Where’s the best spot to watch the night sky around here?

The night skies are putting on an extra show starting on Sunday.

When the full moon rises on Sunday, it will appear extra large and bright. National Geographic has a good explanation of why the moon will be so impressive.

At the same time, the Perseids meteor shower is passing by. It will peak on Tuesday and Wednesday. The moon will make it more difficult to see the meteors, but it would still make for a lovely night of sky gazing. The Bellingham Herald has a nice story about the Perseids and places to watch the stars in Whatcom County. They also have suggestions for places around Western Washington to watch star showers.

So that got me thinking, where are the best places to watch stars in Snohomish County? I think the Mountain Loop is a great bet. Many of the places out there are nice and dark. A friend suggested the parking lot at Mount Pilchuck trailhead, or for the hardy hikers, a night visit to the lookout itself. Another suggested some of the camps along the Pacific Crest Trail from Stevens Pass. My coworker suggested Lake Cavanaugh Road off of Highway 530.

I’m sure there are plenty more. What do you think? Drop me a line here, or on our Facebook page, and tell us where the best spots for star watching are.

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