Cascades Washington State

Hikes: Cascade Pass is 7.4 Mile out and back with many switchbacks.

 http://alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/cascade-pass-trail

To Silver Lake on Buckskin Ridge, 9.2 Miles round trip,

Cherry Springs and other dark skies parks

Cherry Spring: 

- There are campsites, a Night Sky Public Viewing Area, and an Overnight Astronomy Observation Field. The gov't website also mentions "astro cabins" with their own star fields. 

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Overnight Astronomy Observation Field

How to get a permit: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/cherry-springs-state-park/alerts.html#:~:text=Please%20see%20below%20for%20description,changes%20to%20the%20overnight%20fees.

"Overnight Astronomy Observation Field Fees: The single night base price for the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field will be $25 for each night.  Patrons must visit the Contact Station in the Visitors Parking Lot to register for the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field.  Patrons must comply with permit conditions and State Park Rules and Regulations including additional Overnight Astronomy Observation Field Rules.

 

Galaxy Pass: ***Discontinuing in 2026*** For a one-time fee you can have access to the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field for the rest of the year rather than paying the per night set-up fee. There are a limited number of passes available.  The 2025 Galaxy Pass price is $200 and will expire on December 31st, 2025.  Galaxy Pass users must still register at the contact station to document their stay and must comply with permit conditions and State Park Rules and Regulations including additional Overnight Astronomy Observation Field Rules.  Patrons may purchase the Galaxy Pass by calling the Lyman Run State Park office at 814-435-5010 extension 6."

****Galaxy Pass and Overnight Fee Updates:**** Updated 25 February 2025 - Office Hours 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Due to limited office staff and increased call volumes, voicemails may not be answered in a timely manner. 

Galaxy Passes are now available for sale.  Limited quantities available.  Galaxy Passes are for individuals and not for family units.  Once purchased they will be available at the new contact station in the visitors parking lot.  Galaxy Passes will not be mailed."

The most information about Stargazing at Cherry Springs:   https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/cherry-springs-state-park/stargazing.html :

"Astronomers wishing to use the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field are required to register and pay a user fee before setting up.  Users must follow all Overnight Astronomy Observation Field Permit Conditions (PDF)(opens in a new tab).

Please see the park bulletin board, located on the exterior wall of the restroom, to acquire a fee payment envelope. Please follow written instructions, posted fee schedule, and list your location on the field so that you can be located in an emergency, then deposit it into the round green fee tube located next to the three-sided registration kiosk.

During your stay, all Rules and Regulations of the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field (PDF)(opens in a new tab) must be obeyed. To enhance your experience and that of other visitors, follow Overnight Astronomy Observation Field Etiquette (PDF)(opens in a new tab) as well."

Rules: 5mph driving, dust is bad.  No aerosols, particles are bad.  No smoking. No campfires. Electricity is supplied for telescope equipment, not campers. No alcoholic beverages.

- The stargazing field at Cherry Springs is open year-round (as are our Astro Cabins, which have their own private stargazing fields). 

- Overnight Astronomy Observation Field permits will only be issued for the purpose of overnight viewing of the night sky, with viewing and/or photography equipment, for the full night.

- Astronomy field users must obtain a permit and pay fees before setting up. Access into and around the field is not guaranteed in those areas open for year-round use.

- The Overnight Astronomy Observation Field will be closed when it is filled. No “overflow” areas are permitted. 

- Galaxy Pass holders must obtain and fully complete the required permit, including their assigned Galaxy Pass number before setting up on the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field. Galaxy Pass holders are exempt from the nightly fee requirement. Persons accompanying a Galaxy Pass holder, who are not Galaxy Pass holders themselves, must get a group permit

- All groups, from 1 person up to 5 persons, or one family unit must obtain and fully complete a permit and pay fees before setting up on the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field. A family unit is considered as parents and their children. No more than one family unit or 5 persons, if not a family unit, can be assigned to one permit. 

- Driving on the field after sunset is prohibited except in case of emergency.

- Quiet hours are from midnight to 9 a.m.

- Astronomy sites must be vacated by 3 p.m. of the day the permit expires.

- Winter Alert:  "Cherry Springs State Park has reduced its services for winter operations.  Visitors should be aware that the Cherry Springs Campground will close for the season on October 30th, 2024 and will reopen to the public on April 11th 2025.  The comfort station, available on the Overnight Astronomy Observation field will close for the season on November 7th, 2024 as well as all water services will be shut down.  Two vault latrine restrooms are available at Cherry Springs State Park, one restroom is available in the Visitor Parking Area and one at the backside of Overnight Astronomy Observation Field.  All dumpsters are no longer available in the overnight areas, please follow "Carry In / Carry Out" guidelines; that is please carry out all trash you accumulate in the park.

Minimal winter maintenance allows for limited access to parking and observation areas. A small restroom on the back edge of the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field serves for both astronomers and snowmobilers.  A small restroom is also located in the Visitor Parking Lot.  Short Term star gazing can be conducted in the Night Sky Public Viewing Area on the north side of Route 44.  Long Term star gazing can be performed on the south side of Route 44 in the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field.  It is strongly recommended to let someone know where you are going, when you should return, and to maintain a cold weather survival kit. Astronomy Field regulations still apply; please review them prior to arrival. Please arrive well before dark for park familiarity."

- If you arrive after dark, you can park at the Night Sky Public Viewing area and walk into the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field.  

- You do not have to stay at Cherry Springs campground to go to either the Night Sky Public Viewing Area, or the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field.  

Night Sky Public Viewing Area: 

From Reddit: "It was fairly crowded because it was a summer night. However, pretty much nonexistent light pollution. Folks were respectful of others stargazing (use red tape on flashlights). Also by 10-11, majority had left."

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Astro Cabins?

https://cherryspringsstatepark.com/lodging/ 

every date I try says no availability.  Didn't see a way to see a calendar so I could chose from available dates.

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VRBO

Some people says the whole area is dark, you don't need to go to Cherry Springs:

Check out this place I found on Vrbo! https://t.vrbo.io/p6jXtenypRb 4 brm sleeps 10. $825 for Mar 28-30 with 10 people, or $486 for only 4 people.  There is a pasture and pavilion.  People say just lay on the ground and look up at the sky.  

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Cherry Springs Rustic Campground: 

- The Cherry Springs Rustic Campground is open mid-April through the late-October.

- There is a dirt berm which isolates the viewing areas from headlights.  

- Your car's interior lights, and your phone and devices' screens, and your flashlight must be covered in red cellophane.  

- Without light it will be so dark you will not be able to see the ground.

- It gets cold at night, even in the summer

https://cherryspringsstatepark.com/stargazing/

- Don’t give up on the stars too soon! Your eyes need 15 minutes to adjust for the full spectrum of stars.

Seeing conditions: 

https://darksitefinder.com/map/

- Stars can be blurry even on a clear night because of temperature variations in different levels of air.  Best time is midnight to dawn, after most heat has left.  

- Twilight can brighten the sky about 1.5 hours before sunrise and 2 hours after sunset, so you want to avoid those times https://darksitefinder.com/how-to-see-the-milky-way/

- The milky way rises in the southeast, crosses the southern horizon, and then sets in the southwest. So you will want to choose a viewing site that does not have any major cities in that direction.

- A 1st quarter moon will set around midnight. So the hours after that will be dark. A 3rd quarter moon will rise around midnight, and the hours before that will be dark.

- Tool for finding sun and moonrise and twilight times on a map:   https://app.photoephemeris.com/

- Clear Dark Sky: https://www.cleardarksky.com/c/ChrSprPkPAkey.html

AccuWeather Astronomy Weather Forecast: https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/cherry-springs-state-park/16922/astronomy-weather/25812_poi

Meteoblue: https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/week/cherry-springs-state-park_united-states_5184041?day=6

Camera Settings

This is for meteor showers from https://darksitefinder.com/how-to-photograph-a-meteor-shower/

• "Set focus to infinity (∞). You may need to use live view to zoom in on a bright star and really nail down the focus.
• Use the widest aperture on your lens or stop it down slightly. Set the exposure to 20-30 seconds, and use a high ISO such as 6400. This may need to be adjusted based on the darkness of your sky or the moon phase.
• Take off any filters and turn off shake reduction on your lens or camera.
• Make sure your tripod is secure and won’t blow over.
• Set the interval timer to take continuous exposures for at least a couple hours. Be sure to check it periodically to see if you need to swap batteries.

Gear

Also from https://darksitefinder.com/how-to-photograph-a-meteor-shower/

• "A camera that lets you take long exposures. High ISO sensitivity with low noise is a plus.
• An ultra-wide angle lens to take in as much sky as possible. Something like a Samyang 14mm f2.8 lens is an inexpensive option.

Ultra Wide Angle Lens

• A solid tripod
• Extra camera batteries, fully charged
• A memory card with plenty of space
• An interval timer. This may already be built into your camera.
• Hand warmers. In humid climates attaching these to your lens hood will help prevent dew or frost on the glass."

 Bear proofing: I too camped at Lyman Run( great park) and the view from the park down by the lake and Cherry Springs are pretty much identical. I did both.Lots and lots of stars but the Milky Way is hard to make out. When I drove down to Cherry Springs I foolishly left my coolers out and when I returned they were scattered all over and had teeth marks in them and food was gone.I hope the bear liked my butter, eggs and steak

Vegas baby

yaking close to home

AacoI wouldn't pay an outfit to show me where to go, but I would copy their ideas and do my own paddling and brewery/winery visiting: https://www.rivertrail.com/food-drink-tours/

Ideas for places to go: https://www.kayakingnear.me/state/maryland/
Harper's Ferry
Dundee Creek 55 min drive, put in at Dundee Creek marina, can go up the Gunpowder, or to Bay
Conowingo Pond 1.5 hour drive, Put in at Cold Cabin Park in PA.  Best scenery
Eden Mill Park 1 hr 17 min drive, N of Jarrettsville, 1 mile stretch water, calm but swift 
Hawks Cove in Baltimore County
Tridelphia Reservoir
Transquaking River - 1 hr 17 min drive, EAstern shore before Vienna, 6 mile flat water marsh loop
Tuckahoe
Assateague
Pocomoke River Trail – Porters Crossing

https://stepoutside.org/annapolis-md/kayak-and-canoe/
St Mary's River State Park
Elk Neck State Park

https://paddling.com/paddle/trips/thorne-gut-marsh-maryland/

https://www.globosurfer.com/kayaking-in-maryland/
https://www.globosurfer.com/kayaking-in-maryland/
Skipton Creek 41 min drive, Eastern Shore, scenic water trail
Pokomoke
Gun Powder, 57 min drive, put in at Masemore Water Trail
Eden Mill Park (also described in kayakingnear.me/state/marland/)

Thorne Gut Marsh 1.5 hr drive, Nanjemoy

https://paddling.com/paddle/trips/gunpowder-river-maryland/ 

"Trip Overview

The Gunpowder River is a trout stream between Prettyboy Reservoir and Loch Raven Reservoir. During the months of August and September they release water from the upper reservoir to keep things fresh for the fish. This is an ideal time to go on the river. You will want to call ahead to "Backwater Angler" to make sure the water level is high enough. It needs to be at least 1.7. The scenery of this river is beautiful and serene. There are enough rough spots to make it interesting and one spot that if you don't wear a spray skirt you WILL get wet! You do have to go under the highway at one point, but it's brief enough that the remaining 2 hours and 45 minutes are not spoiled. You put in at Masemore Road and take out at Monkton Road. If you need to take a shorter run (2 hours) you can park your car at Blue Mount Road instead. The put in and take out are only about 15 minutes apart, which makes it nice at the end."

Jug Bay Sanctuary does not have public launch sites accessible by vehicle.  Jackson's Landing at Patuxent River Park is a 0.7 mile paddle away.  42 minutes drive to Jackson's Landing.  Selby's Landing (41 min drive) and Patuxent Wetlands Park (30 min drive from home, 3.5 mi north of Jug Bay by water) https://www.findyourchesapeake.com/trip-ideas/article/paddling-in-paradise-at-jug-bay-wetlands-sanctuary 

SERC https://serc.si.edu/visit/planning-your-visit 21 minute drive.  $5 launch fee payable at the Reed Center.  "Please call the main number with questions and please alert us if you plan to bring multiple kayaks, due to limited parking: 443-482-2200." kayak trail map: https://serc.si.edu/sites/default/files/Visit/canoe_and_kayak_brochure_2016.pdf

Beachwood park off Magothy Bridge, 26 min drive  https://www.aacounty.org/locations-and-directions/beachwood-park “ Park open from 7:00 am to Dusk

Cartop Boat Launch

• Beachwood Park is located on the Magothy River. Parking is on Beachwood Drive along the wooden guardrail. 
• Care is needed carrying your canoe or kayak to the waters edge as the slope is quite steep. The closest launch location is 621 feet or 0.12 mile from the parking area. The path is straight leading towards the water. ”

Sprigs Farm Park 18 min drive, on the Magothy https://www.aacounty.org/locations-and-directions/spriggs-farm-park-on-the-magothy 

"    Spriggs Farm Park is located on the Magothy River.

• Care is needed carrying your canoe or kayak to the waters edge as the slope is quite steep.  
• Carry from the drop off area is approximately 150 yards."

Complete the online form for the combination lock numbers. The combination lock numbers will automatically appear once the submit form button is selected. 

AACo info http://www.aacounty.org/AACoOIT/water-merged.pdf

Places to camp within a day’s drive of MD

Adirondacks

Great Smoky Mountain National Park, TN. 8.5 hour drive. Alum Cave hike is #1. 1.3 miles out and back, 3 hours. Some parts are single track and you have to step aside for people coming the other direction.

Sugar lands distillery makes/serves moonshine and is the #1 thing to do. 11k people like it.

Upper Peninsula

blue water, cliffs, hiking, water falls

#1 hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/michigan/chapel-trail-mosquito-falls-loop

paid kayaking tour $135/person, 4-5 hours: https://www.paddlepicturedrocks.com/

this place has a ferry boat trip for $58 or kayaking from $109 to $229/person: https://www.paddlingmichigan.com/trips/grand-island-dinner-cruise/

Banff

$602/pp flight w/ stop in Toronto.  Can fly United with a later start time, but flights are $727/pp.  Delta is also an option.  Didn't check Dulles or Regan yet.

$2275 4brm townhouse, 1 hr 12 min from Calgary Airport, 1 hr 37 min from Lake Louise which is 8 miles from Moraine Lake Lodge, 31 min from Banff Gondola, 3 hr 15 min from Paker Ridge, 42 min from Bow Valley Parkway : https://www.vrbo.com/683046# 

Lodging: Canmore rental home, $3900.42: https://www.vrbo.com/514013# (in Yellowstone our vacation rentals totalled $956/family for all 7 nights). 

Sample itinerary with kids: http://www.fodors.com/community/canada/banfflake-louisejasper-in-june-with-kidsplease-tweak-my-itinerary.cfm

Moraine Lake: 

Johnson Canyon: 

Banff Gondola: 

website about hiking in Banff: http://www.banfflakelouise.com/Things-To-Do/Summer-Adventures/Hiking-in-Banff-and-Lake-Louise

Hiking to Victoria Glacier from Lake Louise: http://banffandbeyond.com/plain-of-six-glaciers-the-other-tea-house-at-lake-louise/
 


Brewster Glacier Skywalk at Columbia Glacier, 2h 48min from Silvertip, Canmore: 

Columbia Icefields: 

You can go beyond just viewing the glaciers from the parkway by taking the Ice Explorer Adventure. It is a giant 6 wheeled all terrain vehicle that looks like something out of a futuristic movie. During the 90 minute experience it will take you right onto the Athabasca Glacier.