Negwegon State Park
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →State designated
Port Crescent State Park, a State Dark Sky Preserve
Three miles of Lake Huron beach and dunes at the tip of Michigan's Thumb, with a state-designated dark sky preserve that stays open around the clock.
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Food & town
- Caseville · about 10 mi
- State designated
- Dark Sky Preserve · 2012
How dark is it, really?
Dark enough to see the Milky Way overhead on a clear night, though glow from nearby towns washes out the sky near the horizon. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 4, an estimate.)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 6–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–12 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Leonids) |
| Dec 5–11 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Geminids) |
| Jan 3–9 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and a meteor shower peak (Quadrantids) |
More dark windows, through Oct 2027
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1–8 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 2–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Mar 31–Apr 7 | Crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 30–May 7 | Crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| May 31–Jun 6 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–8 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 7 | Mostly none · crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 5 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 4 | Crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Early Mar to late Sep. Out of season until early Mar. In season now, through late Sep. Out of season until early Mar.
Meteor showers ahead: Leonids on Nov 17–18 (half moon, sets around midnight), Geminids on Dec 13–14 (thin crescent, sets early), Ursids on Dec 22–23 (full moon, up all night), and Quadrantids on Jan 3–4 (none · darkest skies)Lyrids on Apr 22–23 (bright moon for most of the night)Eta Aquariids on May 5–6 (none · darkest skies)Southern Delta Aquariids on Jul 30–31 (thin crescent, rises late)Perseids on Aug 12–13 (bright moon for most of the night).
Email me before the next dark window at Port Crescent State Park.
About one email a month, a few days before the moon goes dark: the dates here, the moonlight, and what's worth staying up for. Unsubscribe in one click.
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What it's like
Port Crescent keeps its night sky open around the clock. The Michigan Legislature made the part of the park north and west of the Pinnebog River a dark sky preserve, and Michigan leaves its preserves open 24 hours a day. The park lies at the very end of the Thumb, outside Port Austin, where the river meanders through rolling dunes to 3 miles of sandy Lake Huron beach.
For a first night, head for Parking Lot D. The observation platform there is the park's best place to watch the sky, and birders use it by day.
It helps to know the park comes in two pieces: the day-use area and the campground are two miles apart, with separate entrances. The modern campground looks out over Saginaw Bay, with electric sites, some full hookups, showers, and a buoyed swim area. If you'd rather sleep under a roof, there are cottages, camper cabins, a mini cabin, and two geodesic domes with skylights, plus two lakefront sites set up for hammocks. A Recreation Passport is required to drive into the park.
Summer adds weekly nature programs led by seasonal naturalists from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fishing and paddling on the Pinnebog, cross-country skiing in winter, and the park's sunsets fill the daylight hours.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Caseville, MI is about 10 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Caseville Family Market), 2 gas stations, and 7 places to eat on the map. The nearest gas is closer: Shell, about 5 mi away in Port Austin, MI. Nearest places to eat on the map: The Farm (about 2 mi), White Elephant (about 5 mi, in Port Austin, MI), and The Bank 1884 Food & Spirits (about 5 mi, in Port Austin, MI). The dark sky preserve isn't plowed in winter, so be ready to park and walk in.
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
✓ Designation verified Sep 2026 against Michigan Legislature: “Dark Sky Preserve”, designated 2012 · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Dark sky places near Port Crescent State Park
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
State Dark Sky Preserve State Dark Sky Preserve Rockport State Recreation Area
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →State Dark Sky Preserve Thompson's Harbor State Park
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
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Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →