Located along the southern shore of Lake Michigan within the Indiana Dunes National Park, Beverly Shores earned its International Dark Sky Park designation in 2014, making it one of the first certified dark sky parks in the Midwest.

The park’s position away from Chicago’s light pollution creates excellent conditions for observing the Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy, and numerous deep-sky objects. Winter months offer the darkest skies and longest viewing windows, though summer provides comfortable temperatures for extended sessions. Peak darkness occurs approximately two hours after sunset through pre-dawn hours.

Stargazers should bring binoculars for scanning star clusters and a telescope for planetary detail and nebulae. Red flashlights preserve night vision on the beach viewing areas. The flat, open shoreline provides unobstructed horizon views ideal for meteor shower watching—the Perseids in August and Geminids in December are particularly spectacular here.

The Calumet Astronomical Society hosts periodic star parties and public viewing events. Visitors should check weather conditions, as lake-effect clouds can impact visibility. Nearby facilities include parking areas and restrooms within the national park.

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