Logan Valley Star Party

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; phone to get current)

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/ or app.watchduty.org
Current air quality conditions for Oregon (zoom in-out): https://aqicn.org/map/oregon/
NOAA Smoke Detection Map (zoom in): https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/products/land/hms.html#maps
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
Seneca Weather - Meteoblue: https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/week/seneca_united-states_5751100
John Day, OR weather forecast: https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/John+Day+OR+USOR0176
Nice APP for polar alignment, 'PolarFinder Pro: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lunari.polarfinderpro&hl=en_US&pli=1

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 - be considerate; 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.

The Forest Service has put a cap of 75 attendees. Typically we've had between 25-35 attendees so no need to RSVP.

Further information if needed, please email contact:

John Benham (Spokane) - LVSP.info@gmail.com eventually I will answer.

Strawberry Mountains Wilderness Area, June, 2018

Logan Valley view to SE from Strawberry Mountains day hike, June, 2018

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.