Cherry Springs

A Pennsylvania Recreational Guide for Cherry Springs State Park Cherry Springs State Park 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. 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. Directions Cherry Springs State Park is on PA 44 in Potter County. Use the following address for GPS devices: 4639 Cherry Springs Road Coudersport, PA 16901 GPS DD: Lat 41.663874 Long -77.823236 Stargazing There are two distinct opportunities for stargazing at Cherry Springs. Visitors planning to observe for a few hours should use the Night Sky Public Viewing Area. Visitors planning to observe through the entire night should use the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field. First-time visitors should go to the public parking lot on the northeast side of PA 44 and read the information provided. Night Sky Public Viewing Area On the northeast side of PA 44, the Night Sky Public Viewing Area is for more casual stargazers. After parking in the Visitor Parking lot, follow the path to the field. Please be courteous to other stargazers. Recreational Opportunities CAMPING: rustic sites There are 30 campsites and a sanitary dump station. All sites include a picnic table, lantern hanger, and fire ring. The campground opens the second Friday in April and closes in November. The campground often fills up during peak viewing nights, like dark of the moon and meteor shower nights. The closest campground is in Patterson State Park, which has ten rustic, first-come, first-served sites. Patterson is 5 miles north on PA 44. Modern camping is available at Lyman Run (9 miles), Ole Bull (15 miles), and Sinnemahoning (20 miles) state parks. Make online reservations at www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, for state park information and reservations. pennsylvania WI LDS PICNICKING: Picnic tables and charcoal grills are available near the Night Sky Public Viewing Area. HIKING: Walk the 1 mile, self-guiding Cherry Springs Working Forest Interpretive Trail to learn how the forest is an essential part of our lives. Tell us about your hike at: www.explorepatrails.com For More Information Contact: Cherry Springs State Park c/o Lyman Run State Park 454 Lyman Run Road Galeton, PA 16922 814-435-1037 email: lymanrunsp@pa.gov An Equal Opportunity Employer Information and Reservations Make online reservations at: www.visitPAparks.com or call toll-free 888-PA-PARKS (888-727-2757), 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, for state park information and reservations. www.visitPAparks.com Printed on recycled paper visitPAparks 2017 PUBLIC STARGAZING PROGRAMS: Weather permitting, a park educator or guest speaker presents public stargazing programs on the north side of the park at the Night Sky Public Viewing Area. These programs are available throughout the summer. Some programs require registration. Program schedules are published in the local paper and on the Cherry Springs State Park website. Cherry Springs can be cold and damp, even in the summer. Wear proper footgear and dress warmly. Lawn chairs, a blanket, binoculars, or a telescope may enhance your experience. All flashlights should have a red filter. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the program begins, or before dark. An alternate program might be presented if it is overcast. Pets, telescopes, and crowds do not mix. Please leave your pet at home. WOODSMEN’S SHOW: Since 1952, the annual Woodsmen’s Show attracts thousands of spectators for the early August event. The show features lumberjack contests in tree-felling, log rolling, spring board chopping, standing block chop, and chainsaw events. Overnight Astronomy Observation Field On the southwest side of PA 44 is the famous Cherry Springs State Park Overnight Astronomy Observation Field. This area is only for viewing and/or photography for the full night. Visitors planning to observe for a few hours then depart should use the park northeast of PA 44. A nightly fee permit is required to set up on the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field. A Galaxy Pass allows entrance year round. Fee envelopes are at the Registration Kiosk, which is near the entrance to the field. Please follow written instructions, posted fee schedule, and list your location on the field so that you can be located in an emergency. Deposit the registration and fee in the fee tube. Electricity is available on the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field from 120-volt ground fault protected power outlets in RV style pedestals (six per pedestal). When the field is in heavy use, outlets must be shared. Please be courteous of your fellow stargazers. Electrical pedestals are for the charging of telescope batteries and small appliance or laptop use. Camper hook-up is prohibited. Concrete telescope pads, ranging in size from 4’ to 6’, are located randomly across the field. Some astronomers prefer the pads while others like to set up directly on the grass. • All lasers are prohibited except for collimation devices used for lens and mirror alignment. • Driving on the field after sunset is prohibited. • Electric pedestals are for telescope, computer, and small appliance use only. • Campfires are prohibited. • Cooking that creates excessive smoke, open flame, or spattering grease is prohibited. • Visitor hours are from 9:00 AM to midnight. • Quiet hours are from midnight to 9:00 AM. • Campground rules and regulations apply to the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field. Full rules are posted at the Reservation Kiosk. Overnight Astronomy Observation Field Rules • All non-red lighting is prohibited after sunset, including interior lighting, exterior lighting, flashlights, and computers and devices. Excessive red lighting is prohibited. North American Nebula Nearby Attractions History Early Settlement In 1818, Jonathan Edgcomb constructed a log house along the Jersey Shore Pike in Potter County. It came to be known as the Cherry Springs Hotel. Over the years, the pine and hemlock in the Cherry Springs area was lumbered off and in their place grew hardwood trees like sugar maple and the park’s namesake, black cherry. Civilian Conservation Corps Era The Cherry Springs Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp, S-136-PA (1933-37), was one of ten CCC camps constructed in the Susquehannock Forest District. The men of the camp cleared underbrush, opened trails, and constructed buildings and roads. Additionally, Camp Elliott (named for District Forester Harry Elliott) was set up at Cherry Springs. This camp was not connected with the CCC camps, but was under the supervision of the former Department of Forests and Waters. Unemployed college boys stayed at this camp, and one of their accomplishments was the construction of the 40-acre airfield at Cherry Springs (under the former State Bureau of Aeronautics) during the summer of 1935. It is now the Night Sky Public Viewing Area. Information on nearby attractions is available from Visit Potter Tioga, 888-846-4228. www.visitpottertioga.com Lyman Run State Park offers fishing, camping facilities, and ATV and hiking trailheads. The 262,000-acre Susquehannock State Forest offers hiking, snowmobile, and ATV trails. 814-274-3600 Pennsylvania Wilds is two million acres of public lands for hiking, biking, fishing, boating, hunting, and exploration in northcentral Pennsylvania. www.pawilds.com Access for People with Disabilities Dark Skies Amateur astronomers realized Cherry Springs State Park had one of the darkest skies in the northeast and began stargazing in the park. Recognizing 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. Due to these facts and other efforts, Cherry Springs became the second International Dark Sky Park in the world by attaining a Gold Level International Dark Sky Park certification from the International Dark Sky Association in 2008. This symbol indicates facilities and activities that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible for people with disabilities. This publication text is available in alternative formats. If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit.  In an Emergency Call 911 and contact a park employee. Directions to the nearest hospital are posted on bulletin boards. NEAREST HOSPITAL Charles Cole Memorial Hospital 1001 East Second Street Coudersport, PA 16915-9762 814-274-9300