You would be hard-pressed to find a better place than this to stargaze or view the Northern Lights in Michigan or anywhere in the 48 contiguous states. Surrounding the park, youll find acres of towering trees, which naturally block out light. Headlands International Dark Sky Park,15675 Headlands Rd., Mackinaw City; 231-427-100; midarkskypark.org, According to the Oakland County Geographic Information Systems gazing map, Addison Oaks County Park features low levels of light pollution. The park operates 24 hours a day and grants free admission. Headlands International Dark Sky Park, situated between the Lower and Upper Peninsulas, often rates Michigan's number one stargazing destination. Our next suggestion is the northwest city of Alpena, set on the Thunday Bay of Lake Huron. Take a relaxing walk up the RiverWalk and back, or perhaps a bike ride. Camp at one of the campgrounds or rent a car or moped and head out to one of the dozens of beaches. On certain evenings, you can even see the Northern Lights from here. Expanding metropolitan areas create light pollution. I really do enjoy your tips & advice on things to do in my own State. Island Lake Recreation Area would be an ideal place to go stargazing at night; although it's in Brighton, it has almost a rural feel to it. Jacob W. Frank. With the added benefit being so close to home, this 1,140-acre recreation area is perfect for a quick stargazers getaway. Even more amazing? Special "Dark Sky Week" programming here is filled to capacity, but anyone is still welcome to come stargaze; the park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. If you are able to stay over, there are many outdoor activities to do during the day ranging from mountain biking, hiking, trail running, golfing, birdwatching, sea kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing and fat tire biking. 4. The skinny: Near the tip of Michigan's thumb along Saginaw Bay, this park has "565 acres of woods, offer excellent hunting opportunities, wet lands and the best sand dunes and beaches on the eastern side of the state," according to Michigan.org. Much of this is due to the vast openness of the Great Lakes and sparse populations in the north, making Bruneau Dunes State Park/Facebook Lemmon SkyCenter. USE THE BUTTON ABOVE TO VISIT THE SNOWMOBILE HOMEPAGE or go directly to you area of interest below: Want to find tasty morel mushrooms in the forest? Then spend nights stargazing in the Les Cheneaux Islands while eating smores and drinking Bells (or your favorite Michigan-made beer). 4 WebThere's something awe-inspiring about the majesty of the nighttime sky and Northern Michigan is one of the best places to enjoy the dark sky. Spas, shopping, dining, dancing, craft beer yup. Theyre also packed with hands-on activities. Call ahead for observation hours and directions to viewing locations.Port Crescent State Park (about 75 miles northeast of Saginaw)Wilderness State Park (about 12 miles west of Mackinaw City)Negwegon State Park (about 20 miles south of Alpena)Lake Hudson Recreation Area (about 40 miles south of Jackson)Rockport State Recreation Area (about 10 miles north of Alpena)Thompson's Harbor State Park (15 miles southeast of Rogers City). Later in the season, you can enjoy the Perseid meteor shower. Voyageurs is a maze of interconnected water highways, so plan ahead by bringing your own watercraft or reserving one in advance for floating under the stars: Yes, its just as magical as it sounds. WebNaturally, Alaska comes to mind first as the most northern and arctic of all fifty states. Spend the evening watching these freighters pass through and observing migratory birds. 2. Here are four places in the Midwest to see the stars. Big Bend National Park, TX. 2023 www.freep.com. Bay City State Recreation Area (Bay County), 989-684-3020 Use our hashtag #uptravel for an opportunity to be featured on our social media, website or in our marketing materials. Negwegon State Park (Alpena/Alcona County), 989-724-5126 Classes & Workshops; A lack of light pollution and proximity to the North Pole make for excellent stargazing and Northern Lights viewing. Michigan City A town in La Porte county. The further from a town, the better Thompsons Harbor State Park. Its also home to the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior! Open houses occur on select Friday nights and include rooftop access for stargazing and planetarium shows. The next open house is Aug. 2, from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., and the full schedule can be found here. Expanding metropolitan areas create light pollution. Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area (Lapeer County), 810-797-4439 Moreover, this national park boasts one of the darkest skies in the USA, which is why its been deemed a Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Park. * To take full advantage of your night sky experience, make your Michigan state park camping reservation at MiDNRReservations.com. Don't be fooled by this parks unassuming name and lack of accolades: No, Rappahannock isn't a national park or even a state park. The large size of this lake provides miles of prime boating, canoeing and fishing. The lodge property is open to the public at night all year round you do not need to stay overnight to experience the Dark Sky Park. The Headlands International Dark Sky Park is a 550-acre county park in the U.S. state of Michigan. Your view of the sky will fall just over the sandstone cliffs. As for the best places to go stargazing, some are located in the Windy City. "The park featuresvirgin pines, a bat cave, deep-water pier, sinkholes and beautiful Lake Huron beaches," she wrote. When you Clear, winter nights provide the best viewing, so gazing upward and toward the north might just provide you with that outdoor experience you've been waiting. The Much of this is due to the vast openness of the Great Lakes and sparse populations in the north, making Add several stars in the night sky and a peak viewing month for the Northern Lights, and youve got yourself the perfect spot. It has nine levels, from Then, when the stars fill the night sky, look upward at the luminous freckles above Lake Superior. Use the button above to visit the target shooing and archery home page, or go directly to one of the pages below: Find snowmobile trail permit info, maps, rules and regulations and more. Michigan is the best place to stargaze in the Eastern United States. Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania. Related:Best Places for Stargazing Near Detroit. Both the roof and the planetarium are wheelchair-accessible, but the telescopes are not. Though metro Detroiters may need to travel outside of the city to get a decent view of the sky, a starry night isnt too far away. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Cooper Kupp 2022 Panini Absolute Star Gazing Los Angeles Rams Card #SG-16 at the best online prices at eBay! I am Shalee Blackmer, an adventurer, writer and travel blogger who enjoys anything that includes adrenaline and maybe a little risk. WebSet along the shores of Lake Michigan, not far from beautiful Cecil Bay, this almost-600-acre park is home to pure Michigan natural beauty at its best, both on the ground and in the sky. The skinny: Wilderness State Park is massive. Be sure that you follow the Detroit Free Press on Twitter (@freep) andInstagramand like us on onFacebook. You can also catch passing freighters and a glimpse of Canada across the lake. Spanning an expansive 54,000 acres, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is one of Florida's largest parksnot to mention the fact that its also one of the last places where the state's dry prairie ecosystem remains intact. Thankfully, there are a handful of parks and wildernesses Up North that are suitable for just that. Here you will find a series of over thirty islands off the coast of Lake Huron. A county-wide light ordinance helps curtail artificial light. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Capture a mental image of the sky by framing your view with this spot a narrow gap between two cliffs! Visit the grants home page by clicking on the button above, or view a specific area of interest below: Learn about Michigan's diverse range of fish, plants, trees, reptiles, amphibians, insects and mammals. and little-to-no light pollution make it one of the best spots to stargaze in America. This is the perfect place to pack a night picnic. For more information, call 989-738-8663. Cottonwood Canyon State Park. "People can take a look at whether or not they have access to a night sky in their own community and if not, then they know they can go to a state park and be on site later than normal," said Mary Stewart Adams, program director of the Headlands International Dark Sky Park and host of a weekly public radio segment called The Storyteller's Night Sky. Let there be starlight: Light pollution a glaring problem. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Headlands International Dark Sky Park Mackinaw City. As such, it comes as no surprise that nearly 80% of Americans are unable to see the Milk Way Galaxy from where they live. -Henry David Thoreau. What better place to look at the stars and moon than a shoreline that is crescent shaped? Famed for having three major ecosystems located within the park (as well as protecting the world's most extensive Permian fossil reef and Texas four highest peaks), the park offers plenty to see both day and night. So, go ahead and make yourself comfortable amongst the cactiBig Bend is the largest protected area of Chihuahuan Desert topography and ecology in the United Statesas you behold the stars. Fayette Historic State Park (Delta County), 906-644-2603 WebHeadlands International Dark Sky Park 15675 Headlands Rd, Mackinaw City, MI 49701 (231) 427-1001 Grounds Open 24/7/365; Admission Free. Free shipping for many products! A new show debuts each night with breathtaking dark sky viewing opportunities in the northernmost part of our peninsula. Blue Ridge Observatory And Star Park, North Carolina. Hoeft State Park (Presque Isle County), 989-734-2543 In fact, the Headlands International Dark Sky Park, a 600-acre, wooded preserve along the Lake Michigan shoreline near Mackinaw City, was the sixth park in the United States designated for its night sky by the International Dark Sky Association in 2011. The Keweenaw Dark Sky Park is headquartered at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge outside of Copper Harbord and extends to Brockway Mountain. Red Wings sign Dylan Larkin to eight-year, $69.6 million contract, called it "the strangest park" in Michigan, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Stargazers can visit areas of state parks, specially designated by state legislature as dark sky preserves, 24 hours a day (may not be consistently plowed in the winter). For anyone who wants to know more about what exactly they're looking at while taking in the night sky, Adams recommends the Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar ($12 for an annual subscription). Click the box above to see all our offerings, or click the program below. There is no better trip than a night hike under the stars. Best stargazing in Michigan. Id like to know about places that I have not been at home! State Designated Dark Sky PreservesRecreation passport required for entry This Lake Huron island in the eastern Upper Peninsula is a natural dark sky park of its own with some of the best stargazing and Northern Lights viewing in the world. Because of the numerous Borrego Springs. I grew up in the small mid-Michigan town of Mecosta and love to explore my home state. In an area known for its agriculture, livestock, and flyover state status, the Midwest would seem like the ideal place to stargaze. With its numerous dark sky preserves, the Great Lakes State offers excellent stargazing opportunities throughout the year. Where to Stargaze in the U.S. Johnny Diaz Struggling to see the stars in Miami . The closest mainland point sits roughly twenty miles north across nothing but empty, open water. You can also upload your photos to our Spring Photo Crowdriff Collector below. After a day of activity, lay along the shore and await the night skys arrival over the Hiawathas horizon of trees. Visit a local observatory to see the stars from the 18 ft (6 m) dome and capture the heavenly bodies through a 20 in (50 cm) PlaneWave telescope. Click the box above to learn more about Michigan's state forests. WebMichigan state parks designated as Dark Sky Reserves: Wilderness State Park. Please view our directory listingfor general contact information. More acres have been added over the years. Here are some of the best places for stargazing in Maryland, from the coast to the forests. The scene is peaceful rather than eerie as spindling arches and hulking canyons frame the starry night sky. Admission is no cost and open to all ages. Make sure your camera is charged for some long exposure photos. 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