Cherry Springs State Park

Planning my next trip this weekend! Been here about 4-5 times. Word of advice- this place is in the middle of nowhere so if you're planning a trip make sure you check out their dark sky chart online to see if viewing conditions are good for stargazing. Driving all the way out here to see cloudy skies isn't worth it! But driving all the way out when during the new moon phase, with little to no cloud cover and good transparency makes an ideal combo for the novice astronomer. Bring your telescope or simply gaze out in the field with your own eyes to see the milky way. Absolutely breathtaking!

Pretty nice campground: great if it's a clear night, but it is very isolated and there aren't any longer trails nearby. There is a camp store down the road that has everything you could ever need. Remember to bring red cellophane to cover your flashlights and the bathrooms near the nonelectric campsites does not have running water!

Campground - base price $17 for non residents and amenities like showers, electric, $4-7 add on

Outstanding stargazing. I might have had the best weather on my trip after the 4th of July, not a cloud in the sky for 4 straight days. The sites are clean, some are not on level ground and their are only about 1/2 of the sites that have no shade.

Keep in mind that these are "roughing it" campsites. There is no electricity, showers or running water in the bathrooms. Even though you are using a pit to go to the bathroom in it is actually rather clean. Bring something for personal washing, I recommend a product called "The Shower Pouch". Little piece of info as well, Verizon had a perfect LTE connection, AT&T had literally no service.

I did not participate in the tours so I can't review that portion of the park. But, overall this place is a five star ;) resort for stargazing!

Have been coming to Cherry Springs for many years making the 5 hr. trip from Cleveland, OH. Wonderful place for stargazing. Observers/campers tend to be serious you will wear out you welcome quickly with white flashlights and/or lasers. The park is managed by the State of PA parks who do an absolutely wonderful job year in and year out. Facilities are nice clean and well maintained. There are two major sponsored star parties each year: The Cherry Springs (Spring) and Black Forest (Fall) that usually sell out all 500 spots. Each of these event are wonderful but camping can be very crowed. Google each to find more information. Each new moon from May thru Nov you can expect 100+ in the observing field. Google Cherry Springs State Park for information on prices and restrictions. Clear skies......

Well worth the drive. The presentation was really good.

This was great! We went in early April; very cold! But almost no one else there so we weren't disturbed by lights. Set my up telescope and saw the coolest sky of my life.