StarCast · Pennsylvania · Bortle 2

Astrophotography in Cherry Springs State Park

Cherry Springs State Park is the darkest accessible sky east of the Mississippi — a Bortle 2 designated International Dark Sky Park in the Pennsylvania Wilds, 3.5 hours from New York City and 4 hours from Philadelphia. It's the premier astrophotography destination for the entire Northeast corridor.

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Planning guide · Bortle 2 · April–October

Where and When to Shoot at Cherry Springs State Park

The park has a dedicated astronomy field with strict light regulations — no white light is permitted at the field after dark, and vehicles must use red lights only. Reserve a spot at the astronomy field in advance as it fills on clear weekend nights. The surrounding Susquehannock State Forest adds buffer from any surrounding development.

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Cherry Springs Astronomy Field

The dedicated 2-acre field faces south with a clear horizon — ideal for galactic core framing. The field is maintained with mowed grass and has no obstructions to the south or east. This is the darkest legally accessible spot in the eastern US by car.

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Susquehannock State Forest Clearings

The forest roads surrounding the park give additional dark sky access when the main field is crowded. The logged clearings along the forest roads provide open sky without the field's reservation requirements.

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Park Overlook — Northern Horizon

The park road overlook faces north — strong for star trail photography centered on Polaris and for aurora photography when geomagnetic conditions allow. The northern sky is fully dark with no horizon glow.

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Tent Camping Area

The campground adjacent to the astronomy field gives overnight access without a field reservation. The camping area has clear sky overhead — not as dark as the dedicated field but accessible and convenient for overnight shoots.

Season and gear

Best Season and What to Bring

Season: April–October · Astronomy field requires reservation on weekends · New moon essential

Gear notes: Red light only after dark (strict enforcement), reservation for astronomy field, warm layers for Pennsylvania mountain nights, dew heater strongly recommended

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StarCast Push Alerts

Save Cherry Springs State Park as a location in StarCast. Get a push alert when moon phase, cloud cover, and transparency align for a high-scoring night — before you make the drive. Exclusive to the iOS app.

Common Questions

Is Cherry Springs State Park good for astrophotography?

What Bortle class is Cherry Springs State Park?

Cherry Springs State Park is Bortle 2 — strong dark sky for serious astrophotography. StarCast shows Bortle class alongside moon phase and transparency for any location.

When is the best time for astrophotography at Cherry Springs State Park?

April–October · Astronomy field requires reservation on weekends · New moon essential. Target new moon windows — within 5 days of new moon for a full dark window. StarCast shows moon phase for any date so you can plan trips months in advance.

How do I check conditions before driving to Cherry Springs State Park?

Check StarCast for Cherry Springs State Park — moon phase, Bortle class, transparency, and cloud cover scored together into a single 0–100 night sky score. Check 3–5 days out for planning, confirm 24–48 hours before when transparency is most accurate.

What is LightCast StarCast?

StarCast scores night sky conditions using moon phase, Bortle class, atmospheric transparency, and cloud cover. Push alerts notify you when a high-scoring night is forecast. Free on web at lightcastsuite.com/starcast, push notifications in the LightCast iOS app. $2.99/month after a 7-day free trial.