Extraterrestrial life has long been a fascination for us Earthlings, and now with the release of the wildly successful documentary The Age of Disclosure, the curiosity has been rekindled. While some might be completely freaked out by the idea of alien life forms, others are enamored, choosing to chase UFOs as part of their recreation. And there’s no better place to do so than in the American West.
With wide-open desert, volcanic peaks, remote ranch lands, and some of the darkest night skies in the country, the West offers prime conditions for both stargazing and sky-watching. Though it’s always a roll of the dice when it comes to viewing celestial events, just like with meteor showers, you’ll want to check moon phases for the darkest viewing conditions, use a red-light headlamp to preserve night vision, bring layers, and of course respect local land and cultures, especially in sacred or sensitive areas.
Whether you’re UFO-curious or simply seeking the most cinematic skies (and seas) imaginable, these destinations offer mystery, mood, and a little cosmic possibility.
Thomas J. Story
Rachel, Nevada
A pilgrimage road trip for UFO fans, this tiny desert town sits along State Route 375, the officially designated Extraterrestrial Highway. With vast high-desert vistas, zero light pollution, quirky alien-themed art installations, and proximity to highly restricted military airspace at Area 51, it’s long been a place where strange lights get spotted, debated, and rehashed over late-night burgers at the Little A’Le’Inn.
Mono Lake, California
If you want your UFO hunt wrapped in pure scenic magic, head for the Eastern Sierra. Mono Lake’s tufa towers, the snow-covered White Mountains, and some of the darkest skies in the Lower 48 create a dreamlike setting for spotting unusual lights. Even if you don’t catch anything unexplained, the Milky Way views are spectacular.
Sedona, Arizona
Known for its energy vortexes, Sedona’s red-rock cathedrals and vortex reputation already give it an otherworldly feel. Add in professional sky-watch tours, a steady flow of “moving-light” reports, and incredibly clear desert air, and it’s easy to see why this has become a luxe-meets-lore destination for the UFO-curious.
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Mount Shasta, California
Northern California’s snow-capped volcanic giant has inspired UFO lore and films like the new indie hit The Lemurian Candidate for nearly a century, from tales of a mystical race of missing humans called the Lemurians inside the mountain to recurring reports of glowing orbs drifting along its alpine flanks. Add pristine night skies, spiritual tourism, and a strong local community of sky-watchers, and Shasta remains one of the West’s most magnetic UFO destinations.
McMinnville, Oregon
Home to the iconic 1950 Trent UFO photos, still among the most widely debated black and white images in ufology, the quaint wine country town of McMinnville embraces its legacy with an annual UFO festival and a small-town vibe that makes sky-watching feel like a communal pastime. While not the darkest skies on the list, its cultural significance earns it a spot.
Uinta Basin, Utah
Utah is known for its designated dark sky territory making it a strong contender for UFO activity. The Uinta Basin blends decades of documented sightings with some of the darkest skies in the West. High-desert mesas, wide-open horizons, and minimal light pollution make it ideal for catching unusual aerial phenomena. Today, legal sky-watch outings operate throughout the region, giving visitors a front-row seat to one of the most active hot zones in the country.
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Joshua Tree, California
The Mojave’s most mystic-meets-modern desert town continues to attract sky-watchers for its dark skies, military flight corridors, and the legendary Integratron, a historic “acoustical dome” built in the 1950s based on what its creator claimed were extraterrestrial blueprints. Head east of town for the clearest night views, or head over to Joshua Tree Lake campgrounds for one of their star viewing parties.
Catalina Island, California
The vast majority of our oceans remain unexplored, and waters off Catalina Island have long been home to some of the West’s most compelling USO (Unidentified Submerged Object) lore. Divers, fishermen, and night-shift ferry crews have reported glowing or fast-moving lights beneath the surface of the deep trench between the mainland and the island, a 3,000-foot drop known as the Catalina Basin. And even without USOs, the Pacific here is full of life that borders on extraterrestrial. Think bioluminescent Humboldt squid and glowing plankton blooms that light up kayak wakes as if the ocean.
Trout Lake, Washington
Forested, remote, and backed by the glaciated flanks of Mount Adams, this corner of the Pacific Northwest has a devoted sky-watching community of astronomers. The combination of alpine views, limited light pollution, and strange-light reports makes it a refreshing non-desert option for UFO seekers.
Getty Images / Jason Brow
Marfa, Texas
One of the most famous unexplained-light phenomena in the country, the Marfa Lights have appeared on the West Texas horizon since the 19th century. Visible from the official viewing area east of town, the inexplicable glowing orbs reportedly split, bounce, and hover in ways that are truly mind-bending. Pair a night of sky-watching with Marfa’s quirky but cutting edge art scene and high-desert quiet, and you’ve got yourself a town with just the right kind of weird.
San Luis Valley, Colorado
Often called “the UFO capital of the Rockies,” this high-altitude basin has produced thousands of sightings over the decades. The landscape is enormous and eerily quiet, ideal for spotting strange lights. For a bit of whimsy, stop by the UFO Watchtower in Hooper, a quirky roadside platform built specifically for scanning the sky.