{"id":2636262,"date":"2023-06-21T04:00:32","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T10:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/?p=2636262"},"modified":"2023-10-09T12:55:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T18:55:18","slug":"best-places-to-see-annular-eclipse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/adventure-travel\/news-analysis\/best-places-to-see-annular-eclipse\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Best Places to See the Annular Eclipse"},"content":{"rendered":"

Get your eclipse glasses. An annular solar eclipse will be visible from the United States this fall, crossing North America on October 14, from 9:13 PDT to 12:03 CDT. The moon will pass between the sun and earth when it\u2019s at its farthest point from us, so it won\u2019t completely cover the sun but create a \u201cring of fire\u201d in the sky for those in its path for about two to five minutes, depending on location, with about an hour of a partial eclipse on either side.<\/p>\n

See this great interactive map<\/a> from NASA for the full path.<\/p>\n

A\u00a0solar eclipse, on its own, isn\u2019t that special an event. It happens twice a year somewhere on earth, when the orbit of the moon lines up to obscure the sun. But being in the right spot to witness that solar eclipse is <\/em>special. The last total<\/em> solar eclipse (where the sun is completely obscured by the moon) visible from North America happened in 2017. I got to witness the phenomenon from a beach in South Carolina with my young twins. The surrounding landscape went completely quiet as the sky darkened, as if all the insects and animals decided to take a siesta in the middle of the day. It was eerie and wild and fantastic.<\/p>\n

Solar eclipses are either total, when the moon completely covers the sun; annular, when the moon as positioned covers the center of the sun but leaves an outer ring still visible; or partial, when the moon only covers part of the sun. Both total and annular eclipses can look like partial eclipses if you\u2019re not directly in line with the eclipse\u2019s path. The last annular eclipse visible from parts of the U.S. was in 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The author\u2019s twins, Cooper (left) and Addie, then age nine, observe the 2017 eclipse from a South Carolina seashore. All went still\u2014even children.<\/span> (Photo: Graham Averill)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAny one spot on earth has to wait, on average, 300 years for an eclipse to pass over them,\u201d says Tyler Nordgren, an astronomer who works with the National Park Service to promote dark-skies education.<\/p>\n

Weather permitting, this year\u2019s annular eclipse should be visible from parts of the U.S., Mexico, and South and Central America. To see the show at its most dramatic, you want to be located somewhere along the path of annularity, meaning the\u00a0swath of land that aligns directly beneath the celestial event. This eclipse will cut a diagonal line across the U.S., running from Oregon through Texas and hitting Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. There isn\u2019t much you can do about the weather or clarity of skies, but you can put yourself in the path of annularity to make the most of the event.<\/p>\n

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These images show the cycle of the 2012 annular eclipse in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Bryce is among the parks that will have solar viewings and special events leading up to the eclipse. Plan ahead to visit various sites as accommodations are in demand. Bryce will limit vehicle access on the day of the event, while offering shuttles.<\/span> (Photo: Bryce Canyon National Park\/Kevin Doxstater)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A variety of national parks are ideal viewing locations for this eclipse, from Crater Lake National Park in Oregon to Padre Island National Seashore in Texas.<\/p>\n

With Nordgren\u2019s help, we\u2019ve outlined five amazing spots to watch the upcoming event. Don\u2019t fret if they don\u2019t align with your fall travel plans; even the farthest locations from the path of annularity in the U.S. will have a chance to see at least a partial eclipse on October 14. And let this event get you psyched for the total solar eclipse that will happen over the U.S. on April 8, 2024.<\/p>\n

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A total solar eclipse, as seen over the U.S. in 2017<\/span>\u00a0(Photo: Jorge Villalba\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be in New York for the eclipse, which is about as far as you can get from the path of annularity, but it will still be impressive,\u201d Nordgren says. \u201cIt will look like someone has taken a big bite out of a flaming cookie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Get yourself to a location along the path of annularity, like one of the spots detailed below, and the eclipse should be a beautiful ring of fire.<\/p>\n

What You Need to Know<\/h2>\n

Safety first:<\/strong> Never look directly at the eclipse.<\/em> You\u2019ll need solar-safe glasses that comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard<\/a>. Buy ahead in case of a shortage!<\/p>\n

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Nannette Weinhold rocks her official eclipse glasses in western Colorado in 2017.<\/span> (Photo: Alison Osius)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mind your time zone: The eclipse will peak at 9:30 A.M. West Coast time \/ Pacific Standard Time and 12:30 P.M. on the East Coast \/ Eastern Standard Time. If you\u2019re in the path of annularity, the peak eclipse will last for two to five minutes, with about an hour of partial eclipse on either end.<\/p>\n

Expect crowds:<\/strong> If you plan on visiting one of the national parks on this list, don\u2019t expect to be alone. Many parks will require shuttles into the park to cut down on congestion. It\u2019s all worth it.<\/p>\n

Nordgren argues that being in a crowd is part of the experience. \u201cYou\u2019re all witnessing this alignment of the heavens together. There\u2019s a feeling of connection that\u2019s quite intense,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

1. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The bluish waters of Crater Lake at sunset<\/span> (Photo: Javaris Johnson\/Snipezart)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Crater Lake National Park<\/a>, containing a 2,000-foot-deep natural lake in the center of a volcano, will be the first national park in the lower 48 directly in the eclipse\u2019s path of annularity. Because the eclipse will peak in the morning (9 A.M. there), you\u2019ll be able to see the phenomenon while the sun is lower on the horizon, with the entirety of Crater Lake in the foreground. There\u2019s no word yet from the park regarding specific sky-watching parties, although private guide companies that carry permits with the park are planning tours you can reserve now<\/a>. If you want to go it on your own, the 33-mile Rim Drive will offer plenty of overlooks and short hikes leading to incredible vantage points<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lodging inside the park could be tricky, as there\u2019s no camping there after September, but several gateway communities have ample amenities. Check out Crater Lake Resort for cabins and campsites south of the park. If you can\u2019t score a cabin there, look to the town of Klamath Falls,\u00a035 miles south of the park, which has a variety of lodging options.<\/p>\n

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Crater Lake National Park could become even more surreal.<\/span> (Photo: Steven Coffey\/Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While You\u2019re There:<\/strong> Bring your fly rod and try to catch a kokanee salmon; the fish were stocked in the lake in the early 1900s and are still thriving. You can eat what you catch; there are no size restrictions or limits on the salmon. The three-mile out-and-back Cleetwood Cove Trail<\/a> provides the only angler access to the lake.<\/p>\n

2. Great Basin National Park, Nevada<\/h2>\n
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Stella Lake and Wheeler Peak at Great Basin National Park, which is known for its clear skies\u2014it is an International Dark Sky Park.<\/span> (Photo: John Elk III\/Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Great Basin National Park<\/a> sits in the middle of the eclipse\u2019s path and is known for its clear skies (it\u2019s a designated International Dark Sky Park). Rangers are planning a viewing party for October 14 (details <\/a>to be announced).<\/p>\n

The park is remote enough that you shouldn\u2019t have to contend with massive crowds. You also have a great shot at scoring a campground<\/a>; Lower Lehman Campground is first come, first served in 2023, and Upper Lehman Campground, which sits at 7,500 feet, is reservable a month in advance. The timing is ideal, too; the eclipse will occur just before the campground closes for winter on October 15.<\/p>\n

While You\u2019re There:<\/strong> Take a ranger-led tour of Lehman Caves<\/a>, through massive underground cathedrals that are full of classic stalagmites and stalactites, as well as the more rare \u201cparachute shield\u201d or umbrellalike formations.<\/p>\n

3. White Sands National Park, New Mexico<\/h2>\n
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The white sands of White Sands National Park, New Mexico<\/span> (Photo: Javaris Johnson\/Snipezart)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Could there be a better location to watch the moon obscure the sun than from a national park that makes you feel like you\u2019re on a lunar landing? White Sands<\/a> protects the world\u2019s largest gypsum dune field, which covers 275 square miles in undulating waves of sugar-white sand.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be able to see the eclipse from any spot within the park, but I say go all in on the moon-walk experience<\/a> and hike a portion of the five-mile Alkali Flat Trail<\/a>, which traverses through the heart of the dunes, until you find a sandy bump you like. There\u2019s no lodging or camping within the park (backcountry campsites are closed for rehabilitation), but nearby Oliver Lee Memorial State Park has sites you can reserve in advance. If that\u2019s booked, look to Las Cruces, 30 miles west, for hotels and resorts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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What better place to see an eclipse than one where you already seem to be walking on the moon? White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.<\/span> (Photo: Pete Alexopoulos\/Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While you\u2019re there:<\/strong> Bring a sled (or buy one from the visitor center) and ride the snow-like dunes on the loop portion of Dunes Drive.<\/p>\n

4. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah<\/h2>\n
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Sunset Point will be a premier viewing spot, and it’s wheelchair and stroller accessible.<\/span> (Photo: Bryce Canyon Country)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bryce Canyon<\/a> and its hoodoos are in the direct path of the eclipse, which is scheduled to peak at 10:28 A.M. Mountain Time, and the morning time should make for great photography as the sun is low on the horizon, hovering above the canyon and its hoodoos. Bryce is planning a ranger-led watch party<\/a>, mostly likely at the visitor center, though details have yet to be released. I think seeing the eclipse from Sunrise Point, overlooking the Amphitheater, which is the largest and most dramatic collection of hoodoos within the park, would be pretty dope. Expect to take a shuttle if you want to view the eclipse from within the park, and keep an eye on this events page<\/a> as details develop. Lodging within the park is scarce and books up months in advance, but there are plenty of options surrounding the park with open reservations<\/a>.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

While You\u2019re There:<\/strong> Bring a road bike and pedal a piece of Scenic Byway 12, considered one of the most beautiful highways in the country. The 124-mile blacktop connects two national parks, one national monument, and countless towering red cliffs. The 16-mile section from Panguitch to Bryce Canyon is stacked with roadside hoodoos.<\/p>\n

5. Padre Island National Seashore, Texas<\/h2>\n
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Dunes, a flock of brown pelicans, and camping: Padre Island, near Corpus Christi, Texas<\/span> (Photo: Joshua J. Cotten\/Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Padre Island<\/a> is a narrow, wild barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. Peak eclipse will hit the seashore at 11:56 A.M. Central Time, so the sun will be higher in the sky than in parks to the west, but the 66 miles of empty sand afford endless opportunities for a relatively uncrowded experience\u2014especially if you bring a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle, which will enable you to drive to the more isolated South Beach, which is open to driving and camping. No reservations are necessary; just grab a free camping permit at the park entrance.<\/p>\n

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Padres Island National Seashore<\/span>\u00a0(Photo: NPS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While You\u2019re There:<\/strong> Bring your stand-up paddleboard and enjoy the calm Gulf right in front of your campsite. The super salty Laguna Madre is shallow and protected, making it perfect for beginners.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Graham Averill is <\/em>ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø magazine\u2019s national parks columnist. He\u2019s not sure if he\u2019ll be able to line up his travels with the path of annularity in October, but he\u2019s excited to see the partial eclipse from a solitary mountaintop in his home state of North Carolina. His wife is already stocking up on solar-eclipse glasses. <\/em><\/p>\n

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The author (Photo: Liz Averill)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The eclipse will run from Oregon through Texas and hit Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. Here are our picks for where to watch this rare phenomenon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":124408,"featured_media":2636264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"uuid":"6cef7104e3a7ea99a8d707d63bc81064","footnotes":""},"categories":[2572],"tags":[2945,2956,2961,2913],"byline":[1187],"ad_cat":[],"legacy-category":[],"class_list":["post-2636262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-analysis","tag-new-mexico","tag-oregon","tag-texas","tag-utah","byline-graham-averill"],"acf":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"The 5 Best Places to See the Annular Eclipse","url":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/adventure-travel\/news-analysis\/best-places-to-see-annular-eclipse\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/adventure-travel\/news-analysis\/best-places-to-see-annular-eclipse\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/eclipse-nm2012-ssucsy-getty_h-150x150.jpg","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/eclipse-nm2012-ssucsy-getty_h.jpg"},"articleSection":"News and Analysis","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alison Osius"}],"creator":["Alison Osius"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online","logo":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/favicon-194x194-1.png"},"keywords":["new mexico","oregon","texas","utah"],"dateCreated":"2023-06-21T10:00:32Z","datePublished":"2023-06-21T10:00:32Z","dateModified":"2023-10-09T18:55:18Z"},"rendered":"