· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar General Astronomy >> General Observing and Astronomy Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 gcs111 member Reged: 05/01/07 Camping and astronomy site near Big Bend Texas?       #5536583 - 11/24/12 02:05 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I am looking for camping sites that are good for astronomy near or in Big Bend Natl.Park Texas. I would have picked Chisos Basin but it's at 5400' and may be too cold. Rio Grande Village may be better since it's lower but what about nearby lighting. How about horizons at these sites or any other site you may have had experience with. I saw a RV/ camping site called Stillwell Store on the NE edge of BB park...has anyone been there for observing? Persimmon Gap is one of the Clear Sky chart areas at the N. entrance and has a picnic area but I don't think you can camp there. What about any other sites for astronomy, on the west side of Texas, that are user friendly, safe and good for car camping. Any other suggestions? Thanks for any info, Gerry Post Extras:       Skooter member Reged: 08/30/12 Loc: middle TN Re: Camping and astronomy site near Big Bend Texas? [Re: gcs111]       #5536757 - 11/24/12 08:03 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   West TX is full of dark sites. The RV campground in Rio Grande Village is essentially a parking lot. Even so, you won't have to go far to avoid streetlights, probably just behind a treeline or something. If you can go a night or two without hookups, the dark skies at any of the backcountry roadside sites will blow your mind! Chisos Basin CG is sized primarily for tent camping and is a bit cramped for anything more than a popup, although I have seen a few larger RVs there. Cottonwood CG (no hookups), in the Castolon area, is farther away and I've always been intrigued with the peace and quiet it appears to offer, but never been there. BB Ranch State Park is also very large, undeveloped, and dark. A couple of locations before you even get to BB would be Davis Mts. State Park near McDonald Observatory, and Balmorhea SP, also nearby. Honorable mention goes to Monahans Sandhills SP about 25 miles west of Midland/Odessa. Make no mistake, Monahans is in the middle of nowhere, right off I-20. I have enjoyed many spectacular sunsets from the top of a sandhill. Have a nice trip. Post Extras:       edwincjones Close Enough Reged: 04/10/04 Re: Camping and astronomy site near Big Bend Texas? [Re: Skooter]       #5536760 - 11/24/12 08:05 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   would the Big Bend State Park to the west be better for astronomy? -more isolated -more private but ? safety edj Post Extras:       edwincjones Close Enough Reged: 04/10/04 Re: Camping and astronomy site near Big Bend Texas? [Re: edwincjones]       #5536764 - 11/24/12 08:10 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   BJ's at Terlingue looks good on RVParkReviews(and this is a good site for RV campground reviews) Post Extras:       Spaced Post Laureate Reged: 03/01/05 Loc: Tacoma, Washington, USA Re: Camping and astronomy site near Big Bend Texas? [Re: edwincjones]       #5537570 - 11/24/12 05:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Might I suggest you phone the park HQ and discuss your needs & desires with the people who know the most about the park? Post Extras:       davidpitre Post Laureate Reged: 05/10/05 Loc: Central Texas Re: Camping and astronomy site near Big Bend Texas? [Re: Spaced]       #5539329 - 11/25/12 07:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Cottonwood campground is nice , much less visited, and darker because of less lanterns and RVs. But remember, gaining a bit of elevation can really help the transparency at Big Bend. I don't know where you're from, but Chisos Basin does not typically get that cold. There are more people there, though. I often just drive out a road, park, and bring my equipment around some protected area. It is very safe, and few cars pass at night. Yes the State Park is much less visited. Do consider Fort Davis State Park. You can get special permission to drive to the top of the mountain/hill and set up. Nothing beats it. Post Extras:       LoeRent newbie Reged: 01/22/12 Loc: Dallas Texas Re: Camping and astronomy site near Big Bend Texas? [Re: davidpitre]       #5544372 - 11/28/12 06:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I stayed at the really nice campground at Study Butte. {just 5 Mi. outside Big Bend Park} Get a campsite at the rear of the park, set up your scope on the road to the golf course. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 0 registered and 11 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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