Best spots for stargazing in Western Pa.
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The view from Cherry Springs State Park in 2022. Photo: Chrissy Suttles/Axios
Looking for a front-row seat to the galaxy? You're in luck, because it's less than 200 miles from Pittsburgh.
The big picture: Pennsylvania's own Cherry Springs State Park just landed on Forbes' list of the world's best places to see the Milky Way.
- The International Dark Sky park, nestled in the Pennsylvania Wilds, joined heavyweights like France's Morvan Regional Park and Arizona's Grand Canyon.
Threat level: Despite our galaxy's billions of stars, its brilliance is increasingly lost to light pollution. The brightness of the night sky climbed 10% on average each year from 2011-22, per a 2023 study.
Zoom in: Cherry Springs is renowned for its dark skies, offering panoramic views that attract stargazers and astrophotographers from all over. See our guide here.
- The best time to view the Milky Way north of the equator is June to September, per NASA.
Zoom out: Geauga Observatory Park outside of Cleveland, about two hours from Pittsburgh, also made the Forbes list.

If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way or other celestial events without venturing too far from home, Adam Benko, a hobbyist stargazer from Westmoreland County, shares his favorite viewing spots.
What they're saying: Benko, who has traveled the world chasing solar eclipses and northern lights, tells Axios that some of the best places to view the night sky in Western Pennsylvania are state parks.
- He said Ohiopyle (Fayette County), Raccoon Creek (Beaver County), Moraine (Butler County), and Pymatuning (Crawford County) are the darkest regionally.
- "Urban density in the area leads to a lot of light pollution, so state parks are your best bet," Benko says. "Watch the weather and book a campsite."
The bottom line: For the best stargazing, use a light pollution map or visit a Dark Sky Place.
- Always use red light filters, and consider joining a local star party.
