Cherry Springs State Park, a Dark Sky Park
A 2,300-foot mountaintop field in Pennsylvania's Susquehannock State Forest, with a 360-degree view and one of the best night skies in the eastern United States.
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Entry
- Observation field open all night
- Food & town
- Coudersport · about 15 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2008
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 | Thin crescent, rises late | 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 |
| Apr 1–8 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core |
| May 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| May 31–Jun 6 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–7 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 31–Aug 6 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core, and extra shooting stars (Southern Delta Aquariids and Perseids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 5 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 4 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Late Feb to early Oct. Out of season until late Feb. In season now, through early Oct. Out of season until late Feb.
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 (thin crescent, rises late)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 Cherry Springs 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
Cherry Springs sits on top of a 2,300-foot mountain in the largely undeveloped Susquehannock State Forest. The towns nearby are down in the valleys, which hides their light, and every light in the park is shielded, with white light converted to red. The result is one of the best stargazing sites in the eastern United States, with a clear view toward the center of the Milky Way. Pennsylvania named it the state's first Dark Sky Park in 2000.
There are three ways to use it. For a few hours of looking, go to the Night Sky Public Viewing Area north of Route 44, with parking, restrooms, and a walkway to an amphitheater screened from passing headlights; public stargazing programs are held here, weather permitting. The rustic campground, open mid-April to late October, suits casual stargazers who want to stay the night. Serious observers with equipment register for the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field, which has telescope pads, power for batteries and laptops, and a strict no-white-light rule.
If you're heading to the field, arrive in daylight to drive onto it; after dusk you park next door and walk in. The park hosts two major star parties each year that draw several hundred astronomers.
Getting in after dark
The park is open every day of the year. The Overnight Astronomy Observation Field is open to registered users all night; the Night Sky Public Viewing Area is for short stays of a few hours or less, not overnight. All-night observing on the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field is for registered users.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Coudersport, PA is about 15 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Coudersport Shop 'n Save), 3 gas stations, and 3 places to eat on the map. The nearest gas is closer: Exxon, about 10 mi away in Galeton, PA. Nearest places to eat on the map: Pine Creek Inn Family Restaurant and Bar (about 10 mi), McDonald's (about 15 mi), and Subway (about 15 mi). The park is very remote and most phones get no signal, so download the park map before you go, and dress for a mountaintop that tends to run cool and damp.
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
✓ Certification verified Jul 2026 against DarkSky International registry (Internet Archive capture) · after-dark access and night permits from Pennsylvania DCNR (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026) · groceries from Coudersport Shop 'n Save (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Cherry Springs State Park
No other dark sky place on this site is within 150 miles of Cherry Springs State Park. The closest is Geauga Observatory Park, about 168 mi west in Ohio. Or browse every place by state.