Written by Sean Friedhof
It’s not an unusual sight to see someone pulling out a backpack, bike, or cross-country skis on Loyalsock State Forest. These are all common forms of recreation. However, seeing someone pull out a telescope? That’s a new one for me!
Interest in astronomy is growing, especially here in Loyalsock State Forest. We’ve run into hobby astronomists coming from all over the state to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way. Our most popular vista, High Knob, was becoming too tight of a squeeze to support everyone. We knew we had to do something.
We credit ChesMont Astronomical Society from Philadelphia for coming to us first with their concerns about High Knob Vista. A club traveling three+ hours highlighted the already realized need for a dedicated astronomy site. Building a site to fit this niche hobby seemed daunting, especially since most of us went to school for forestry rather than astronomy. So, we did what we do best and listened.
We learned much from our stargazers, and with their assistance, began the planning process. The first challenge was to find an area large enough to support such a site with the least amount of environmental impact, while still providing the best possible view of the sky. An old log landing tucked away on the High Knob loop would prove to be the perfect spot.
Construction began in the spring of 2025. The log landing had to be expanded to accommodate several vehicles, including trucks with trailers, as well as provide ample room for telescopes. Clearing and chipping took most of the summer, but by the fall it was ready for stone. Special consideration was made when choosing stone for the site. Previously, hobby astronomers set up on High Knob Vista, which is coated in asphalt. This posed a problem with light-sensitive equipment due to asphalt’s slightly reflective properties and heat retention. The locally sourced stone installed on the new astronomy site is non-reflective and absorbs significantly less heat than asphalt. The site was completed by winter of 2025.
The site comes in at a Class 3 Rural Sky on the Bortle scale, meaning visitors can catch a glimpse of the Milky Way, M33 galaxy, and countless stars with the naked eye. Because of this unique darkness, we’ve implemented strict regulations to protect the site to preserve the experience for users and their equipment. We ask that all visitors respect the regulations and use proper viewing etiquette.
Thanks to our staff and partners, we can now serve our community with more opportunities to get outside. Perhaps seeing someone pull a telescope out of their car won’t be such a foreign sight anymore!
Learn more about the High Knob Astronomy Area
