Wondering where the the best stargazing locations near Boone are? Set on the doorstep of the marvelous North Carolina High Country along the Blue Ridge Mountains, sits Boone. Its visitors are nestled amid some of the most glorious scenery in the Southeastern U.S.
Now, it’s unquestionably the high peaks and ridges of the Southern Appalachian Mountains that provide the most obvious component of that scenery. But Boone also happens to be a fantastic perch for drinking up the views above those mountaintops, up in that vaulting skyscape that comes brimming with stars after sunset.
This beloved High Country town, after all, offers ample and easy access to mountain sites only minimally affected by light pollution, putting the celestial show—iconic constellations and wayfaring planets, the craters and crags of the Moon, spectacular meteor showers, and the bright flyover of the International Space Station—on full display.
Top 5 Stargazing Locations Near Boone
What follows is a guide to some of the best stargazing vantages to be found in Boone’s vicinity, from high overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the depths of the regional backcountry!
Appalachian State University’s Dark Sky Observatory
Observatory Rd, Purlear, NC 28665
Price: $5-10
Only about 20 miles northeast of Boone, Appalachian State University maintains the wonderful Dark Sky Observatory up on a spur ridge well away from city lights.
A treasured site for research and astrophotography, the Observatory—home to the Jo & Don Cline Visitor Center—also opens to the public for monthly skywatching events. It’s an absolute treat viewing celestial bodies through powerful, high-quality telescopes in the observatory domes.
The Thunder Hill Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 298-0398
Price: Free
Set at Milepost 290.4 outside of Blowing Rock, the Thunder Hill Overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway (“America’s Favorite Drive”) is perhaps best known as a sunrise vantage. That’s no surprise: Set at nearly 3,800 feet and oriented southeastward with vast sight-lines down to the Piedmont—the city skyline of Charlotte, North Carolina can even be picked out!—this is indeed one heck of a place to greet a brand-new day.
But the Thunder Hill Overlook also gives you amazing front-row seats for the after-hours show up in the heavens. So maybe—if you can stand the very early wake-up involved—come here well ahead of dawn and soak up the night skies before our very own home star makes its grand daily entrance.
Elk Knob State Park
5564 Meat Camp Rd, Todd, NC 28684
(828) 297-7261
Price: Free
A precious refuge and point of public access in the so-called North Peaks or Amphibolite Mountains, Elk Knob State Park makes another of the best skywatching destinations in Boone’s hinterland.
Now, it may not be very feasible for most visitors to stargaze from the summit of Elk Knob itself, accessible as it is only by a 1.9-mile-long trail; that would obviously necessitate hoofing it down after dark. But the numerous hike-in campsites in the park’s backcountry let you bask in some glorious, unmarred star shine during a night out in the wild!
Julian Price Memorial Park
With the adjacent Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, Julian Price Memorial Park creates the biggest dedicated recreational zone along the Blue Ridge Parkway. And part of its recreational offerings, furthermore, is the largest campground along the Parkway: Price Park Campground, a great base for Boone-area stargazing.
It’s hard to beat the night skies reflected in the waters of Price Lake, forest-cupped and nearly 50 acres across.
Mayland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory
66 Energy Exchange Dr, Burnsville, NC 28714
(828) 470-7584
Price: $5-25
This one’s a little farther afield—a bit more than an hour away from Boone—but we’d be remiss not mentioning it, given its caliber.
Nestled amid delicious Blue Ridge darkness surrounded by the Pisgah National Forest, the Mayland Earth to Sky Park and its Bare Dark Sky Observatory have been certified by the International Dark-Sky Association as an official Star Park.
Managed by Mayland Community College, the grounds of the site offer stargazing anytime for folks who have their own telescopes. But it’s all the better to go when the Bare Dark Sky Observatory is open, as you’ll get to enjoy high-powered celestial viewing and loads of information from Observatory staff.
Tips for Stargazing on Your Boone Getaway
Stay Warm
Night sky viewing in Boone’s vicinity requires a little planning and preparation. Bring along layers so you can bundle up against the night chill. (You’ll want warm clothing even on a visit to the Appalachian State University’s Dark Sky Observatory, given its observatory domes are unheated.)
Bring A Flashlight!
You’ll certainly want to bring along a flashlight and/or headlamp, but ideally, choose one with a red-light mode—or cover the lens with red cellophane—to better preserve your night vision. It can take up to a half-hour for the human eye to fully adjust to darkness and achieve optimal low-light vision, and a conventional white light will spoil that.
Be Cautious, Always
If you are considering taking a hiking trail to reach a more secluded stargazing vantage away from a road, do so only on a route you’re familiar with, be sure you have ample backup illumination, and exercise caution navigating after dark.
Have Your Star Charts Ready
Bring along some night-sky references to deepen your appreciation of what you’re seeing. Star charts, Moon maps, and the like—consulted with a red-light flashlight—are examples. These days there are also a host of stargazing apps for your smartphone or tablet, but remember to use red-light mode so you don’t wreck your night-adapted vision!
Bask in the Dazzling Night Skies of Boone’s Big Blue Ridge Backyard
From decked-out astronomical observatories to quiet roadside pullouts and backcountry campsites, you’ve got many options for topnotch stargazing in the Boone, NC area. It turns out that the Blue Ridge after-hours is pretty darn magical!
