Cherry Springs State Park: The Place That Sparked My Love for Night Sky Photography
When I think about the place that truly inspired me to pursue night sky photography, it’s impossible not to mention Cherry Springs State Park in Coudersport, PA. Cherry Springs is one of the very few International Dark Sky Parks in the northeastern United States certified by DarkSky International, meaning it has exceptionally dark skies protected from light pollution through ongoing conservation efforts.
Cherry Springs hosts several major star parties every year, including the annual Cherry Springs Star Party in the summer and the Black Forest Star Party in the fall. These events attract astronomers, astrophotographers, and stargazers from across the country — and even around the world.
How My Astrophotography Journey Began
My astrophotography journey truly began during the height of the pandemic in 2020 while I was living in Buffalo, NY. But it wasn’t until my first trip to Cherry Springs that I realized how breathtaking the night sky could be. It was the first time I saw the Milky Way with my naked eye, and I had never witnessed that many stars in my life.
And funny enough — I didn’t even know Cherry Springs existed until later on. So how did I discover it? Let’s back up a little.
On your way to Cherry Springs State Park from Coudersport it’s hard not to notice the iconic sign…
Discovering the Night Sky During the Pandemic
During the pandemic, many people developed a newfound interest in astronomy simply because we were all stuck at home. One of the biggest reasons was Comet NEOWISE, which lit up the summer sky of 2020. It was bright enough to see from cities, but from rural areas it was absolutely spectacular.
A photo of Comet NEOWISE I took from a rural area outside Buffalo, NY. I will never forget it!
Around that same time, I met Addie, who would become one of my closest astronomy friends. I also discovered Trevor Jones of AstroBackyard, a well-known YouTuber whose videos introduce thousands of people to deep sky astrophotography — photographing nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters.
Trevor’s channel became a huge influence on my early journey.
Finding Cherry Springs Through AstroBackyard
While watching one of Trevor’s videos, I saw him visit Cherry Springs State Park for its annual star party. I had no idea this world-class dark sky destination was only a few hours from Buffalo. I was immediately hooked.
I visited Cherry Springs for the first time with my mom, and we were completely starstruck. We explored the Night Sky Public Viewing Area, where I captured some of my earliest night sky images — ones I still love to this day.
One of my very first photos I ever took at Cherry Springs State Park. It’s still one of my favorites!
My First Deep Sky Imaging at Cherry Springs
After buying my first telescope and astronomy camera (thanks to Trevor’s recommendations), I returned to Cherry Springs with the goal of doing deep sky astrophotography. I started at the public viewing area, and later moved into the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field. The observation field is a dream for astrophotographers:
Flat concrete pads for gear setups
Tree-lined borders blocking stray headlights
Strict red-light-only rules to preserve night vision
It even has Wi-Fi! Not bad considering how remote Cherry Springs State Park is…
Over the years, I’ve taken some of my favorite deep sky photos at this park.
One of my very first deep sky images I took at Cherry Springs State Park of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) which is the closest galaxy to our own. It’s a real eye opener!
Meeting Trevor Jones in 2023: A Full Circle Moment
My most memorable visit was in the summer of 2023 during the Cherry Springs Star Party, when I finally got to meet Trevor Jones in person — the very person who got me into deep sky imaging. I was even featured in his YouTube video from the event!
Trevor along with Alyn Wallace not only inspired me to improve my astrophotography, but also to start my own YouTube channel. One of my favorite videos I ever filmed was recorded right there at Cherry Springs. It gained traction until I had to pause content creation due to my busy schedule as a medical lab scientist.
I hope to return to YouTube someday. There’s something uniquely meaningful about sharing night sky photography through video — far more personal than a single static photo on Instagram.
From left to right: Sam Skirchak, Trevor Jones, and Ashley Northcotte (Trevor’s wife) all staring at a Sky-Watcher Flextube 350P Dobsonian telescope. What a monstrosity!
Final Thoughts
Cherry Springs State Park will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s where I saw my first truly dark sky, met lifelong friends, and connected with the creator who helped shape my astrophotography journey. If you’re into stargazing, night sky photography, or simply want to experience one of the darkest skies in the Northeast USA, Cherry Springs State Park is absolutely worth the trip.
A photo I took at the Cherry Springs Star Party in 2023. The distinct red lights you see in the photo help preserve night vision for astronomy. Let’s be real though…it’s just cool looking!