Top States to View the October 2025 Annular Solar Eclipse in the U.S.

You’ve probably heard of the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, which will be visible across a large swath of the United States— cities in its path are preparing for thousands (if not millions) of skywatchers traveling in for the event. However, did you know there’s another solar eclipse occurring before then?

On Oct. 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will cross the U.S. from Oregon to Texas before continuing across Central and South America, according to NASA. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon travels between the Earth and the sun, and its shadow darkens the skies across a narrow strip of our planet. In contrast to a total eclipse, where the sun is entirely blocked by the moon, an annular eclipse allows the moon to obscure most—but not all—of the sun, resulting in a brilliant halo effect.

If you’re interested in witnessing this celestial event this fall, here are the states directly in the path of the annular solar eclipse.

Oregon

Oregon is the first state to experience the eclipse— it will appear from approximately 8 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. local time (PDT). Annularity, characterized by the “ring of fire” around the moon, will be visible from the city of Eugene (roughly a two-hour drive south of Portland) and further south from Crater Lake National Park.

California

Annularity will only be visible in a small area of northeast California, primarily in the Modoc National Forest and its surrounding communities. It’s approximately a five-hour drive from Sacramento and roughly two hours from the Mount Shasta area. Like in Oregon, the eclipse will occur from approximately 8 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. local time (PDT).

Nevada

Unfortunately, annularity won’t be visible from Las Vegas or Reno— you’ll need to embark on a road trip to experience the eclipse in all its haloed glory. Take Route 50, sometimes referred to as the “Loneliest Road in America,” to visit the city of Ely. For reference, Ely is about a four-hour drive from Las Vegas. Alternatively, continue on to Great Basin National Park— one of the country’s least visited national parks. Witness the eclipse from approximately 8 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. local time (PDT).

Utah

Three of Utah’s five national parks are prime viewing spots for the annular solar eclipse: Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Capitol Reef National Park. Given the dramatic landscapes here, expect fantastic photography opportunities. Be sure to view the eclipse from approximately 9 a.m. to noon local time (MDT).

Colorado

You may have noticed a recurring theme— many national parks lie directly in the path of the annular solar eclipse. This trend continues in Colorado, where annularity will be visible from Mesa Verde National Park from roughly 9 a.m. to noon local time (MDT).

Arizona

Head to Arizona’s renowned Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park to experience the annular solar eclipse in October. It’s important to note that Arizona does not observe daylight savings time; however, the Navajo Nation, where Monument Valley is located, does. If you are within the Navajo Nation, you can view annularity from approximately 9 a.m. to noon local time (MDT).

New Mexico

The eclipse will cross New Mexico in a diagonal line from its northwest corner to its southeast one, providing ample opportunities for viewing annularity. Popular spots include Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Roswell. Experience the eclipse from roughly 9:15 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. local time (MDT).

Texas

In Texas, the eclipse will be visible in a line from Odessa to Corpus Christi. The largest city in this path is San Antonio, where the eclipse can be seen from approximately 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. local time (CDT).

Honorable Mention: Idaho

While you can technically see annularity from Idaho, it will only be visible from the state’s very remote southwest corner, which has minimal infrastructure. This area is a 5.5-hour drive from Boise and a 7.5-hour drive from Twin Falls. Witness the eclipse from roughly 9 a.m. local time to 11:45 a.m. local time (MDT).