Cherry Springs State Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Cherry Springs State Park, located in Potter County, Pennsylvania, is a popular destination for stargazing and outdoor activities.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
The park is known for its exceptional dark skies, making it one of the best places for stargazing in the eastern United States.
Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, wildlife watching, and astronomy programs at Cherry Springs. The park has several hiking trails, including the Cherry Springs Trail and the Susquehannock Trail System. The park also has a campground with facilities for RVs and tents.
One of the main attractions at Cherry Springs State Park is the Night Sky Viewing Area, where visitors can view the stars and planets in the night sky without the interference of city lights. The park hosts several stargazing events throughout the year, including the Cherry Springs Star Party, which attracts amateur astronomers from all over the country.
In addition to stargazing, the park is home to several species of wildlife, including black bears, coyotes, bobcats, and bald eagles. Visitors can also explore nearby attractions such as the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum and the town of Coudersport.
The best time of year to visit Cherry Springs State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and clear skies are more frequent. However, the park is open year-round and offers different experiences during each season. Winter visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other winter activities.
Overall, Cherry Springs State Park offers a unique and memorable outdoor experience for visitors of all ages.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Patterson State Park
Prouty Place State Park
Lyman Run State Park
Denton Hill State Park
State Game Lands 064