Cherry Springs State Park

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground opens the second Friday in April and closes the last weekend in October. The park itself remains open year-round for day use and the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field is available to registered users.

About

Cherry Springs State Park is a premier destination for astronomy enthusiasts and campers seeking a remote wilderness experience in north central Pennsylvania. Located within the 262,000-acre Susquehannock State Forest, this 82-acre park holds the distinction of being a gold-certified International Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best places on the eastern seaboard for stargazing. The park's exceptionally dark skies offer unparalleled views of the Milky Way, planets, nebulae, and other celestial phenomena. The rustic campground offers 30 non-electric campsites, each equipped with a picnic table, lantern hanger, and fire ring. The facility includes non-flush restrooms and a sanitary dump station. Due to the park's focus on preserving dark skies, lighting restrictions are recommended in the campground, and visitors are encouraged to use red-filtered lights. The park also features a separate Overnight Astronomy Observation Field for serious stargazers with strict lighting restrictions. The surrounding area offers additional recreational opportunities including hiking on the nearby 85-mile Susquehannock Trail, mountain biking, and snowmobiling. The park hosts regular public stargazing programs and environmental education activities. Cherry Springs is also home to the annual Woodsmen Show each August. With its incredibly remote location, visitors should note that cell phone service is unpredictable and pets are not permitted in the campground or astronomy areas.

Directions

Cherry Springs State Park is located on PA Route 44 in Potter County. GPS coordinates: 41.66384, -77.82321. The park is very remote and cell phone service is unpredictable.

Nearby Campgrounds