Maplewood
Stargazing Guide.
Discover why the Maplewood area serves as a strategic corridor for WA observers. We combine community-vetted spots like Covington Community Park with professional NPS sky reports at Obstruction Point for a complete astronomical perspective.
Stargazing Logistics for Maplewood
- STEP 1. Primary Staging Area: Covington Community Park. This is your most reliable community-vetted hub within a ~21.9 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 Tacoma Astronomical Society for updated site access and group observation schedules.
- STEP 4. Observation Density: There are 5 recognized sites near Maplewood offering varied horizons and atmospheric stability levels.
Maplewood 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 Maplewood
For the best experience, target the late-night window between 1 AM and 4 AM in Maplewood. This is when local industrial lighting and residential 'sky glow' is at its minimum, and the most prominent Winter constellations are directly overhead at the zenith.
Expert Tips for Maplewood Observers
Don't underestimate the power of peripheral vision (averted vision). At sites near Maplewood, looking slightly to the side of a faint nebula will reveal much more detail than looking directly at it, especially when dealing with the Class 5+ suburban skies of the WA region. Scientific Context: While local conditions vary, the instrumented reading of Bortle 4 at Obstruction Point (53.6 miles away) remains the benchmark for regional sky quality.
Best Spots for Stargazing in Maplewood
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 Maplewood environment.
Covington Community Park
" A manageable drive from Maplewood, this spot is a reliable regional favorite. Dress more warmly than you think necessay. Please be careful walking around after dark. "
Paramount School Park
" A manageable drive from Maplewood, this spot is a reliable regional favorite. 'Dress warmly. Redlight flashlights only. "
Snoqualmie Point Park
" Heading out from Maplewood 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
" A manageable drive from Maplewood, this spot is a reliable regional favorite. Local Horizon Tip: Before setting up, scout for north-facing tree clearings to ensure you have a clear path to the Polaris and the circumpolar stars. "
Big Rock Park
" A manageable drive from Maplewood, 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. "
2026 Celestial Roadmap for Maplewood
Rural conditions near Maplewood provide excellent contrast for the Milky Way and bright star clusters.
Sky Quality Reports for Maplewood
Access high-precision SQM readings from the National Park Service, providing the definitive baseline for regional darkness quality. Seeing the faint magnitude targets listed in these NPS readings often requires the specific gear we've staged for Maplewood nights in our observer field kit.
Obstruction Point
Olympic NP
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Obstruction Point provide Maplewood residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"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."
Burroughs Mountain
Mount Rainier NP
Local Relevance
For observers in Maplewood, Burroughs Mountain serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"High Cirrus to North West"
Dark Sky Oasis near Maplewood
Elite viewing locations officially recognized by DarkSky International for their pristine celestial environments. Planning a trip to a nearby Dark Sky Park? Ensure your kit is ready by viewing our staged observer advice below.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park
Maplewood 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 Maplewood observing community.
94237 McGreer St. Antelope, OR 97001
Astronomy Clubs for Maplewood
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 Desert Specialist profile.
Gearing Up for Maplewood Nights
"Because you're heading just outside the Maplewood 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 Maplewood Field Kit
Designing a field kit for Maplewood requires understanding the specific transition from urban skyglow to the regional pristine benchmarks. Since Covington Community Park offers a specific Class 4 horizon, your equipment needs to be calibrated for the unique transparency found in this part of the state. The following levels represent a logical path for growing your observatory without over-complicating your local field sessions.