Dark Sky Places in PA
The following is a list of classified Dark Sky places in Pennsylvania. The list will be updated as more places are classified in PA. If you have discovered or know a place in PA that you would like us to consider and designate, please fill out a form at the bottom of this page here or contact us at darkskypa.org@gmail.com or fill out the contact form under "Contact Us". When assessing a place to recommend us, please use the Bortle Scale or Sky Quality Meter (SQM). These scales is key to assessing the accurate category the location falls under. For more information regarding Dark Sky location classification please refer here.
DarkSky International Dark Sky Park: Cherry Springs State Park
Recognized as an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International in 2008, Cherry Springs State Park is an ideal destination for stargazers. Located in Potter County, Pennsylvania, the park is situated at 700 meters above sea level within the 106,000-hectare Susquehannock State Forest. It offers an unobstructed 360-degree view from its Astronomy Field. Open year-round, Cherry Springs provides optimal stargazing conditions on 60 to 85 nights annually. The park also hosts two major star parties each year, attracting several hundred astronomers for multi-night events.
Unofficial Dark Sky Places
Currently, Cherry Springs State Park is the only officially designated Dark Sky Park in Pennsylvania. However, there are several unofficial Dark Sky locations throughout the state. Below is a list of parks along with their corresponding Bortle Scale ratings, sourced from Go Astronomy. Additional details about these locations can also be found on their website.
Dark Sky Park Labeling and Suggestions:
If you have any location suggestions or information that should be cataloged, please let us know by filling out the form
