Is there anything more beautiful than a starry night sparkling bright above a scenic mountain landscape? Come and see for yourself during your Bryson City vacation in the NC Smoky Mountains. Escape the city lights and opt for twinkling stars instead. Stargazing in the Smoky Mountains is an awe-inspiring experience that you must try. Here are our top 7 tips for making the most of the night skies. Enjoy!

1. Book a Bryson City cabin rental outside the city limits.

If you want cabins that are nestled in nature, a bit more secluded, and away from the lights of downtown, then you are in luck. Watershed Cabins offers a variety of cabin rentals in differing locations so that you can choose where you want to be. Whether choose your cabin by location, by rental category, or by using our Advance Rental Search options, you’ll always have plenty of wonderful cabins available to you in the places you want to be. 

2. Choose a new moon for the darkest skies and best stargazing.

If stargazing is your goal, skip the full moon and instead choose nights that are near to or at the new moon phase for the darkest skies and brightest stars. A full moon over the mountaintops is amazing, too, but it’s 10 times brighter than the stars—so save that night sky adventure for another time. 

3. Check the weather forecast to avoid foggy, overcast or rainy conditions.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget to check the weather forecast, but it’s a good idea when you’re planning to stargaze. If there is a chance of rain, fog, or overcast conditions, wait for another night when the weather is more conducive for sky watching. 

4. Know when the Milky Way season is for optimal viewing.

Yes, there is a season for that! Milky Way season in the Northern Hemisphere is visible from the months of February through October (when the galactic center also known as the galactic bulge is visible) with peak visibility during the months of late March through August. Be sure to check the times and visibility schedule for your location for the best Milky Way Galaxy watching experience. You can find more information on that here. 

Milky Way views from Clingmans' Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

5. Visit the top spots in the Great Smoky Mountains for stargazing.

Clingman's Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park making it a top contender as one of the best spots to see the stars. You can enjoy the views right from the parking lot or make the half-mile walk up to the top of the Dome tower where you can see 5 states at once while also enjoying panoramic views all around you. 

Fontana Dam is another great spot to watch the stars with plenty of parking spots to stargaze and several places to do so on the dam itself. 

Have you considered viewing the stars from the water? It's a lot of fun and gives you great views. Fontana Lake is a pristine, remote location perfect for sky watching, whether you bring your own boat or rent one from a nearby marina. Canoes and kayaks are fun, too. Opt for one of Watershed Cabins Lakefront vacation rentals to be close to the water, the mountains, and the views!

6. Choose a mountain cabin rental known for its exceptional views.

It makes sense that if you're choosing a cabin rental for its awesome mountain views that you're going to get some amazing sky views, too. Did you know that Watershed Cabins offers a category of cabin rentals with exceptional views? We do. Take a look at those rentals and start planning some stargazing at night from the outdoor decks, patios, and porches—or perhaps the hot tub. Highly recommend.

7. Take the time to look up at the night sky as often as you can.

When you're vacationing in a scenic place like the Smoky Mountains, you are already located in a place with higher elevations, abundant lookout spots, and unending views of the natural world everywhere you go. Don't forget to stop and soak it all up! Be mindful of the moments that quickly become memories—and remember to look up as often you can at the night sky whether you're sitting around the firepit, relaxing on the deck of your cabin, or soaking in the hot tub. We think you'll find that you don't have to leave your cabin rental to stargaze and watch the wonders of the night sky during your Bryson City vacation. Let us know what wonders you get to see during your time here.