Silver Firs
Stargazing Guide.

Uncover the hidden celestial treasures of Silver Firs, WA. From the verified horizons at Big Rock Park to the scientific Bortle Class 4 reports at Obstruction Point, your journey to the stars starts here.

Scientific NPS Bortle Regional Benchmarking
4
~57.2mi at Obstruction Point
Scientific NPS SQM Instrumented Reading
21.35
Regional Atmospheric Base
Verified Spots Community Vetted
5
~11.3mi to Big Rock Park
Dark Sky Oasis Certified IDA Park
184.1mi
IDA: Cottonwood Canyon State Park

Stargazing Logistics for Silver Firs

  • STEP 1. Primary Staging Area: Big Rock Park. This is your most reliable community-vetted hub within a ~11.3 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 Silver Firs offering varied horizons and atmospheric stability levels.
Local Observation Strategy

Silver Firs acts as a primary gateway to the Big Rock 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 Silver Firs

In WA, the transitional periods of early Summer often provide a stable atmosphere between weather fronts. For Silver Firs residents, this means less 'star twinkling' (scintillation) and a significantly steadier view for high-magnification planetary observation.

Expert Tips for Silver Firs Observers

If you're visiting Big Rock 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 (57.2 miles away) remains the benchmark for regional sky quality.

Regional Perspective: If you're traveling from Bothell East, the 4.3-mile trip to Silver Firs is a justified detour for anyone seeking slightly clearer atmospheric 'seeing'.
Community Vetted
Methodology Verified

Best Spots for Stargazing in Silver Firs

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 Silver Firs environment.

Premier Verified Hub Confidence: 100%

Big Rock Park

11.3 mi
Distance

" A short hop from Silver Firs, this spot is a top-tier local choice. 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. "

Duvall, WA 98019
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Premier Verified Hub Confidence: 100%

Paramount School Park

11.7 mi
Distance

" Practically in Silver Firs's backyard, we recommend this for spontaneous nights. 'Dress warmly. Redlight flashlights only. "

Shoreline, WA 98155
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Premier Verified Hub Confidence: 100%

Snoqualmie Point Park

27.6 mi
Distance

" A manageable drive from Silver Firs, this spot is a reliable regional favorite. Please, no white lights. Any cell phones and flashlights need to be tinted deep red. "

Snoqualmie, WA 98065
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Premier Verified Hub Confidence: 100%

Rattlesnake Mountain Trailhead

27.6 mi
Distance

" Silver Firs observers often find this mid-distance site perfect for a full session. Sky Contrast Tip: To see the Milky Way, wait for the Moon to go below the horizon; even a 25% crescent Moon can wash out the faintest nebulae. "

Snoqualmie, WA 98045
Premier Verified Hub Confidence: 100%

Covington Community Park

34.5 mi
Distance

" Silver Firs observers often find this mid-distance site perfect for a full session. Dress more warmly than you think necessay. Please be careful walking around after dark. "

Covington, WA 98042
Get Directions
Celestial Alert
Real-Time Tracking

2026 Celestial Roadmap for Silver Firs

Rural conditions near Silver Firs provide excellent contrast for the Milky Way and bright star clusters.

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Instrumented Data

Sky Quality Reports for Silver Firs

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 Silver Firs nights in our observer field kit.

Obstruction Point

Olympic NP

57.2 mi
Distance
21.35 SQM
Bortle Class 4

Local Relevance

Silver Firs enthusiasts typically use the instrumented readings from Obstruction Point to calibrate their deep-sky expectations for the area.

"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."

Observation Date
9/23/2009
Elevation
1969m
Zenith Brightness
21.4

Redoubt - American Camp

San Juan Island NHP

57.5 mi
Distance
21.12 SQM
Bortle Class 4

Local Relevance

The scientific findings at Redoubt - American Camp provide Silver Firs residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.

"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."

Observation Date
8/17/2012
Elevation
62m
Zenith Brightness
21.13
Certified Destinations

Dark Sky Oasis near Silver Firs

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.

International Dark Sky Park Certified

Cottonwood Canyon State Park

As one of the closest certified environments to Silver Firs, Cottonwood Canyon State Park offers a rare window into the true depth of the Milky Way.

99989 Highway 206

Scale
65 Sq. Km
Coordinates
45.4699, -120.4426
International Dark Sky Community Certified

Antelope, Oregon

Silver Firs stargazers often look to Antelope, Oregon as the gold standard for regional darkness and pristine celestial horizons.

94237 McGreer St. Antelope, OR 97001

Scale
1.19 Sq. Km
Coordinates
44.9105, -120.7227
Community Hubs

Astronomy Clubs for Silver Firs

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 Deep Sky Hunter profile.

NASA Club ID
#172
13.0 mi
Distance

Everett Astronomical Society

Everett, WA

NASA Club ID
#487
16.3 mi
Distance

Seattle Astronomical Society

Seattle, WA

The Deep Sky Hunter's Staging Advice

Gearing Up for Silver Firs Nights

"For the manageable 20-mile commute from Silver Firs, we recommend a "split-tube" or collapsible Dobsonian. It gives you the power of a large light bucket while still fitting comfortably in most standard Silver Firs commuter vehicles."

The Silver Firs Field Kit

Designing a field kit for Silver Firs requires understanding the specific transition from urban skyglow to the regional pristine benchmarks. With Big Rock Park sitting at a ~11-mile benchmark, your gear selection should mirror your willingness to travel. The following levels represent a logical path for growing your observatory without over-complicating your local field sessions.

Level 1: EssentialsLevel 2: OpticsLevel 3: Power