Location: Lat/Long: N44 11.25', W118 36.95' (copy and paste into Google Earth)

MagneticDeclination: +13 degrees 58' (east) http://www.magnetic-declination.com/

U.S. Forest Service Big Creek Campground, Malheur National Forest

Elevation: 5,140 feet (average)

Dates: July 2 -  July 6, 2024 (Tuesday through Saturday)  New Moon: Friday, July 5th, 2024

Access:

• From Seneca: 20 miles east on paved CR 16 (county road)

• From East of John Day - Prairie City hwy 26: 20 miles south on paved CR 62 then 6 miles west on CR 16 to Big Creek Campground turnoff

• From West of John Day - South of John Day from US 26 on US 395 about 10-miles; then East on CR 65 (Canyon Creek Road) about 13 miles; then east on CR 16 about 7.5 miles to Big Creek Campground turnoff

• From Vale hwy 20: CR 306 paved to Van; continue north on CR 15 gravel to CR 16 then 7 miles east on CR 16 to Big Creek Campground turnoff

• From Burns hwy 20: US 395 north to Seneca, 20 miles east on paved CR 16 to Big Creek Campground turnoff

Big Creek Campground:

• 15 sites; water (standard garden hose spigot); two modern vault toilets; picnic tables; one larger group site (#1 and 2)

• $8/night; 1/2 off for Golden Eagle card holders (as of 2023)

• Campground nestled in trees and next to Big Creek 

• No reservations; first come, first served

• Potable water from spigot (seasonal-summer)

• No trash or garbage - bring it in, take it out

• No RV dump station - nearest is Grant County RV Park, John Day

• USFS Big Creek Campground web page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/malheur/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=40084&actid=29

• Two modern pit toilets and water source pictured below

Open Camping:

• Larger RVs can park parallel to Big Creek Campground access road - bare open land with no amenities

• Suggest tarps for shade

• Along the perimeter of the telescope field

• Free - no camping fees!

• Open fire protection and restrictions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/malheur/home/?cid=FSBDEV3_033802

• Public use restrictions: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd589130.pdf

Lake Creek Youth Camp - Malhuer National Forest: (2023 prices)

• 10- cabins; each sleep 6; $40/night/person

• R-Vs $20/night; Tents $15/night - includes showers and bathroom facilities

• Ice, showers, meals available individually

• Will serve 3-meals/day - ask for price

• Beautiful classic lodge; showers, flush toilets

• West of Big Creek Campground about 4-miles via CR-16

• https://lakecreekcamp.org

• Email: lakecreekcamp@yahoo.com 

• Reservations: (541) 575-4031

Perfect site for a star party:

• Absolutely transparent sky: Bortle Scale for dark skies https://academo.org/demos/bortle-scale/

• 360 degree low horizon; no air thermos due to wide-flat valley

• No light pollution

• Flat telescope field of mixed grass - no sage brush, no dust, no loose rocks

• Vehicle access to telescope field

• Mostly paved roads to campground

• Low likely-hood of wildfire smoke since in early June. Later star parties sometimes are smoked out by nearby wildfires (realtime wildfire map): https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

• Current air quality conditions for Oregon (zoom in-out): https://aqicn.org/map/oregon/

• People can camp in nearby Aspen groves mixed with Tamaracks and Ponderosa Pines

• Many bird species for our Ornithologists/Audubon enthusiasts

• We are located just south of the spectacular Strawberry Mountains Wilderness!  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/malheur/recarea/?recid=39906

• Seneca, OR weather forecast: https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/Seneca+OR?canonicalCityId=f9ce576abfb4b6c6df83f577855afaad65782e462dd6ea2c3849c1af3595f134

• John Day, OR weather forecast: https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/John+Day+OR+USOR0176

Communication:

• No cell phone or internet coverage. Nearest is John Day - Public Library or possibly Seneca

• Nearest phone is Lake Creek Camp (541) 575-4031

• FM: 90.1 Oregon Public Radio; 94.5 KJDY country (John Day)

• AM: (clear channel night) 670 KBOI Boise; 810 KGO SF; 1010 CBR Calgary; 1070 KNX LA; 1160 KSL SLC; 1190 KEX Portland

This is a loosely organized star party.  However, basic star party etiquette will apply - ie. no white light; please no dog walking on telescope field; green lasers may affect astro imagers; etc.

Anyone is welcome to give a presentation or share their astrophotography using their own laptops.

Being near the Summer Solstice, nights will be shorter but we are further south in latitude than most northwest star parties.  The location is in a dark sky designation.

Average temperatures in July are +81F degrees high , +39 degrees low; June are +70F degrees high, +37F degrees low.

Please RSVP with email contact so we can advise on changing conditions. The Forest Service has put a cap of 75 attendees.

Contact:

• John Benham - LVSP.info@gmail.com 

Note: Photographs below taken in late October, 2017 - hence light snow on ground.

           Strawberry Mountains Wilderness                                                North View - telescope field

              Northeast View - telescope field                        East View - telescope field (Big Creek C.G. in trees)

               Southeast View - telescope field                                                  South View - telescope field

             Southwest View - telescope field                                                 West View - telescope field

             Northwest View - telescope field

Click on "View larger map" and more photos will be available.