Parkwood
Stargazing Guide.
Discover why the Parkwood area serves as a strategic corridor for WA observers. We combine community-vetted spots like Paramount School Park with professional NPS sky reports at Obstruction Point for a complete astronomical perspective.
Stargazing Logistics for Parkwood
- STEP 1. Primary Staging Area: Paramount School Park. This is your most reliable community-vetted hub within a ~19.8 mile radius.
- STEP 2. Sky Quality Baseline: Classified as Class B (Rural). Use the instrumented 4 rating from Obstruction Point as your technical benchmark for the region.
- STEP 3. Local Support: Contact Olympic Astronomical Society for updated site access and group observation schedules.
- STEP 4. Observation Density: There are 5 recognized sites near Parkwood offering varied horizons and atmospheric stability levels.
Parkwood is positioned in a strategic 'Starlight Corridor.' It is far enough from the WA metro glare to allow for deep-sky imaging, yet serves as a convenient staging area for the deeper Class 4 skies found at Obstruction Point.
The Best Times for Stargazing in Parkwood
In WA, the transitional periods of early Summer often provide a stable atmosphere between weather fronts. For Parkwood residents, this means less 'star twinkling' (scintillation) and a significantly steadier view for high-magnification planetary observation.
Expert Tips for Parkwood Observers
If you're visiting Paramount School Park, bring a pack of chemical hand-warmers and rubber-band them to your eyepiece or camera lens. This acts as a 'budget' dew heater, which is essential for the humid nights often found in WA during the peak viewing seasons. Scientific Context: While local conditions vary, the instrumented reading of Bortle 4 at Obstruction Point (45.5 miles away) remains the benchmark for regional sky quality.
Best Spots for Stargazing in Parkwood
The most accessible and reliable viewing locations in the region, ranked by local observer feedback. Max out your local session by using the essential observer gear staged for the Parkwood environment.
Paramount School Park
" Parkwood observers often find this mid-distance site perfect for a full session. 'Dress warmly. Redlight flashlights only. "
Covington Community Park
" Heading out from Parkwood toward this location will reward you with steady horizons. Dress more warmly than you think necessay. Please be careful walking around after dark. "
Big Rock Park
" A manageable drive from Parkwood, this spot is a reliable regional favorite. Park in the lower lot near the street. If that lot is full please park in the lot as far from the middle field as you can with your headlights facing away from the fields. "
Snoqualmie Point Park
" Heading out from Parkwood toward this location will reward you with steady horizons. Please, no white lights. Any cell phones and flashlights need to be tinted deep red. "
Rattlesnake Mountain Trailhead
" Parkwood observers often find this mid-distance site perfect for a full session. Vision Technique: Try 'Averted Vision'—look slightly to the side of a faint object to use the more light-sensitive rods in your eyes. "
2026 Celestial Roadmap for Parkwood
Rural conditions near Parkwood provide excellent contrast for the Milky Way and bright star clusters.
Sky Quality Reports for Parkwood
Access high-precision SQM readings from the National Park Service, providing the definitive baseline for regional darkness quality. Discover which telescopes can best cut through the remaining regional skyglow to see these scientific targets by viewing our gear recommendations.
Obstruction Point
Olympic NP
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Obstruction Point provide Parkwood residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"Transparency remarkably good after yesterday's fire smoke, seeing very good. Few high clouds to the west and north, remnants of fire smoke to the northeast. Direct glare from many very bright lights on Vancouver Island and a few Port Angeles lights, otherwise the high ridges of the Olympic Mountains effectively block any other glare from the Puget Sound area. After moon sets, the zenith is quite dark with the Cygnus Milky Way very detailed, but a broad and fairly bright light dome toward Seattle and Puget Sound dominates the eastern sky. Excellent site for monitoring. Perhaps an area 30 degrees in diameter near the zenith offers reasonable visual observations. Otherwise the sky is very modified by light pollution. ZLM 6.9 with difficulty, the eastern sky must be shielded by the ridgetop to achieve this as it definitely affects scotopic vision. The treeless ridge is easy to navigate by the light of the sky. Milky Way easily seen near the zenith,but loses its character rapidly approaching the horizon. Fog appears to move in in early morning through the Strait of Juan de Fuca into the northern Puget Sound area, suppressing light pollution and significantly improving the sky quality."
Burroughs Mountain
Mount Rainier NP
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Burroughs Mountain provide Parkwood residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"High Cirrus to North West"
Dark Sky Oasis near Parkwood
Elite viewing locations officially recognized by DarkSky International for their pristine celestial environments. Experience the full, pristine depth of these IDA certified skies with the precision stargazing gear we recommend for Parkwood residents.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park
Parkwood stargazers often look to Cottonwood Canyon State Park as the gold standard for regional darkness and pristine celestial horizons.
99989 Highway 206
Antelope, Oregon
The protected skies at Antelope, Oregon represent a vital astronomical asset for the Parkwood observing community.
94237 McGreer St. Antelope, OR 97001
Astronomy Clubs for Parkwood
Join the local community of observers for group viewing events, equipment swaps, and technical workshops. Don't show up to the club dark-site empty-handed. View the field kit we've curated for the The Solar System Guide profile.
Gearing Up for Parkwood Nights
"Because you're heading just outside the Parkwood light dome, ensure your kit includes a dedicated "dew shield" to protect your optics from the humidity shifts found in the transitions between urban and rural zones."
The Parkwood Field Kit
When observing near Parkwood, the local atmospheric stability and the immediate access to verified hubs are your primary logistical factors. The difference between the Parkwood city center and the instrumented readings at sites 20 miles away is staggering, requiring optics that can handle both glare and deep contrast. We've curated a specific progression of gear—from entry-level comfort to dedicated imaging hubs—to help you maximize every clear night.