Sean D.recommendsJanuary 7, 2023
Dark Sky Camping
Super friendly & helpful hosts, secluded & very unique spot, love this place
Rachel R.recommendsJanuary 2, 2023
Dark Sky Camping
Christmas 2022
WOW, is all we can say!!!!
Our off-grid Christmas camping trip on Brian and Bethania’s 760 acre ranch was absolutely AMAZING!!! In fact, so much so, we ended up extending our stay.
We were on the mountain camp site and it was well worth some bumps on the road to get up there. The views were utterly stunning- mountains everywhere!!!
It was secluded and peaceful, just like dispersed camping should be, but we knew if we needed anything at all, Brian and Bethania were just a quick text away and would be there to help us immediately.
We could not have asked for more helpful and gracious hosts. And the ranch dogs were even more of a treat for us and our kids to play with.
We rented the Polaris and telescope and had a blast exploring the property and star gazing. And don’t forget to get some eggs from their chickens- they certainly made for some delicious meals.
It is truly a magical place and we could not recommend it enough. We will definitely be back!!!
100 stars out of 5!!!!
Fernanda Z.recommendsDecember 22, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Magical Place
Magical place with magical hosts!
amazing setting, beautiful stars, great trails all around you. Just Perfect!
Shannon T.recommendsDecember 20, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
It’s Perfect
I am in love with this place! The land is stunning, the skies are indeed spectacular, and Bethania and Brian are the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. They went way out of their way to make me comfortable here and immediately felt like friends. They created a beautiful campsite that was private but accessible—exactly what I wanted.
I’ve spent my days watching the gorgeous light slide across the mountains, walking through the desert, and checking out the jackrabbits, coyotes, wild horses, open range cattle, red-tailed hawks, roadrunners, mule deer, and other wildlife. Tucson is an easy drive, too.
If you’re looking for something really special a little off the beaten path, you can’t go wrong here.
Ivey R.recommendsDecember 16, 2022
The Studio: Dark Sky Glamping
The host’s land is beautiful and serene. My stay here was exactly what I expected and so much more. The hosts are genuine, accommodating and incredibly kind. Book any of their offerings and you won’t be disappointed in the slightest. I hope you like stars, the quiet and friendly dogs- if you don’t then this is not the place for you!
Benjamin M.recommendsDecember 13, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Bethania and Brian were super gracious about showing me all of their land and letting me choose where to camp. They have a lot of land and exploring it was a lot of fun. Not too cold either, even tho it is December.
Tess G.recommendsDecember 12, 2022
The Studio: Dark Sky Glamping
Best place I’ve stayed in awhile!!! If you love quiet big spaces and dogs this is the place for you. I will definitely be going back!
Miranda D.recommendsDecember 10, 2022
The Studio: Dark Sky Glamping
Bethania and Brian’s studio is so cozy and their land has so much to offer, perfect for a weekend getaway just outside of Tucson. They have an incredible attention to detail in their space and tons of amenities. They left us fresh chicken eggs and even dog treats for our fur child. Their ranch dogs are so friendly and do a wonderful job of protecting their family and visitors. We explored some of their land in our AWD vehicle and on foot, spotted tons of wildlife and enjoyed the beautiful mountain views. We felt very comfortable our hosts provided us with tons of activities/ideas and we would definitely recommend staying at any of Bethania and Brian’s handcrafted properties.
Virginia P.recommendsDecember 10, 2022
The Studio: Dark Sky Glamping
Relax and disconnect in the studio!
My husband and I loved our stay at Dark Sky Glamping. Our night was spent in the “Studio” cottage. All the luxuries and amenities of a night glamping were available in the Studio’s cozy quarters. From the garden areas and walking paths to the fire-pit, outdoor/indoor kitchens and
shower/bath facilities, Brian and Bethania have done a fantastic job of turning their land into a lovely paradise. My husband and I loved exploring the grounds of Dark Sky Glamping both on foot and in the Polaris available to rent. A photo opportunity seemed to await each and every turn of the head. And, with so many acres left to explore, we could easily see ourselves returning to enjoy more of it! The desert’s flora was soothing and serene, the mountains and the sky were magical, and the air was, well, ‘a breath of fresh air’.
Thank you for sharing your Hipcamp with us, and for your phenomenal hospitality, Bethania and Brian. It was genuine pleasure meeting you both. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our time at Dark Sky Camping, and would certainly recommend it to our closest friends.
Vaughn S.recommendsDecember 5, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
We loved camping at Dark Sky Bethania and Brian were perfect hosts the
directions were clear, mountains beautiful, enjoyed the solitude we especially
liked the wild horses that were grazing just 75 ft. outside of camp we give
5 stars we look forward to returning soon.
Amy B.recommendsDecember 4, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Pretty, secluded, clean, kind hosts
We were at the first site... it's perfect! It's alongside a dirt berm, which makes a nice wind break. On the other side of the berm are shade trees and a few minute walk to a pond. You can see mountains in the distance. It's beautiful, quiet, secluded, and clean. There is a rock fire ring, firewood, and a picnic table. The site has nice turn arounds and level dirt, so it's easy to park campers. The road to get there is also dirt, no rocks. It was washboarded, but easy to drive. The hosts are so kind, and genuinely good people! Before the trip they were quick to respond to all my questions with lots of great detailed answers. They met us at the turn off and drove us to our site so we wouldn't get lost. They brought firewood and showed us around, then made sure we knew they were available if we needed anything.
Amy M.recommendsNovember 20, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Such a nice experience! We tent camped at the site farther up the road near the mountains and it was beautiful! Bethania was so welcoming and they even had some firewood already gathered by the fire pit. The area was clean, quiet, and there was SO much space to freely explore. Lots of cool rocks too. I loved this place!
Toni P.recommendsNovember 15, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
We had a wonderful 2 night stay at Dark Sky Camping. The four miles of unpaved road was a little rough on our trailer but we just had to take it slow. Bethania and her family greeted us warmly and later delivered a very generous load of fire wood. The views and desert solitude were magnificent. Fantastic sunrises, sunsets and star gazing despite the pesky moon :). We enjoyed hiking around on the property and bird watching by the lake (where we saw a Vermillion Flycatcher -- the good luck bird). Muito obrigada Bethania and Brian!
Virginia P.recommendsNovember 10, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Surreal desert camping!
Our stay at Dark Sky Camping was a pure joy. Our amazing hosts, Bethania and Brian, welcomed my husband and I upon our arrival and ensured we had everything we needed for a comfortable, enjoyable evening. Bethania and Brian were so hospitable and kind throughout the duration of our stay. We can’t recommend them enough. Thank you!
The property itself was so much fun; comfortable, and dramatically beautiful, this Hipcamp is a perfect choice for those seeking to unwind and relax in a surreal, desert setting. It’s evident that the hosts put a lot of thought and love into the design of this massive Hipcamp (almost 800
acres to roam!).
My husband and I stayed two nights at Dark Sky Camping. The first night we spent in our tent at one of the primitive sites. How unspeakably gorgeous the sunset was! The subtle, shifting color gradients and haunting movement of shadows across the mountains were absolutely spellbinding. It must be experienced. The campsite itself was so quiet and peaceful. The only sounds we heard were the wind, wild horses, and distant howls.
Thank you for sharing your Hipcamp with us, and for your phenomenal hospitality, Bethania and Brian. It was genuine pleasure meeting you both. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our time at Dark Sky Camping, and would certainly recommend it to our closest friends and family.
Chris N.recommendsNovember 7, 2022
The Studio: Dark Sky Glamping
Absolutely loved my stay with Bethania and Brian at their tiny house “studio”. The views are gorgeous, there property is beautifully situated at the base of the mountain. They went out of there way, even offering to pick up groceries when the went into town. The UTV was a great way to explore the 800+ acres and see some wildlife.
Bria P.recommendsOctober 30, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Camping with a baby
This was the second time I went tent camping on Bethania and Brian’s land and once again I had an amazing time. The site they took me too was a lot easier on my little Chevrolet Cruze which does not have 4WD. The site was well maintained and had an ample amount of firewood to keep the winter chill away, and is near a path where free roaming cattle go for water. Since I was camping by myself and a baby they not only helped me pitch my tent, gather firewood but also helped pull my car out when I got stuck taking the wrong road. These host are not only attentive but also care about the type of time you have on their property. It’s a very welcoming vibe. Will definitely be going back!
Jen J.recommendsOctober 14, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Stars and sunrises
Amazing night sky. Sunrise to die for. Loved the privacy. Host made us feel very welcome. It you want some quiet and relaxed dry camping near Tucson, this is perfect.
Lisa S.recommendsOctober 9, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Beautiful location west of Phoenix at about 2800 foot elevation near the Coyote Mountains. We were one of the last few to have this exact spot as the hosts will be building their home here, and I can see why! They have a huge property (800 acres) so there will be plenty other great spots. Firewood was generously provided but we still brought our own. The two nights we were there we got to watch lightening storms to the north and east and we sat there perfectly dry watching it all! I would absolutely recommend this spot!
Roger S.recommendsSeptember 21, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Camping with my dog.
It was easy to find. She met me at the front exactly as the directions said. It was definitely dark sky too. I had a relaxing night aside from the rain it was what I needed. My dog had a great time too.
Amaris R.recommendsSeptember 18, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Disconnect & Immerse Into Nature
There is nothing like the sunsets and sunrises that happen on Bethania and Brian’s property. I woke up super early to enjoy the sunrise over Tucson because I KNEW it was going to be good. The site is extremely private, with a fire ring to make epic fires. They prepared a wood pile for us and encouraged us to collect more firewood from the surrounding land. The sky is so lit up with stars at night and you can see the Milky Way with ease. The hosts are friendly, personable, and welcoming and will make you feel right at home. We were greeted with a dozen eggs from the chickens on their homestead and they were so delicious! After a long drive, enjoying fresh eggs on their peaceful land was an incredible gift. Our 1.5 year old enjoyed the stay too! We are so grateful for this experience and will be returning soon.
Jay P.recommendsJune 1, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
Truly a gem on a desert
I met Bethania on the campsite, she kindly showed all the available tent sites and gave best of possible hospitality. I had a feeling that the way how they offered me a favor was more of humanity than making money out of the campsite. I feel so blessed to find those wonderful hosts!
As an amateur astro-photographer, I'd like to add up how much secluded this place is and how a dark shrine falls upon you when the Sun goes down. When the Sun goes down, there's a bit of wind blow - perhaps spine-chilling, not because it is cold but rather because you feel the magnificence of the nature - indicating a sudden temperature change near you. Then wonderful sunset becomes a dusk. Not too long after that, you are left in utter darkness. You will start seeing stars being captured within your eyes. Season and weather permitting, you will see a very faint yet evident cloud crossing the sky. You might recognize that it is not a lump of cloud at all, it is rather the Milky way!
Set up a camera (preferably not your smartphone but a real camera) on a decent tripod. Set up the exposure time to 30 seconds and picture it. You will get an amazing photo of the Milky way.
All in all, this is the best place for stargazing near Tucson. If you want a better-quality dark sky, you might consider going high elevations to avoid atmospheric effects - yes, you are leaving the earth in that case.
Rene M.recommendsMay 20, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
I truly loved this placed and it’s a awesome places for those who are looking to start overlanding and off-road Bethania and Brain allowed me to to roam a bit on their land and it was pretty cool. A must stay again if I ever head west that route.
Celia M.recommendsMay 14, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
The host, Brian and Bethania are amazing hosts. They are friendly and super helpful. Wonderful property with Amazing views!!! This is a must stay! Highly recommend!
Claudia M.recommendsMay 10, 2022
Dark Sky Camping
:)
This was an amazing experience. The hosts were so kind and helped us find our way in, a really nice family. The stars and feeling of solitude were unforgettable.