Why does no one talk about light pollution at the Grand Canyon viewpoint?

I drove out to Yavapai Point last week around 11pm and the sky glow from Flagstaff was way worse than the ranger warned about. The Milky Way core was still visible but it looked washed out, maybe 60% as clear as photos I've seen from the same spot taken in 2018. Everyone raves about the dark sky status but the parking lot lights stay on all night, plus that glow ruins the wide angle shots. Am I the only one who thinks the park needs to push for darker lighting rules?

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faithbaker27d ago

Did you try shooting from Shoshone Point instead? That's what I did last summer and it made a huge difference. It's a bit of a hike but the trees block most of the Flagstaff glow on the western side. I also brought a cheap red filter for my headlamp and turned off all my car lights before I even parked. The parking lot at Yavapai is honestly the worst offender, those lights point straight up and scatter everywhere. You might also check the lunar calendar, a waning moon still adds a lot of haze even if it's below the horizon.