Fort Rock: Sunset Hike and Stargazing

Stargaze in the Oregon Outback, the largest contiguous dark sky shed in the United States

Multiple dates available - details below

about

Adventure: Join us for a night of exploration in the Oregon Outback. Our stargazing adventure will take us to Fort Rock, an ancient volcanic tuff ring that rises out of the flatness of the high desert. Each evening will be a different and unique experience! With some evening’s, we will arrive just as the sun is setting to the west, taking in the last of the day’s light before we begin our night of celestial wonder. While other evenings will focus on immersing ourselves in the darkest of skies! You can find the unique details for each date below!

Naturalist Guided Experience: The tuff ring of Ft. Rock’s pinnacles rise above an ancient ocean bed and much like the geologic history of other Central Oregon formations such as Smith Rock, the area’s geology can be traced back to volcanic activity. It is an area that is locally referred to as the Sagebrush Ocean, a stunning piece of America’s landscape filled with raptors, coyotes and cowboys. The area is also home to some of the oldest evidence of human civilization in North America. Fort Rock is an absolutely incredible stargazing destination, lying just north of the newly designated Oregon Outback Dark Sky Sanctuary. The Oregon Outback as a whole, is the largest contiguous dark sky shed in the United States, boasting some of the best stargazing in the entire world.

We are also hosting our Art in Nature: Bend Camerata Concert & Stargazing at Fort Rock on Saturday, September 27th for those interested in the melding of art & nature!

What to expect for each date

Saturday, September 20th: This event is for the most serious (perhaps nerdy!) of stargazers!! To maximize our time under the darkest of skies, we will forego the sunset hike and instead arrive to Fort Rock near twilight’s end, giving us just enough time to take in Fort Rock’s stunning silhouette as our eyes adjust for night. With the moon both below the horizon and in a total new phase, the night sky will be primed for celestial magic!

Our 2026 Fort Rock Summer Tours will have us arriving at the stunning volcanic tuff ring just as the sun is setting to the west! We will enjoy a scenic sunset hike as the the light slowly fades beyond the horizon and we transition from day to night and begin our exploration into the twinkling heavens above! More summer 2026 dates will be announced soon!

Daily Tours that feature Stargazing