Yelm
Stargazing Guide.
Just 38.4 miles from the center of Yelm, lies some of the region's best viewing at Covington Community Park. We feature instrumented readings from Plummer Peak to guarantee the most accurate sky quality data.
Stargazing Logistics for Yelm
- STEP 1. Primary Staging Area: Covington Community Park. This is your most reliable community-vetted hub within a ~38.4 mile radius.
- STEP 2. Sky Quality Baseline: Classified as Class B (Rural). Use the instrumented 3 rating from Plummer Peak 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 Yelm offering varied horizons and atmospheric stability levels.
Yelm 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 3 skies found at Plummer Peak.
The Best Times for Stargazing in Yelm
Observation in Yelm is most rewarding during the Summer months. During this time, the colder air masses over the Pacific region often result in significantly higher transparency, allowing you to see objects like the Andromeda Galaxy or Orion Nebula with much more definition.
Expert Tips for Yelm Observers
If you're visiting Covington Community 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 3 at Plummer Peak (43.8 miles away) remains the benchmark for regional sky quality.
Best Spots for Stargazing in Yelm
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 Yelm environment.
Covington Community Park
" Yelm 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. "
Snoqualmie Point Park
" While it's a bit of a journey from Yelm, the sky quality here is worth the fuel. Please, no white lights. Any cell phones and flashlights need to be tinted deep red. "
Rattlesnake Mountain Trailhead
" Pack some snacks for the drive from Yelm; this destination is a justified detour. 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. "
Paramount School Park
" For the dedicated Yelm observer, this spot offers a superior escape from light pollution. 'Dress warmly. Redlight flashlights only. "
Big Rock Park
" For the dedicated Yelm observer, this spot offers a superior escape from light pollution. 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 Yelm
Rural conditions near Yelm provide excellent contrast for the Milky Way and bright star clusters.
Sky Quality Reports for Yelm
Access high-precision SQM readings from the National Park Service, providing the definitive baseline for regional darkness quality. To resolve the deep-sky objects measured in these scientific reports, Yelm observers should check our recommended optics kit.
Plummer Peak
Mount Rainier NP
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Plummer Peak provide Yelm residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"M31 an easy averted, but difficult direct vision object. Faint shadows are cast by the light of Seattle/Tacoma. High humidity visible in valley below (settling into a very thin fog). Coastal cloud wall evident to west. ZLM of 6.4 seen in Auriga."
Plummer Peak
Mount Rainier NP
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Plummer Peak provide Yelm residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"Sky quality measurements were recorded at Plummer Peak in Mount Rainier NP on 9/23/2005. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.09 SQM."
Dark Sky Oasis near Yelm
Elite viewing locations officially recognized by DarkSky International for their pristine celestial environments. Certified dark skies like these are most rewarding when paired with the right aperture. Check out our suggested kit for Yelm observers.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park
Yelm 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 Yelm observing community.
94237 McGreer St. Antelope, OR 97001
Astronomy Clubs for Yelm
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 Solar System Guide profile.
Gearing Up for Yelm Nights
"For the extended excursion from Yelm, prioritize "travel-ready" optics. A 4.5-inch reflector or 70mm refractor provides the perfect balance of discovery power and trunk-space efficiency."
The Yelm Field Kit
Every observer in Yelm eventually builds a "go-bag" tailored to our specific regional humidity and site accessibility. The difference between the Yelm city center and the instrumented readings at sites 38 miles away is staggering, requiring optics that can handle both glare and deep contrast. Consider these categories as a roadmap for moving from casual backyard viewing to professional-grade observation near Yelm.