Yosemite National Park

Yosemite’s high-country pullouts along Tioga Road are among the best beginner-friendly dark-sky spots in California. Glacier Point is the classic choice: a huge southern horizon over the valley, parking, and restrooms. Summer nights are mild but bring layers, elevations above 7,000 ft cool off fast. For smart telescopes, the open granite domes mean almost no tree obstruction, and the southern Milky Way core is fully available in June–August.