CHERRY SPRINGS STATE PARK MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY
One of the darkest locations on the East Coast and an excellent spot for Milky Way photography.
MILKY WAY NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATION
Cherry Springs State Park is an 82-acre Pennsylvania state park in Potter County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park was created from land within the Susquehannock State Forest and is on Pennsylvania Route 44 in West Branch Township. Cherry Springs, named for a large stand of Black Cherry trees in the park, is atop the dissected Allegheny Plateau at an elevation of 2,300 feet (701 m). It is popular with astronomers and stargazers for having “some of the darkest night skies on the east coast” of the United States and was chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and its Bureau of Parks as one of the “25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks.”
Cherry Springs State Park was named Pennsylvania’s first dark sky park by the DCNR in 2000. The adjoining Cherry Springs Airport, built in 1935, was closed, and its land was added to the park in 2006 to expand its stargazing area. On June 11, 2007, the International Dark-Sky Association named it the second “International Dark Sky Park”; under optimum conditions, the Milky Way casts a natural shadow. Cherry Springs has received national press coverage and hosts two-star parties yearly, attracting hundreds of astronomers. Regular stargazing and educational programs for the public at the park and the Woodsmen’s Show attract thousands each summer. Cherry Springs also offers rustic camping, picnic facilities, and mountain biking, hiking, and snowmobiling trails. The surrounding state forest and park are home to various flora and fauna. SEE ALL THE IMAGES ON OUR CHERRY SPRINGS STATE PARK FEATURE ARTICLE
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Be prepared. There are some things you should know.
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?
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 PHOTOGRAPH 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.
WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR SHOULD I BRING?
- A Camera with a wide-angle lens.
- Tripod – For shooting flowers in aperture priority mode.
- Shutter release
- Polarizing Filter
- Read headlamp
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BRING?
- Water and Snacks
- Bug repellent
- Food and snacks
HOW DO I GET THERE?
FOR YOUR GPS
4639 Cherry Springs Rd, Coudersport, PA 16915, USA
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.
THE OBSERVATION FILED
The Field can be found near the park office. It is a prime spot for dedicated astronomers with their equipment to observe the night sky overnight. To preserve the darkness and clarity of the area, 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. If you prefer to use the Night Sky Public Viewing Area, you must register at the park office when you arrive. 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:
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Tree-felling
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Log rolling
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Springboard chopping
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Standing block chop
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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 – SEE DETAILS BELOW
1077 Cherry Springs Road, Coudersport, PA 16915 – See more details below. Tell the Ayers we said Hello!!
GEAR LIST FOR SHOOTING MILKY WAY
Before you leave for your trip, you can use this as a checklist to ensure you have everything you need.
LIGHT POLLUTION MAP:
CAMERA:
You will need a camera to manually control your ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.
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 is the Coast brand for flashlights. The ideal flashlight will have high lumens, and you can zoom in and out on the light emitted by the flashlight. Get the HP7, PX45, or the 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 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). 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.
APERTURE:
Depth of field isn’t critical on these shots, but letting light into the camera is; therefore, you should shoot wide open if.
WHITE BALANCE:
In live view mode, you can change your white balance settings and see what they look like.
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 a little 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.
OUR FAVORITE BED AND BREAKFAST!
Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast – THE CLOSEST LODGING TO THE PARK
1077 Cherry Spring Road, Coudersport, Pa. 16915
The Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast Full article on Cherry Springs State Park and our Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast at Cherry Springs State Park Page.
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$99 per year. Details
The park is open all year, every day.
The Cherry Springs Rustic Campground welcomes visitors from the second Friday of April until the last weekend in October.
The Night Sky Public Viewing Area is designated for temporary star gazing and is unavailable for overnight accommodations.
The Overnight Astronomy Observation Field is accessible to registered users throughout the night.
Please contact the Lyman Run State Park office for information on facility hours and seasons.
There is a campground behind the park office. It’s the perfect spot for casual stargazers to spend a night under the stars. While there are no lighting restrictions in this area, it is recommended to use red filters on any lights to enhance stargazing visibility. The Campground has campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. There is no electricity.
Reservations are also required for the Rustic Campground, with a fee of $15 per night per campsite. Cherry Springs Campground will close for the season on October 29th, 2023, and will reopen to the public on April 12th, 2024.
