Description
Cherry Springs State Park is nearly as remote and wild today as it was two centuries ago. Its dark skies make it a haven for astronomers. Due to its exceptionally dark skies, Cherry Springs State Park is one of the best places on the eastern seaboard for stargazing and the science of astronomy, which is the study and observation of planets, nebulae, galaxies, stars and other heavenly bodies. A dark night sky is a natural resource, just like plants, waterways and wildlife. Recognizing that this unique resource needed to be managed and protected, in 2000, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources declared Cherry Springs State Park the first Dark Sky Park. Named for the large stands of black cherry trees in the park, the 82-acre state park is surrounded by the 262,000-acre Susquehannock State Forest. The Susquehannock Trail passes nearby and offers 85 miles of backpacking and hiking.
Geography:
Named for historic stands of black cherry trees, the park is better known today for star-gazing. The park can attribute its dark night skies and excellent astronomical viewing mostly to its place amidst thousands of acres of the Susquehannock State Forest and being perched high atop the Allegheny Plateau at 2300 feet above sea level. Clearings from past settlement and an emergency runway built in the 1930s provide expansive areas with low horizons to view the night sky. Wildlife is abundant in and around the park with sighting of bear and deer quite common. Hooting of owls or even the occasional howl of a coyote remind visitors of the remote nature of this park.
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