Milky Way Photography
Cherry Springs State Park Dark Sky

Cherry Springs State Park Photography

Cherry Springs State Park is a dark sky park with little light pollution. This makes it an ideal place to take photographs of the night sky – something amateur stargazers and professional astronomers enjoy. This article will provide tips on making the most of your visit to Cherry Springs State Park and getting some great photos of the Milky Way.

Cherry Springs State Park is one of the best places in the world to photograph the Milky Way. The park is in a dark sky reserve, meaning minimal light pollution. The dark skies make it the perfect place to create stunning Milky Way photos.

Remember a few things when photographing the Milky Way. First, you’ll need a DSLR camera with a wide-angle lens. Second, you’ll need to find a spot with a clear sky view. Following these tips, you can create some fantastic Milky Way photos at Cherry Springs State Park.

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Our Trip to Photograph Cherry Springs State Park

We traveled to Cherry Springs State Park as one of our first photography journeys, and this is one of our first articles.

CHERRY SPRINGS STATE PARK MILKY WAY

Astronomers and stargazers appreciate Cherry Springs State Park’s darkness and clarity, making it “perhaps the last best refuge of the natural night sky” in the eastern half of the United States. The sky at Cherry Springs has been classified as a two on the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale, meaning it has almost no light pollution. With optimum conditions, 10,000 stars are visible to the naked eye at the park, clouds appear only as black holes in the starry sky, and the Milky Way is so bright that it casts a discernible shadow.

The walls of two of the park’s three astronomy domes prevent the wind from moving telescopes during observation. Nighttime visitors may only use flashlights with red filters and may only point them at the ground. The Astronomy Field has further light restrictions, and parts of the park are light-free zones. The DCNR spent $396,000 in June 2007 to buy mineral rights under 1,980 acres (800 ha) of the park and state forest to prevent natural gas drilling and associated development.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?

They are open all year, but you can only see the Milky Way core under certain conditions.

Months: The Milky Way Core can be seen from March to October, disappearing below the horizon for the rest of the year. It appears in the early morning hours in March and becomes visible earlier each month. The best time to catch a glimpse of the core is during summer when it can be seen immediately after sunset, providing an ideal viewing opportunity for stargazers and photographers.

New Moon: Timing is crucial to see the Milky Way. This celestial event can only be seen on clear nights without a visible moon, limiting the window for viewing. Check the new moon chart and go on the new moon ten days before. The charts will show you when the moon rises. Ten days before the new moon, the moon does not rise at night, so you are suitable for Milky Way Photography.

Light Pollution: The best way to experience the full wonder of the Milky Way is to escape from areas with heavy light pollution. Cherry Springs State Park is one of the darkest locations in the United States.

HOW LONG TO COVER THIS AREA?

This region can be explored in just one day and night. If the weather is favorable, you’ll have the opportunity to capture stunning shots of the Milky Way in the surrounding areas.

SEE THE FULL GEAR LIST BELOW

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BRING?

Water and Snacks
Bug repellent
Food and snacks

HOW DO I GET THERE?

FOR YOUR GPS

4639 Cherry Springs Road, Coudersport, PA, 16915

PHONE: +1 814-435-1037

WEBSITE: Visit website

WHAT OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY IS NEARBY?

Lyman Run State Park is also a dark-sky territory with a lake.

HOW BUSY DOES IT GET?

It gets busier during the Milky Way season and clear skies, so reserve the observation areas and camping beforehand. A few events get very busy, so check the schedule.

THE OBSERVATION FILED

The Field can be found near the park office. It is a prime spot for dedicated astronomers to observe the night sky overnight with their equipment. To preserve the area’s darkness and clarity, all lights must have red filters or be shaded. The use of white light is not allowed in this designated space.

If you would like to reserve a spot at the observation site, please make a reservation online or call ahead. A $15 fee per night per vehicle is for using the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field. Register at the park office when you arrive if you prefer to use the Night Sky Public Viewing Area. While there is no fee for this area, space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis.

CELL PHONE COVERAGE

The area is very remote, and there is minimal cell phone coverage.

EVENTS

There is a woodsmen’s show in August, so be prepared for a massive crowd during that time. Check the schedule before going. If you want to do Woodman by day and Milky Way by night, you can watch or participate in:

Tree-felling
Log rolling
Springboard chopping
Standing block chop
Chain-saw events

WHERE TO STAY

We are a little spoiled and prefer more luxury!

Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast – THE CLOSEST LODGING TO THE PARK

1077 Cherry Springs Road, Coudersport, PA 16915 – See more details below. Tell the Ayers we said Hello!!

MANY YEARS AGO, THIS WAS OUR FIRST PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP FOR THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE. Frosty Hollow was our very first stop!!

Announcing our Photography Contest

All of the winners will have their photo featured in our Magazine Lots of Prizes

See all of the Details on our Photography Contest Page.

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GEAR LIST FOR SHOOTING MILKY WAY

You can use this list for packing so you don’t forget something.

LIGHT POLLUTION MAP:

Light pollution map

CAMERA:

You will need a camera to control your ISO, shutter speed, and aperture manually.

LENS:

A fast, wide-angle lens of 1.4 – 2.8 is ideal. If you use a 3.5 or higher (slower lens), you must increase the ISO. The higher the ISO, the more grain or digital noise will appear in your photos.

TRIOPD:

A good, sturdy tripod is essential for night photography. If it gets windy, you will need a sturdy one. Remember that when you buy one, it should be sturdy enough to withstand the wind but small enough to fit in your suitcase.

SKY MAP:

Sky Guide is available through the iTunes Store for $1.99. It has a 5 out of 5-star rating on both the current (3.2) version (1200+ ratings) and all previous versions (8600+ ratings).

FLASHLIGHT:

Our choice for flashlights is Coast brand. The ideal flashlight will have high lumens, and you can zoom in and out on the light it emits. Get the HP7, PX45, or G50. Ideally, go with the HP7.

MOON PHAZE MAP:

The best time to go is during a new moon; you want to be in the darkest area possible. The week before the new moon, when the moon has not risen, is a perfect time to go, so be sure to check the moonrise chart to see when the moon will be up.

REMOTE SHUTTER RELEASE:

When painting with light and using your bulb mode over a 30-second exposure, you must have a shutter release to use your bulb mode. You can use the remote release or your camera’s built-in two-second timer when exposing your pictures.

CAMERA SETTINGS FOR MILKY WAY

ISO:

Start with ISO 1600 – 3200. This is a common starting point, and you will adjust from here.

Shutter Speed: Remember, the Earth is rotating. If you leave the shutter open for too long, you will see star trails that will not make for a crisp image. We want crisp, non-star trail images. Here is the formula to avoid star trails—the 500 rule – Divide 500 by the focal length of your lens. So, if you have a 24mm lens on a full-frame camera, you will set your shutter speed to 20 sec. (500/24 = 20.83). Calculate the crop factor using a crop sensor camera to determine the equivalent focal length. Cannon is 1.6, Nikon is 1.5. Convert to full-frame focal length, then use the formula. Nikon 18mm x 1.5= 27mm – 500/27 = 18.51 seconds.

APERTURE:

Depth of field isn’t critical on these shots, but letting light into the camera is; therefore, you should shoot wide open if. If the depth of field is essential to you, try not to go too high. (Wide open = the lowest aperture your camera allows.) You will need to increase the ISO slightly, introducing digital noise.

SHUTTER SPEED:

Now that the ISO and aperture are set in manual mode, roll your shutter speed until your meter reads (0) zero. Take a test shot and adjust from there.

Shutter Speed 500 Rule: Remember, the Earth is rotating. If you leave the shutter open for too long, you will see star trails that will not make for a crisp image. We want crisp, non-star trail images. Here is the formula to avoid star trails—the 500 rule – Divide 500 by the focal length of your lens. So, if you have a 24mm lens on a full-frame camera, you will set your shutter speed to 20 sec. (500/24 = 20.83). If you are using a crop sensor camera, first do the math of the crop sensor to find the focal length. Cannon is 1.6, Nikon is 1.5. Convert to full-frame focal length, then use the formula. Nikon 18mm x 1.5= 27mm – 500/27 = 18.51 seconds.

WHITE BALANCE:

In live view mode, you can change your white balance settings and see what they look like. You can also shoot in shade or cloud mode as a standard setting and adjust things later when editing.

LIVE VIEW:

To focus in the dark, use your camera’s live view, hit the zoom button, and focus on a bright star. You can also use the infinity setting on your lens, but do several test shots to determine accuracy. It can be off on some lenses. You can also light it up with a flashlight, focus, then gently, without touching the focus ring, put the camera in manual focus so it will not search for the focus. You must do this each time you move your camera to take your next angle.

WHEN TO VIEW THE MILKY WAY:

The best images are usually of the dense part of the Milky Way. We can see this part of the Milky Way in the southern sky. During March, April, and May, the Milky Way rises above the horizon in the pre-dawn hours. In June, at about 10:00 p.m., you will see the Milky Way. From July until October, you can see the Milky Way as soon as the sun sets, and it becomes dark enough to see about an hour after sunset. In November, the Milky Way no longer comes above the horizon. You will have to wait until March if you want to stay away really late or get up early to see her again.

See our Milky Way Hot Spot Locator and our Night Photography Information.

WHERE TO EAT AND STAY – OUR TOP PICKS

Cherry Springs State Park B & B

Bed and Breakfast – Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast – 1077 Cherry Spring Road, Coudersport, Pa. 16915

72 Cherry Springs State Park - Best B & B, Best Hotels

FROSTY HOLLOW B & B

We have found the best places to stay and eat while photographing at Cherry Springs State Park. We have picked one Bed and Breakfast for you and one Motel with Cabins. We stayed at both of them.

Bed and Breakfast – The closest place to the Park is the Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast. Not only is it the closest, but it is also one of the best B&Bs in the area. It’s a warm, welcoming atmosphere that we search the world for. It’s so good we didn’t want to leave. Set in a remodeled barn and farmhouse, this creekside B&B is in a picturesque rural valley only a 3-minute drive from US Highway 6 and 0.6 miles from a country club and golf course.

Since 1992, the Ayers’ have welcomed guests to the remodeled barn, which they have beautifully decorated with their lifetime collection of antiques and heirlooms passed down from generation to generation. In 1998, they completely renovated the farmhouse on this 10-acre property where Joe grew up. They can now offer ten guest rooms, each uniquely decorated with Gail’s special touch. They spare no expense here. The beds are top-of-the-line, and the pillows will make you never want to move a muscle. It will be hard to get out of bed and head down to breakfast, but once you get there, you will be sure glad you did. You can see the pride the owners take in the food preparation.

Check out the Breakfast Pizza in the images. Wow! There was great granola, yogurt, and fruit for us, which made us very happy.

When you arrive here, look for Gail. She is a wonderful person, and you can feel the warmth and pride she takes in the place when she greets you. Tell her Photography Magazine sent you. UPDATE: Gail has retired but her family still runs the show.

FrostyHollow B&B – 814-274-7419 – 1077 Cherry Spring Road, Coudersport, Pa. 16915

SEE MORE ABOUT FROSTY HOLLOW BED AND BREAKFAST

CHERRY SPRINGS STATE PARK AREA INFO

HOTELS

hotel ox family restaurant sign in cherry springs state park

MOTEL AND CABINS

Ox York Inn and Restaurant near Cherry Springs State Park

This is our motel or cabin pick for where to stay when photographing Cherry Springs State Park. We like the cabins because you can sit outside on the large stream behind them. It is also the first motel/cabin rental you will find when coming out of the southern route to Route 6 from the park. Ken and Megan will make you feel so at home when you arrive to start your photography journey.

Tell them we sent you. After a good night’s rest, head to the restaurant for a delicious, filling, hot breakfast at an excellent price. Grab some coffee before heading to the park around dusk to start your night photography adventure. It’s super tasty. We took many cups to go as part of our night’s preparations. P.S. It also looks like a pretty cool bar to hang out in.

TOP PICKS – OX YORK INN AND RESTAURANT

Ox York Inn and Restaurant – 29 US Highway 6 – Galeton PA, 814-435-2515

PARK INFO

Entrance Fees:

None

Seasons and Hours

The park is open every day of the year.

The Cherry Springs Rustic Campground is open from the second Friday of April through the last weekend in October.

The Night Sky Public Viewing Area is intended for short-term (a few hours or less) star gazing and is not permitted for overnight stays.

The Overnight Astronomy Observation Field is open to registered users all night.

Contact the Lyman Run State Park office for facility seasons and hours.

MOST CELL PHONES DO NOT WORK IN THE PARK.

CAMPING

Add your campground here!

Camping – Ox York Inn also offers camping accommodations. Give them a call to get some campground information or make a motel or cabin reservation.

RESTAURANTS

Ox York Inn Restaurant and Bar

29 US Hwy 6W

Galeton, PA 16922

WEATHER

Remember that you can use a rain sleeve on your camera if it is raining. If it is bright and sunny, you want to use a low ISO, such as 50 or 100.

If you photograph cloudy days, you can use running water or waterfall photography to help avoid the glaring sun. You can also use an ND filter to get long exposures for dramatic effects, even in the sunshine. Be careful if you ghost hunt indoors in abandoned places!

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