Rose City Astronomers: Star Party Sites

Rose City Astronomers

RCA Star Party Sites

Included below are directions and information for the events listed on the 2002 Star Party schedule. More detailed information about each star party will be included in the appropriate issues of the Rosette Gazette. If you are new to star parties, please be sure to pick up your copy of RCA's "Star Party Tips" at any of the RCA General meetings. In it, you will find valuable information that will help your first experiences be pleasurable ones!

NEW! This Clear Sky Clock will tell you the observing conditions of many of these observing sites.

Camp Hancock

Coldwater Ridge

Indian Trail Spring

Kah-Nee-Ta
Klondike
Larch Mountain
Mt. Bachelor Star Party

Pine Mountain Observatory

Rooster Rock

Sunriver

Table Mountain

Trout Lake

White River Canyon

Try Michael Rasmussen's list of 'off the beaten path' sites as well.

CAMP HANCOCK

OMSI's Camp Hancock Field Station is located near Clarno. You have two basic route choices to choose from:

1) Take I-84 east from Portland to Biggs Junction (exit 104), exit and head south on Hwy 97 to Shaniko.

2) Or you may take Hwy 26 east over Mount Hood. Turn left onto Hwy 216, which will take you to Hwy 197 just west of Maupin. Turn right on Hwy 197 and take it south to it's junction with Hwy 97. Turn left onto Hwy 97 and take it to Shaniko.

At Shaniko, turn south onto Hwy 218 (Shaniko-Fossil Hwy) and continue through Antelope and east towards Clarno near the John Day River. Look for the entrance to Camp Hancock about two miles east of the John Day River.

For the latest weather info: http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/CmpHncckORkey.html?1

For Information on: the RCA Camp Hancock Star Camp Weekends

COLDWATER RIDGE

Travel north into Washington on I-5, take exit #49 (Castle Rock) and take a right at the stoplight. You will travel east for 31 miles on State Hwy 504 from that stoplight and turn left onto Forest Service Road 3100. When you come to the T, go left down the hill about ½ mile into a large opening.

INDIAN TRAIL SPRING

Travel east out of Prineville on Hwy 26 approximately 14 miles past the Forest Service Headquarters located at the east end of town, turn right onto the Ochoco Ranger Station Road. Zero your trip meter and travel 8.4 miles, until you come to a Y in the road just past the Big Summit Ranger Station. At this Y, stay to the right turning onto FS road # 42. Follow this for 19 miles as it winds up into and through Big Summit Prairie. Then turn right onto FS 4240 and proceed for 2.7 miles, turn right onto FS-800. Go 1.5 miles west on 800 and you will arrive at Indian Trail Spring. The site is located on National Forest Service lands and is at 5000 feet of elevation.

This site is also the location of the OREGON STAR PARTY. For more information, please check out the following web site: http://www.oregonstarparty.org/ .

KAH-NEE-TA

Travel east on Hwy 26 past Mt. Hood Government Camp, turning south towards Bend at the junction on Mt. Hood. Turn Left towards Simnasho (approximately 29 miles east of Government Camp - Big Kah-Nee-Ta sign on Hwy 26). Follow the road to Kah-Nee-Ta resort (also marked by large sign at resort driveway entrance). On the way to the resort, you'll pass the observing site before dropping down into the river valley. It is in the open field up to your left from the highway close to the Mile 14 milepost marker. For reservations for Messier Marathon call 541-553-1112 and be sure to mention RCA to get the discount!

KLONDIKE

Take I-84 east from Portland to Biggs Junction (exit 104) and take Hwy 97 south for about 7 miles to the Wasco cutoff. The cutoff road winds around for just under 2 miles to "downtown Wasco". From Wasco, head east on Old Wasco-Heppner Hwy (also know by the road signs as Hilderbrand Ln) for about 4 miles. This road runs just north of the Wasco State Airport (which is usually noted on maps). Turn left onto North Klondike Road. Go 1.1 miles north and turn right (east) onto Dehler Road. Go 1 mile and turn off into a shallow bowl area. It is marked as a gravel pit on BLM's map. Overnight lodging can be found within 20 minutes in Biggs Junction or The Dalles (30 minutes).

LARCH MOUNTAIN

From Portland take I-84 towards Hood River and take exit #22 for Corbett. Zero your trip meter at the stop sign. At the stop sign you turn right and head up the hill towards Corbett. At 1.3 miles the road Y's, stay left at this "Y" and then take a left onto the Columbia Gorge Scenic Hwy. Zero your trip meter and proceed for 1.9 miles, take a right onto Larch Mountain Road. It is paved and marked with a big sign. Follow the road to the top of Larch Mountain (14 miles). At the top you turn right (just before the parking lot) into a large unpaved open area. You are at 4000 feet elevation.

MT. BACHELOR STAR PARTY

Directions to The Mt. Bachelor Star Party are located at: http://www.mtbachelor.com/trip_planner. You can find out more about this star party at the Mt. Bachelor Star Party web site: http://www.mbsp.org. Registration is required and details are on the web site.

PINE MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORY

Turn right onto Pine Mountain Road (look for PMO sign) just east of the Millican store, approximately 25 miles east of Bend on Hwy 20. Follow the signs up the hill to the observatory. PMO has invited RCA members to become more active with the observatory. In exchange there would be access to a 15" and a 24" scope! For more information on how you can become qualified to use these big scopes, please contact Rick Kang . Or you may phone him at (541) 683-1381.

Click here for very detailed directions for Pine Mountain.

Visit Pine Mountain Observatory's web page.

ROOSTER ROCK

Head east on I-84 from Portland. Take exit #25 and loop over the freeway to the State park. Day Use Permit is $3.00 per vehicle.
Rooster Rock Park
OMSI Star Parties

SUNRIVER LAVA QUARRY

Sunriver Lava Quarry Observing Site Directions: From Bend, go 15 miles south on U.S. 97, to the flashing yellow light marking the intersection to the Sunriver access road. Instead of turning right to go to Sunriver, turn left and go 0.8 miles to the observing site, a lava quarry. Turn right into a large open lot, and you are at the observing site.

Accommodations: Most attendees stay at nearby Sunriver Resort (2 miles away) which has a lodge, condos and houses for rent, restaurants, grocery store, espresso, etc. The observing site itself is not geared for tent or RV camping, but there are camping areas within 20 miles of the site in the Bend, Sunriver, LaPine vicinity.

TABLE MOUNTAIN STAR PARTY

The Table Mountain Star Party and Convention is hosted by the Northwest Region of the Astronomical League. Last year over 1200 people attended this star party, making it one of the largest in the US! The 6000-foot site at Lion Rock is located near Ellensburg, WA. Directions are included with their entry form, which is usually mailed out by June 1st. If you are not mailed an entry form and would like more information about this event, please check out their web page at: http://www.tmspa.com/

This is a weekend camping experience. The site isn't a formal campground, but tent and RV camping are set up in a large grassy field. Porta-potties are provided, and there is generally a portable grill and concession stand for food. Water isn't available at the site, and there are no disposal facilities, so - you bring it in and you carry it out (including garbage and cigarette butts). There are motel accommodations about 45 minutes away in the town of Ellensburg.

TROUT LAKE

We now have a spiffy PDF brochure complete with map, directions, pictures and other information!
Trout Lake Star Party

2006 Trout Lake Star Party Pictures

WHITE RIVER CANYON

From Portland, take Hwy 26 east towards Mt. Hood. Shortly past Government Camp, you will see a sign for Hwy 35 (Hood River turn off). Take this exit and go approximately 4.2 miles and look for a green sign marked "White River Canyon BSA Lodge Parking". Go past the entrance roughly 50 yards and turn left into a large Forest Service parking area.

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