The PA Wilds: Come for the Darkest Skies in the East, Stay for the Daytime Adventures (Sponsored)

This article is brought to you by the Pennsylvania Wilds.

As a landscape photographer, I love exploring the natural beauty of Pennsylvania, and one of my favorite subjects is the nighttime sky. Fortunately, it’s only a few hours drive from anywhere in the state to Potter County and Clinton County, which are home to the darkest nighttime skies in the eastern United States.

And whether you are a photographer looking for some fabulous astrophotography opportunities or simply want to stargaze while staring in awe at the sky, this is a fabulous destination to visit.

However, what makes it such an incredible a Great American Getaway is that there is also plenty to do here during the day including charming small towns, fascinating museums, great hiking and paddling, and hundreds of miles of ATV trails for those looking for something more adventurous.

It’s that combination that keeps me coming back to this region, and I never run out of places to explore in the the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors.

No trip to the region is complete without seeing the nighttime sky from Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County. This park is home to the darkest skies in the eastern United States and was the world’s second International Dark Sky Park.

Depending on your plans and the seriousness of your endeavors, one side of the park is reserved for those staying all night and willing to conform to strict rules regarding light, while the opposite side is for those looking to spend a shorter time enjoying the nighttime skies.

On select nights, they even have stargazing events in the park with a ranger offering information about what you can see in the sky that evening.

Personally, I’ve always visited the public viewing area because I enjoy exploring various vantage points throughout the region. The entire area offers incredible stargazing and astrophotography opportunities including various overlooks, such as the nearby Cherry Springs Vista, and state parks such as Lyman Run State Park, Ole Bull State Park, and Hyner View State Park.

I was even able to do some stargazing and photography right from the property of Frosty Hollow Bed and Breakfast where I stayed during my visit.

Truly, though, just about anywhere you pull your car over on or around Route 44 (known as the “Highway to the Stars”) provides stellar nighttime skies, and I was able to capture some great photographs throughout the region while driving along the roads through this part of northern Pennsylvania.

What’s especially cool is that the sky is so dark here that you don’t even have to wait for your eyes to adjust to see the Milky Way. The second I stepped out of my car, I was able to find it in the sky!

That being said, if you give your eyes 20 minutes or so to adjust without looking at any lights, the sky becomes even better.

Don’t stay out too late, though, because you’ll want to make sure that you are well rested to explore the region during the daytime.

One of my favorite activities is renting a Polaris ATV from Denton Go in Denton Hill State Park. Their property gives you direct access to hundreds of miles of ATV trails throughout the region, and the ride is easy enough that even a newbie to ATVs (like me) can drive them with ease.

For those looking to learn more about the region’s history, Denton Hill State Park is right across the street from the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, and is only a short drive from spots like Austin Dam and the Eliot Ness Museum.

A slightly further drive brings you to the Piper Aviation Museum and Clinton County Historical Society in Lock Haven and Kinzua Bridge State Park in McKean County, all great spots to learn more about the unique history of north-central Pennsylvania.

However, if there is anything that rivals the nighttime sky here, it’s the incredible amount of public land available to explore in the Pennsylvania Wilds. In fact, this region is home to more than two million acres of public land, including 29 state parks and the Allegheny National Forest.

While I’d visited many of these great spots before, I found the Dark Skies/Susquehannock State Forest Map from Purple Lizard Maps to be especially helpful in finding little-known spots to visit, including an incredible roadside vista just a few miles off of Route 6, Losey Vista.

The map also showcases hundreds of miles of great hiking trails including at the Hammersley Wild Area (the largest roadless area in PA), Ole Bull State Park, Lyman Run State Park, and more.

This map also comes in handy as a road map because of the region’s lack of cell service. You won’t get lost if you have this with you!

Overall, I can’t say enough good things about this region. I personally love to come here to view and photograph the nighttime sky, but I’m also never at a loss for things to do during the daytime either.

So, if you’re looking for a fun and unique destination for your next Great American Getaway in Pennsylvania, make sure to visit this corner of the Pennsylvania Wilds.

This article is brought to you by the Pennsylvania Wilds. All opinions expressed are my own. I really do love this area!