Boulder Field (Hickory Run State Park Pennsylvania) Night Sky

I am continuing series of Pennsylvania astrophotography. Last year I did night photos in Cherry Springs State Park – one of most popular space for amateur astrophotographers. This year I did photo in Hickory Run State  Park - Boulder Field in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. 

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, f/2.8, 25600, Panorama of 3 images 30 sec, 5 sec, 5 sec. Post Processing: Photoshop, Topaz DeNoise AI.

Boulder Field (Hickory Run State Park Pennsylvania) Night Sky

Boulder Field is a very popular and a pretty cool place. It is hidden gem deep within the woods and really an awesome place. The Hickory Run Boulder Field was designated by the National Park Service as a natural national landmark in 1967. It’s a huge field of rocks in the middle of the forest.  It is said to be the largest boulder field of its kind in all of the Appalachian Mountains. The rocks range in size from under 18 inches to more than 25 feet in length. The tops of the rocks are nearly at the same height over the approximately 400-by-1,800-foot field that slopes at a one-degree pitch. Why did an 18-acre field of rocks form in the Poconos? There are several theories on how exactly this boulder field formed.

Poconos Boulder Field Night Landscape

Milky Way over Poconos Boulder Field - Summer Triangle - Stars Altair, Deneb, and Vega  - Constellations Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra

Map Boulder Field

The Boulder Field at Hickory Run State Park is unlike any other place for night photography. Stretching nearly 1,800 feet long and blanketed with ancient glacial rocks, this flat expanse becomes a surreal landscape under the stars. On clear nights, the Milky Way rises above the stones like a river of light flowing across a frozen sea. I chose this spot not only for its geological beauty but also for its dark skies — a rare find in eastern Pennsylvania. Photographing here means working with sharp contrasts: the cold texture of granite in the foreground and the soft glow of the galactic core overhead. Using my Canon EOS Ra and a fast wide-angle lens, I composed multiple frames to balance the stones’ subtle reflections with the deep sky above. The result is a quiet image of time and endurance — the ancient Earth meeting the eternal night.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography — Dark-sky Milky Way photography from one of the best night-sky locations on the U.S. East Coast.
• Balanced Rock — Arches National Park Night Astrophotography — Milky Way nightscape with dramatic rock formations in Arches National Park, Utah.
• Different Types of Milky Way Night Landscapes — Examples of arches, rock formations, and natural shapes under the Milky Way.
• A Tree and the Milky Way — Bethel, New York — Quiet eastern U.S. nightscape astrophotography with a symbolic foreground.
• The Milky Way Over the Sailing Stone — Racetrack Playa, Death Valley — Geological mystery and long-exposure Milky Way astrophotography in Death Valley National Park.

Austin Dam Ruins - Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography

The Austin Dam Ruins, located near Austin, Pennsylvania, are one of the most dramatic historic landmarks in the region surrounding Cherry Springs State Park — one of the darkest sky locations in the eastern United States. The massive concrete remains of the dam create an unusual foreground for nightscape astrophotography, combining history, landscape, and a pristine starry sky.

The original dam was constructed in 1909 to supply water for the Bayless Pulp and Paper Mill. On September 30, 1911, the dam catastrophically failed after heavy rains, sending a destructive flood through the valley below and causing significant loss of life. A second dam was later rebuilt on the same site, but it also failed during a severe flood in 1942. After the second disaster the structure was never rebuilt.

Today the broken concrete walls remain as a memorial and historic site. Since 1994 the Austin Dam Memorial Park Association has worked to preserve the ruins and maintain the surrounding parkland. For photographers visiting the Cherry Springs region, the dam provides a striking foreground subject beneath the dark skies of northern Pennsylvania.

Austin Dam Ruins - Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography

Camera settings: Canon EOS Ra, ISO 16,000, 15 sec exposure, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens at f/2.8.

One interesting atmospheric phenomenon visible in this image is green airglow. Airglow is a natural emission of light from Earth's upper atmosphere caused by chemical reactions involving oxygen and other molecules at altitudes of about 90–100 km. Under very dark skies — such as those around Cherry Springs — airglow often appears as faint green bands or waves across the sky.

Green Sky and Red Milky Way - Cherry Spring State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography

Camera settings: Canon EOS Ra, ISO 10,000, 25 sec exposure, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, f/2.8.

Cherry Springs State Park is known for its exceptionally dark skies, often approaching Bortle Class 2-3 conditions. These skies allow faint phenomena such as airglow, zodiacal light, and the detailed structure of the Milky Way to become visible both visually and in long-exposure astrophotography.

Austin Dam Ruins map

Although truly dark skies are rare in the eastern United States, locations such as the Cherry Springs region of Pennsylvania still offer remarkable conditions for astrophotography. Farther west, dark skies become even more common. Large areas of the western United States — particularly in states like Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California — provide vast regions with minimal light pollution, allowing the Milky Way, airglow, and other faint sky phenomena to appear with striking clarity. For night sky photographers, exploring these different dark-sky environments is part of the adventure.

Related Astrophotography Posts – Pennsylvania Dark Skies

• Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography
  One of the darkest sky locations in the eastern United States. Cherry Springs State Park is famous for Milky Way visibility, airglow, and meteor observing under Bortle Class 2 skies.


• Watching the Sky, Observing Meteors, Making Wishes – Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania
  Meteor watching and night sky observation during a dark-sky session at Cherry Springs. Under excellent conditions, faint meteors and the detailed structure of the Milky Way become visible.


• Boulder Field – Hickory Run State Park Pennsylvania Night Sky
  Nightscape astrophotography above the famous Boulder Field in Hickory Run State Park. This location offers darker skies than most eastern U.S. locations, approaching Bortle Class 5-6.


• Cloudy Starry Night Sky
  Even partial cloud cover can create interesting astrophotography compositions. Moving clouds illuminated by starlight and nearby light pollution reveal the sky brightness typical of Bortle Class 6 skies near Delaware Water Gap.

Watching the sky, Observing meteors, Making wishes - Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania

Cherry Springs State Park is one of the darkest places on the entire U.S. East Coast, making it perfect for meteor watching and night-sky photography. During this calm and crystal-clear night, we observed several meteors streaking across the sky. Even the faint ones were easy to see thanks to the park’s exceptional Bortle 2 skies.

Here is a close-up view of one of the meteors captured that night:

Meteor over Cherry Spring State Park Pennsylvania

This meteor appears to be a random sporadic meteor, not part of a major shower — a reminder that even on quiet nights the sky always has surprises.

Here is the full wide-angle image from the same moment:

Watching the sky, Observing meteors, Making wishes - Cherry Spring State Park Pennsylvania

Camera setup:
Canon EOS Ra – ISO 10,000 – 15 sec exposure
Lens: Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM – f/2.8

Nights like this, sitting under one of the darkest skies in America, always feel magical. A few meteors… a few wishes… and a perfect quiet night at Cherry Springs.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography
• Austin Dam Ruins – Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography
• Milky Way over Yellowstone National Park Old Faithful geyser – Night Sky Landscape
• Utah Astrophotography – Milky Way and Airglow over Desert Landscapes
• Mauna Kea Observatories – Big Island Hawaii Astrophotography
• Adirondack Public Observatory – Dark Sky Astrophotography
• The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) – New Mexico Astrophotography

Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography

Located in north-central Pennsylvania at an elevation of about 2,300 ft (701 m), Cherry Springs State Park is one of the darkest places on the entire U.S. East Coast. The park is an officially recognized International Dark Sky Park and is famous among astronomers and astrophotographers for its pristine, high-altitude skies and excellent 360-degree horizon views.

The Milky Way Over the Observatory Domes

In the foreground you can see two astronomical domes, the distant forest line, and a fun set of signs reading “Galaxy” – “Slow Down” – “No Dust”. Above the scene, the Milky Way rises brightly across the sky.

Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography - Galaxy - Slow down - No dust

Camera & Lens

• Canon EOS 60Da (modified for astrophotography)
• Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM

Exposure Details

• ISO 20,000
• 15 sec exposure
• f/2.8

Processing

Processed using Adobe Camera Raw, Photoshop, Topaz Denoise AI and Topaz Sharpen AI to reduce noise, enhance star clarity, and balance the color of the Milky Way.

About Cherry Springs: Why It’s Special

Cherry Springs State Park is considered one of the top stargazing sites in the eastern United States. Its remote location and high elevation mean exceptionally dark skies, often reaching Bortle Class 2. On moonless nights, the Milky Way is easily visible to the naked eye from horizon to horizon.

• Very low light pollution
• Dedicated astronomer field
• Restricted vehicle movement after dark
• No white lights allowed
• Excellent southern horizon for Milky Way imaging

From NYC, the drive takes approximately five hours, leading deep into Pennsylvania forest land. When you arrive at night, the darkness feels almost unreal — perfect for astrophotography.

Daytime Photos from the Park

The following images were taken during the day to show how the park looks in normal light. This area includes the observatory domes, astronomer pads, fields, and surrounding forests. Cherry Springs has many fun details visible only in daylight — including the “Highway to the Stars” road sign near South 44, reminding visitors that they are entering one of the darkest and most famous stargazing locations in the eastern United States.

Domes - Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania

Sign - Cherry Springs State Park

Dark Sky Fund

Stargazer's Delight

Through an Astronomer's Eyes

Highway to the Stars

Astro Haven Dome

Astronomers overnight area

Cherry Springs remains one of my favorite dark-sky locations in the eastern United States. The combination of quiet forest surroundings, dedicated observatory domes, and extremely dark skies makes it a dream destination for night-sky photographers.

Visiting Tips

• Best time for Milky Way: April–September (new moon weekends are best).
• Bring red lights only: white light is prohibited.
• Warm clothing: nights get cold even in summer.
• Arrive before sunset: headlights are not allowed to enter the astronomy field after dark.
• Reserve ahead: astronomer field can fill up on holidays or special events.

Related Posts

• Pennsylvania Astrophotography
• Yellowstone Astrophotography
• Mauna Kea Observatories – Big Island, Hawaii
• Solar Eclipse HDR Photography – April 8, 2024
• Why the Equatorial Sky Glows More Red

Cloudy starry night sky

This is a very minimalistic astrophotography image, captured under far-from-ideal weather conditions. Thin clouds drift across the sky, reflecting nearby light pollution rather than appearing dark. Despite this, the stars remain clearly visible in the gaps between the clouds.

Cloudy starry night sky, Canon 16-35mm f 2.8 L II USM Ultra Wide Angle Lens, Canon 40D, ISO 1600, 30 sec, @2.8 - KOA Delaware Water Gap

Images like this remind me that astrophotography does not depend solely on perfect conditions. Weather is always a dominant and uncontrollable factor — especially when traveling. You can plan locations, timing, and equipment, but ultimately you can only hope the sky cooperates.

What this photo represents to me is readiness. Sometimes the weather improves only briefly, for a few minutes or even seconds. When that happens, you must already be prepared — camera set, composition chosen, settings dialed in. There is no time to hesitate.

This photograph captures that short window of opportunity. Clouds, light pollution, and stars coexist in a fragile balance. Perhaps that is why this simple image feels meaningful to me. Others may see something different — and that is part of its quiet appeal.

Astrophotography is not only about the sky you want — but about the sky you are given.

Minimalistic & Atmospheric Astrophotography

These images focus on simplicity, mood, and atmosphere — moments where clouds, light pollution, motion, or minimal foregrounds become part of the story rather than limitations.

• Canon 60Da Milky Way Astrophotography — Catskill Mountains
  A simple wide-field view introducing scale and night-sky awareness
• Milky Way over Yellowstone — Old Faithful
  A quiet narrative connecting geology, time, and the Milky Way
• A Tree and the Milky Way
  Minimalist composition emphasizing scale between Earth and galaxy
• Grand Teton Milky Way Astrophotography
  Earth, water, air, and sky in a restrained nightscape composition

Conceptual & Experimental Night Sky Images

• Unintentional Camera Movement Astrophotography
  Motion, abstraction, and science-fiction-like light trails
• Night Sky Rotation, Time, and the Direction of Clocks
  When we look at a clock, we are not following the Sun — we are following the shadow of the Sun.
• Halloween Astrophotography — Night, New Moon, and Street Lamp
• Sky Ladder — Galápagos Nightscape
• Drive Safely Between the Milky Way and the Haystack

Not every night sky is perfect — but each one tells a story worth capturing.