STARGAZING AT MANNING PARK RESORT

The Dark Skies of Manning Park offer some of the very best stargazing around, with multiple viewing locations and very limited light pollution. Gaze up in wonder at the celestial show above, painted with twinkling stars against a canvas of the dark night sky, anytime of the year.

Our top recommended stargazing locations include, but are not limited to: Windy Joe Field; Lightning Lake Day Use Area; The Cascade Lookout and The Sub-Alpine Meadows. If you are an avid camper, then Skyview RV Campground is the perfect spot to immerse yourself in nature during the day, while enjoying the brilliant dark sky at night.

Check back here frequently to see what events we are adding to our Dark Sky offerings or sign-up to our mailing list to hear about it direct to your inbox.

Recommended Stargazing Locations

windy joe field

Located in the middle of our cabin loop to the west of the resort. This is a very accessible location, although there will be more light in this area as it is around the Resort. Year-Round

4km from Manning Park Resort on Gibson Pass Road. The viewing area is located at the far end of the parking lot in the field by the lake.

Parking: Park in the Day Use parking lot. Year-Round

8km on the Blackwall Peak Road. This is a winding mountain road with 1150m elevation gain. Please use caution!

Parking: Parking lot is at the Look-out. Spring- Fall only

16km up Blackwall Peak Road. The road is paved 8km to the Lookout, then gravel.

Parking: Parking is in the Lower Lot, near the Naturalist hut. Viewing is in the upper parking lot. Walking off the path is prohibited. Spring-Summer only

There’s lots more for you to discover! Where’s your favourite spot?

Telescope Rentals

Interested in exploring the night sky? You can rent a telescope at Manning Park Resort and discover the wonders of the universe for yourself.

Learn More

Dark Sky FAQ

What to expect and how to prepare for Manning Park Dark Sky viewing.

Whenever there are clear skies is a good time for stargazing in Manning Park! We often recommend fall as it gets dark earlier, although if you stay up in the spring or summer it can be warmer for star viewing.

Winter also provides a good opportunity on cold clear nights, due to the cold, dry air, as it holds less moisture in the atmosphere and the sky appears more clear than in warmer months.

There are great stargazing locations around the park. Some of them are open seasonally. Have a look at some of our recommended stargazing locations above. You can also click on the Manning Park Resort Clear Sky Chart above to see a current forecast of clear skies. 

what accommodations are available for stargazing?

Accommodation Options:

Manning Park Resort : Book your accommodation now! Book online or call us at 604-668-5922.

Camping:  We have four provincial campgrounds within Manning Park, please see which campgrounds are available during your stay by clicking here

Sunshine Valley RV Resort & Cabins  offers full hook-up RV sites, and 10 full-service cabins available for rental just 30 minutes west of Manning Park. 

In Manning Park, as we are in an alpine environment, we recommend to dress warmly.The best way to be prepared is to bring lots of warm layers to dress in. We recommend warm clothing, including gloves, toques and scarves and good base layers to keep you warm.

Good boots and thick socks are highly recommended.

Stargazing can be great with or without a telescope! You can also bring a good pair of binoculars.

Manning Park Resort rents telescopes through our Telescope Loan program. Read about these Celestron telescopes here. 

There is also a telescope loan program through the Fraser Valley Regional Library. You can borrow a telescope using just your library card! To learn more about this program and to reserve your telescope, visit: https://www.fvrl.bc.ca/telescopes.php

OR

Become a member of RASC! One of the benefits of being a RASC Vancouver member is access to their loaner telescopes. Learn more here: http://rasc-vancouver.com/membership/telescope-loans/

For our outdoor stargazing events, it is recommended you to use red lights only. This helps protect your night vision so that your eyes can stay adjusted in the dark.

You can make your regular flashlight or headlamp into a red light by covering the light with some red cellophane and securing it with an elastic band. 

With the closest towns being 65km away, there is very limited light pollution in Manning Park, which makes for excellent dark sky viewing! Click here to see the location of Manning Park on the Clear Dark Sky light pollution map, and check the forecast to try to plan for clear night skies.

Whenever there are clear skies is a good time for stargazing in Manning Park! We often recommend fall as it gets dark earlier, although if you stay up in the spring or summer it can be warmer for star viewing.

Winter also provides a good opportunity on cold clear nights, due to the cold, dry air, as it holds less moisture in the atmosphere and the sky appears more clear than in warmer months.

There are great stargazing locations around the park. Some of them are open seasonally. Have a look at some of our recommended stargazing locations above. You can also click on the Manning Park Resort Clear Sky Chart above to see a current forecast of clear skies. 

what accommodations are available for the astronomy weekend?

Accommodation Options:

Manning Park Resort : Book your accommodation now! Book online or call us at 604-668-5922.

Camping:  Camping is available in the following locations:

-Skyview Campground

-Lone Duck 1

-Headwaters Horse Corral

-Lightning Lake Campground/ Day Use area

-Full hookup RV sites at Sunshine Valley RV Resort, reservations available. Please see website for prices.

Sunshine Valley RV Resort & Cabins  offers full hook-up RV sites, and 10 full-service cabins available for rental just 30 minutes west of Manning Park. These one or two-bedroom mountain-style cabins are fully contained and furnished, with power, wood stove, plumbing, and full kitchen. The Resort features indoor and outdoor heated pools and hot tubs, an onsite General Store, liquor sales, fire pits, a fitness centre, and a recreation hall.

In October, in Manning Park, temperatures can range between 10°C to -7°C. There is even a possibility of some snow! The best way to be prepared is to bring lots of warm layers to dress in. We recommend winter clothing, including gloves, toques and scarves and good base layers to keep you warm.

Good boots and thick socks are highly recommended.

Definitely! We have planned this event with you and your family in mind.

We have a number of events that are tailored to beginner astronomers and they are definitely kid-friendly. Check out the Beginner Astronomy 101 on Friday night and Astro-Activities for Kids on Saturday.

The Windy Joe and Lightning Lake stargazing locations are recommended for bringing children to. These locations are in close proximity to the Resort.

Due to the distance and time commitment required to attend the Cascade Lookout stargazing experience, we are not recommending that children under 10 to attend this event.

The best way to create a good astronomy experience for children, is to ensure that they are well dressed for the event! Bring extra layers, blankets and good boots to keep warm while searching the stars.

You do not need to have your own telescope. The purpose of this event is to get you interested in astronomy. Our RASC members will have a selection of telescopes that you can try at night stargazing events, as well as Manning Park’s own telescope rentals.

If you do have a telescope, by all means, bring it! Our RASC members can help you understand how to use it better. You can also bring a good pair of binoculars.

There is also a telescope loan program through the Fraser Valley Regional Library. You can borrow a telescope using just your library card! To learn more about this program and to reserve your telescope, visit: https://www.fvrl.bc.ca/telescopes.php

OR

Become a member of RASC! One of the benefits of being a RASC Vancouver member is access to their loaner telescopes. Learn more here: http://rasc-vancouver.com/membership/telescope-loans/

For our outdoor stargazing events, we require you to use red lights only. This helps protect your night vision so that your eyes can stay adjusted in the dark.

You can make your regular flashlight or headlamp into a red light by covering the light with some red cellophane and securing it with an elastic band. With registration in our Stargazer Packages, we will provide a red light for you.

Manning Park Resort allows pets in our pet-friendly accommodation. Please inform the Front Desk when making your reservation.

The indoor sessions do not allow pets, and we are not allowing pets on the Cascade Stargazing trip.

For the outdoor stargazing session at Lightning Lake, dogs are permitted. However, please note that, as this is a Dark Sky Event, we are not permitting lights, except red lights for the stargazing locations. Please be conscious that there will be families, children and expensive telescope equipment in the dark. Some caution is recommended as this may be upsetting or disorienting for your dog.

As per BC Parks rules, dogs must be on a leash at all times, and you must pick up after your dog. Thanks!

With the closest towns being 65km away, there is very limited light pollution in Manning Park, which makes for excellent dark sky viewing! Click here to see the location of Manning Park on the Clear Dark Sky light pollution map.

October is typically a good month for stargazing, however, if there is cloud cover during the Astronomy Weekend, we have alternate events for the stargazing sessions that will satiate your astronomy yearnings!

There is a host of things we will be looking for in the Dark Sky viewing events scheduled for the Astronomy Weekend. After you register for the weekend, you will receive a “What to See” in your Stargazer Package.

The moon phase is near the last quarter for the Beginners Weekend, and in the new moon phase for the Intermediate Weekend.

Upcoming Dark Sky Events

Manning Park Resort Clear Sky Chart

Click the chart to find out more information.

Contact Us

Do you have a question about dark sky viewing in Manning Park, or our astronomy weekend? Ask us and we will add your question to our FAQ.

    Our best deals and incredible events delivered straight to your inbox, once a month for free
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.