To witness a solar eclipse often takes effort, and on October 14, 2023, anyone within the U.S. who desires to see a ‘ring of fireside’ (fairly than a partial solar eclipse) will must be inside a roughly 130 miles- (209 kilometers-) wide path stretching from Oregon to Texas.
So why not mix it with a road trip? Crossing a few of the country’s most iconic landscapes, National Parks and Dark Sky Parks, the trail of the Oct. annular solar eclipse is something to behold for anyone who loves travel, adventure and exploring the night sky.
Covering most U.S. states inside the path of annularity — Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Recent Mexico and Texas — listed below are seven fastidiously crafted itineraries to take you on a rare journey to see a ‘ring of fireside.’ solar eclipse.
1. An outback eclipse in Oregon
Duration: 7 days
Start and finish: Portland, Oregon
Really useful eclipse viewing location: Oregon Outback Scenic Byway
Starting in Portland, spend per week on a scenic drive along the Oregon Coast then dip inland to outback Oregon and adventure capital Bend. On the fabulous coast, make sure to stop for fish and chips in Cannon Beach, cheese at Tillamook and whale-watching from the coast at Depoe Bay. The ‘ring of fireside’ will probably be visible from a 137-mile stretch ranging from here south to Denmark, but it is a famously foggy coast. So just a few days before the eclipse head inland at Reedsport to tour Crater Lake National Park — North America’s deepest, bluest lake — which is in the trail, though the probabilities of a transparent sky here on eclipse day are uncertain (there could even be snow!).
So as an alternative head right down to Klamath Falls either for Eclipse Fest 2023 or to show off for Lakeview where you possibly can join the Oregon Outback Scenic Byway (a 171-mile route along OR-31 amid arid high desert) to Bend. Good locations for eclipse viewing along the way in which include Fort Rock Cave State Natural Area (9:18 a.m. for 3 mins 25 secs from 09:18 a.m.) and Summer Lake Hot Springs (9:18 a.m. for 4 mins 25 secs).
After the eclipse head to Bend, famous for its beer, but surrounded by infinite opportunities for outdoor activities — the highlight being mountaineering at Smith Rock State Park on the way in which back to Portland. If you’ve got extra days spend them on the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area east of
2. Stargazing and an eclipse within the Great Basin
Duration: 5 days
Start/finish: Las Vegas, Nevada and Salt Lake City, Utah
Really useful eclipse viewing location: Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Take a one-way rental vehicle in Las Vegas and head north to ascertain out the crimson rock formations Valley of Fire State Park. Then head north on Highway 93 to Ely, home to East Ely Railroad Railroad Museum and Northern Nevada Railway in addition to the 30-foot-tall, beehive-shaped stone kilns of Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park. Nearby are several options for a rural ‘ring of fireside’ at 9:24 a.m. including the off-grid Ward Mountain Recreation Area (3 mins 12 secs), the high desert Cave Lake State Park (3 mins 40 secs) and Garnet Hill public recreation area (3 mins 31 secs). Nonetheless, Great Basin National Park — also a Dark Sky Park with fabulously dark skies — will hold an event in its Astronomy Amphitheater bear the Lehman Caves Visitor Center (9:24 a.m. for 3 mins 48 secs).
Don’t miss the Great Basin Observatory — the primary research-grade observatory in-built a U.S. National Park and certain open for the eclipse — in addition to Lehman Caves, Wheeler Peak Summit Trail and Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest to see trees dating back 4,900 years. Take Highway 93 north to Interstate 80 and head east to Salt Lake City via distant camping under dark skies at The Knolls and stargazing on Antelope Island State Park, one other Dark Sky Park.
3. An epic National Parks eclipse trip
Duration: 14 days
Start/finish: Denver, Colorado and Las Vegas, Nevada
Really useful eclipse viewing location: Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Here’s an epic journey from Denver to Las Vegas (or vice versa), intercepting the trail of annularity in Utah. Begin with just a few days at Rocky Mountain National Park before hitting Colorado National Monument on the approach to Moab, Utah. Use this small town to access Arches National Park (you will need a timed entry ticket), Dead Horse State Park and Canyonlands National Park — all three of them Dark Sky Parks. The latter’s Grand View Point Road pokes into the northern fringe of the eclipse path, which implies beautiful Baily’s beads inside a ‘broken annular’ eclipse.
Should you’d fairly see the right ‘ring of fireside’ then push on to the eclipse-viewing event (book upfront) on the Valley of Goblins Commentary Point at Goblin Valley State Park (10:28 a.m. for 3 mins 15 secs). An alternative choice — with an extended ‘ring of fireside’ — is the visitor’s center at Capitol Reef National Park (10:27 a.m. for 4 mins 29 secs). As you cross the centreline of the trail, any RV park, campsite or lodging in and between Torrey and Boulder is ideal.
Although each have a shorter ‘ring of fireside’, don’t miss Kodachrome Basin State Park (10:28 for two mins 32 secs) and the long-lasting Bryce Canyon National Park (10:27 for two mins 39 secs on the Visitor Center) further southwest. Next comes a gawp on the amphitheater of Cedar Breaks National Monument and varied hikes around Zion National Park before driving to Las Vegas, possibly via Valley of Fire State Park and, if you’ve got time to kill before check-in, Red Rock Canyon.
4. Grand Canyon and a southeast Utah eclipse
Duration: 7 days
Start/Finish: Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada
Really useful eclipse viewing location: Goosenecks State Park, Utah
230 miles (370 km) and 280 miles (450 km) from Phoenix and Las Vegas, respectively, Grand Canyon National Park — also now a Dark Sky Park — is the goal of this itinerary. Nonetheless, because it’s outside the southern limit of the trail of annularity a brief drive into Utah is advisable for the ‘ring of fireside.’
After marveling on the layered bands of red rock, drive to Page for Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend and a tour around Antelope Canyon before heading for an eclipse view at either Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (10:29 a.m. for 4 mins 16 secs) — being careful to respect indigenous attitudes to eclipses — or to leaf through solar telescopes on the ‘Ring of Fire Fest’ at Goosenecks State Park (10:29 a.m. for 4 mins 40 secs).
If you’ve got a 4×4 then also consider a drive through Valley of the Gods bang on the centreline (10:29 for 4 mins 40 secs). Return to Interstate 40 via either the way in which you got here or via the dramatic sandstone cliffs of Canyon de Chelly National Monument within the Navajo Nation.
5. Northern Recent Mexico eclipse explorer
Duration: 3 days
Start/finish: Albuquerque, Recent Mexico
Really useful eclipse viewing location: Roswell, Recent Mexico
Albuquerque is the second-largest city in the trail after San Antonio, Texas, but unless you intend to attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta it’s price avoiding for eclipse day. A loop north of town will take you to the new springs and fumaroles of Valles Caldera National Preserve, Bandelier National Monument‘s ancient cliff dwellings, and artsy Santa Fe. For a view of Baily’s beads on eclipse day head to Ski Santa Fe on the northern fringe of the trail.
Two other locations to the southeast stand out for eclipse-viewing if an extended ‘ring of fireside’ is your goal — tiny Corona (10:36 a.m. for 4 mins 35 secs) and the UFO capital of the world, Roswell (10:38 a.m. for 4 mins 30 secs). Due south of the latter is Carlsbad, one other great location for edge effects, and the gateway to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a Dark Sky Park with fabulous stargazing.
Additional resources
For planning trips to see solar eclipses, the interactive Google Maps on Xavier Jubier’s eclipse website is invaluable (and the source for the timings in this text), as are the simulations on Eclipse 2024 and the attractive eclipse maps on GreatAmericanEclipse.com. Climate and weather predictions by meteorologist Jay Anderson on Eclipsophile.com are equally instructive as are ex-NASA eclipse calculator Fred Espenak’s Eclipse Clever and Mr. Eclipse.