![]() The Indiana Dunes State Park is only a little over an hour’s drive from downtown Chicago. Note: Those interested in visiting should check with individual parks to find out if campground sites are only available to those camping overnight. Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park.Illinois State Parks that are a relatively easy drive from Chicago include: The Illinois State Parks website lists the best places to go stargazing. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, this observatory is directly behind the Adler Planetarium and open for speciality events and during Adler at Night (weather dependent). DOANE OBSERVATORY AT THE ADLER PLANETARIUM Locations include Loyola Beach, Foster Beach, Montrose Beach, Rainbow Beach Park, 12th Street Beach, Margaret Burroughs Beach and Park, Oakwood-41st Street Beach, 57th Street Beach, 63rd Street Beach, South Shore Beach, and Calumet Park. Locations along the shore of Lake Michigan looking east offer slightly darker skies. Check with individual parks for closing times. All other forest preserve locations generally close at sunset. Some locations are closed on certain days of the year or during certain months of the year. Check their website for available dates and overnight camping rates. The Forest Preserve District of Cook County has several parks that offer overnight camping. The Adler Planetarium and Adler Teens from our Far Horizons Stratonauts program helped get Palo Preserves this historic designation! The Palos Preserves closes at sunset, however, the area is sometimes open for astronomy events. ![]() This area emits nearly 1000 times less light than downtown Chicago, and the Forest Preserve works to actively preserve and protect the local nighttime environment. Image Credit: Joe Occhiuzzoĭid you know the largest Urban Night Sky Place in the world is in Illinois? Located in Willow Springs, IL, the Palos Preserves stretches 6,662 acres. FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY’S PALOS PRESERVES Image Caption: Dark blue night sky with stars reflected in a lake with silhouetted trees between the sky and lake at Maple Lake in the Forest Preserve of Cook County’s Palos Preserves. The 606 Trail is open until 11:00 pm daily. Ridgeway, Chicago, IL is relatively clear of buildings, though not necessarily clear of light pollution. ![]() The western entrance of the 606 Trail at 1801 N. Interested in observing the night sky but not sure where to start? No worries! We’ve compiled the following list of sky observing locations in or near Chicago and the midwest, including a couple organizations for you to use as your guide. Image Credit: Nick Lake 2020Įditor’s Note: This blog was originally published in June 2019 and was updated in April 2022 with more current information. Header Image: A green tent on sand with silhouetted trees and a blue night sky with stars.
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