (California)