Top 4 places to stargaze in Northern California.
The Northern California outdoors is known for its beautiful coastline and expansive mountain ranges that have plenty of opportunities for day hikes, camping, and other outdoor activities. However, Northern California is also known for its heavy light pollution and smog, which can obscure skies at night and make all but the brightest stars invisible. As a result, city dwelling Californians may have to adventure into other parts of the state to stargaze. Here is a list of my top four places in California that boast both beautiful days, clear nights, and give you a chance to get outside and really see the world. Of course, all of this is dependent on local weather conditions and air quality, so make sure to check weather sources before you head out!
1.Salt Point State Park
Salt Point State Park is located around 2 hours north of San Francisco up highway 1 and is far enough from major cities that its night skies are not affected by light pollution or smog. During the day there are several beaches and trails that wind along the cliffs of the rocky coast. The nights aren’t great for hiking, but if you are careful on a clear night there are several coastal campsites where you can lie on the cliffs over the ocean, stare up at the stars, and listen to the pounding of the waves.
2.Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is about four hours north of Sacramento, on the very southern end of the Cascade mountain range. During the day there are many opportunities hiking various volcanoes and volcanic remnants, but at night the sandy expanse around Cinder Cone or the open sky over forested lakes is a perfect opportunity to sit and watch the stars behind the jagged outlines of Chaos Crags or Lassen Peak.
3.Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park, while contestably “Northern”, is one of the best places to see the milky way, particularly from the top of the valley. Backpacking up either side and spending the night in the high Sierras will give you a spectacular view of the sky without light pollution or smog, but if you aren’t able to do that, the night sky is still vibrant from the valley floor. However, during most of the year, Yosemite is very crowded, and you may have to reserve a backpacking permit or campsite months ahead of time.
4.Desolation Wilderness
Desolation Wilderness encompasses miles and miles of back country south of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada’s. There are numerous trailheads and opportunities for overnight trips into the glacier carved wilderness. Tree coverage is sparse and whether you find yourself on a lake or mountain side there is plenty of opportunity to see the stars from such a high elevation. These trails can be rough, and poorly marked, so make sure you have a map, and plenty of water.
