Lake Stickney
Stargazing Guide.
Uncover the hidden celestial treasures of Lake Stickney, WA. From the verified horizons at Paramount School Park to the scientific Bortle Class 4 reports at Obstruction Point, your journey to the stars starts here.
Stargazing Logistics for Lake Stickney
- STEP 1. Primary Staging Area: Paramount School Park. This is your most reliable community-vetted hub within a ~9.0 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 Everett Astronomical Society for updated site access and group observation schedules.
- STEP 4. Observation Density: There are 5 recognized sites near Lake Stickney offering varied horizons and atmospheric stability levels.
Lake Stickney acts as a primary gateway to the Paramount School Park zone. This proximity allows for scientific-grade viewing (Class 4) at Obstruction Point just a short 15-minute drive from the city center, making it a rare 'Hub' for serious observers.
The Best Times for Stargazing in Lake Stickney
In WA, the transitional periods of early Summer often provide a stable atmosphere between weather fronts. For Lake Stickney residents, this means less 'star twinkling' (scintillation) and a significantly steadier view for high-magnification planetary observation.
Expert Tips for Lake Stickney 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 (52.2 miles away) remains the benchmark for regional sky quality.
Best Spots for Stargazing in Lake Stickney
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 Lake Stickney environment.
Paramount School Park
" Just a quick dash for Lake Stickney residents, this location offers great convenience. 'Dress warmly. Redlight flashlights only. "
Big Rock Park
" Lake Stickney observers often find this mid-distance site perfect for a full session. 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
" Lake Stickney observers often find this mid-distance site perfect for a full session. Please, no white lights. Any cell phones and flashlights need to be tinted deep red. "
Rattlesnake Mountain Trailhead
" Lake Stickney observers often find this mid-distance site perfect for a full session. Veteran Pro-Tip: Avoid using your phone's white screen. Even with low brightness, it resets your eye's Rhodopsin levels instantly. "
Covington Community Park
" A manageable drive from Lake Stickney, this spot is a reliable regional favorite. Dress more warmly than you think necessay. Please be careful walking around after dark. "
2026 Celestial Roadmap for Lake Stickney
Rural conditions near Lake Stickney provide excellent contrast for the Milky Way and bright star clusters.
Sky Quality Reports for Lake Stickney
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
For observers in Lake Stickney, Obstruction Point serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"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."
Redoubt - American Camp
San Juan Island NHP
Local Relevance
For observers in Lake Stickney, Redoubt - American Camp serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"Light domes all around, Victoria brightest and largest. Class 4. Hazy, fog to the south, high humidity, seeing very good, transparency fair. Sky at 30 degrees altitude and lower much poorer than other parts, airglow cannot be discerned because of light domes and haze. No Zodiacal light, even in AM. Evening hours better, Cygnus milky way at Zenith well displayed but later the entire band looks washed out."
Dark Sky Oasis near Lake Stickney
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 Lake Stickney residents.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park
The protected skies at Cottonwood Canyon State Park represent a vital astronomical asset for the Lake Stickney observing community.
99989 Highway 206
Antelope, Oregon
As one of the closest certified environments to Lake Stickney, Antelope, Oregon offers a rare window into the true depth of the Milky Way.
94237 McGreer St. Antelope, OR 97001
Astronomy Clubs for Lake Stickney
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 Celestial Photographer profile.
Gearing Up for Lake Stickney Nights
"Since deep darkness at sites like the local staging areas is less than a 15-minute dash from Lake Stickney, you can justify using heavier, high-aperture telescopes that would be a hassle to transport long distances."
The Lake Stickney Field Kit
When observing near Lake Stickney, the local atmospheric stability and the immediate access to verified hubs are your primary logistical factors. The difference between the Lake Stickney city center and the instrumented readings at sites 9 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.