Hello: I have star gazed from Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges, the Wedge Overlook, etc. over the years. The reason I have settled on Capitol Reef National Park is that it is just as dark as anywhere else I've been in southern Utah. From my house in the Cottonwood Heights/Sandy area, it takes me just as long to drive to the Wedge Overlook as it does Capitol Reef. Capitol Reef however, is paved road all the way to the actual observing area and there are campgrounds or motels just a few miles away from the official observing area we use at Panorama Point. Capitol Reef also is available from March through October with little worry about bad roads or bitter cold as the elevation is just a bit higher than Salt Lake at around 5,000 feet. I love to visit all of the other parks and remote areas in southern Utah, yet for dark skies and convenience, it's hard to beat Capitol Reef. That's just my experience, yet talk with other SLAS member who have star gazed from various places and you'll probably get the feedback that Natural Bridges, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef have offered just about as good a dark sky view as anywhere, with Capitol Reef perhaps being the most convenient for private dark sky parties. Thanks. Lowell Lyon