New DarkSky resort opens

Under Canvas Yosemite has opened near Yosemite National Park as California’s first DarkSky Approved lodging property, putting stargazing at the center of the stay. (undercanvas.com) The camp opened on April 16, 2026, on 85 acres in the Sierra Nevada and marks Under Canvas’ first California location and its 13th camp overall. (undercanvas.com) DarkSky Approved status comes from DarkSky International, which certifies properties that use lighting designed to cut glare, limit sky glow, and protect the natural night environment. (darksky.org) Under Canvas said the Yosemite camp has 71 safari-style tents, sits near the park’s Big Oak Flat entrance, and has a Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System stop directly across from the site for car-free park access. (undercanvas.com) The pitch lands as Yosemite and other California parks are drawing heavy traffic. Yosemite logged 4,278,413 visits in 2025, and California’s nine national parks combined for about 12.9 million visits, a state record. (nps.gov, axios.com) Nationally, the National Park Service reported 323 million recreation visits in 2025, down from the all-time record in 2024 but still one of the system’s busiest years. (nps.gov) That demand has helped fuel more private lodging around gateway towns, especially higher-end camping and “glamping” stays that sell park access without traditional hotel development inside park boundaries. (latimes.com) The Yosemite opening also gives DarkSky International a new California showcase as cities, parks, and tourism operators put more emphasis on reducing artificial light that can wash out stars and affect wildlife. (darksky.org) For travelers, the new resort is selling two things at once: a bed near one of the country’s busiest parks and a night sky dark enough to make the Milky Way part of the itinerary. (latimes.com, darksky.org)