Bluff earns Dark Sky Community designation

The town of Bluff has been officially designated as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International, joining a prestigious group of Dark Sky Places around the globe committed to preserving the night sky for future generations.
As of June 2025, Bluff is the first and only community to receive the DarkSky designation in San Juan County, and the sixth in Utah.
Bluff is uniquely positioned as a hub for skywatchers with four nearby International Dark Sky Parks: Natural Bridges National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, Goosenecks State Park, and Canyonlands National Park (Needles District).
This rare cluster of Dark Sky Places makes southeastern Utah one of the best spots in the country to experience the wonder of a truly dark night sky.
“We’re so proud to receive this designation. This was one of the first things our community wanted to do after we were incorporated in 2018,” said Bluff Mayor, Ann Leppanen.
“The dark skies over Bluff are more than beautiful—they’re part of who we are. Earning this designation reflects years of dedication from our residents and a deep respect for the natural world.”
DarkSky International is a global non-profit working to reduce light pollution through outreach, education, and lighting policy. Light pollution has been shown to disrupt ecosystems, affect human health, waste energy, and block our view of the universe.
Bluff’s journey to become a Dark Sky Community began with its incorporation and a shared belief among residents that the night sky was a powerful resource that should be respected.
With incorporation, the Town of Bluff was able to establish its own Planning and Zoning commission to create ordinances needed for the designation. 
With the future goal of a community designation in mind, Bluff’s first Planning and Zoning Commission worked on a lighting ordinance that would meet the guidelines.
This took many public meetings, hearings, and educational presentations before becoming a reality in December 2019.
The lighting ordinance was amended in 2022 to better align with DarkSky guidelines. With the ordinance in place, a Dark Sky committee was established to begin the process of applying. 
Beyond enacting regulations to ensure dark sky preservation, communities must demonstrate a commitment to the ordinance. This includes residents and businesses coming into compliance by replacing lighting fixtures or reducing exterior lighting.
Communities are also required to monitor and record sky-glow data and provide educational programming about the importance of dark skies. Since 2022, volunteers have been taking baseline readings in and around Bluff, recording the information collected in a database.
Since 2016, volunteers have provided community star parties with telescope viewing in hopes of sharing the wonder of the night sky and promoting reverence and respect. 
In 2024, a formal partnership between Town of Bluff and Bears Ears Partnership (BEP) was solidified, helping to push the town over the finish line. BEP has agreed to take on educational efforts, providing at least two programs yearly, and sky monitoring on a seasonal basis, ensuring Bluff meets Dark Sky requirements for years to come.
“Over the last several years, I have had the pleasure to work with the Town of Bluff on becoming a Dark Sky Community,” said Sarah Burak, Education Director, Bears Ears Partnership, who provided leadership for Bluff’s application.
“As we’re rapidly losing natural darkness worldwide, it is important to do what we can to protect this irreplaceable resource at home and set an example for other gateway communities to public lands. I am encouraged and grateful to be part of a community working to preserve the night sky for ourselves and future generations.”
According to DarkSky International, more than 99% of people in the continental United States live under skies too bright to see the Milky Way.  Visitors to Bluff can enjoy the night sky, knowing that the town is committed to protecting this increasingly rare natural resource.
Whether watching the Milky Way rise over unique sandstone formations or tracing constellations tied to Navajo traditions, Bluff offers a front-row seat for stargazing. 
Join Bluff for its first-ever Dark Sky Festival, November 14-15, 2025. Celebrate the beauty of the night sky with a weekend full of stargazing, educational sessions, and fun activities for all ages.
For more information about Bluff’s dark sky programs and upcoming stargazing events, visit www.bearsearspartnership.org. To learn more about DarkSky International and how you can support their mission, visit https://darksky.org.