This was such a fun stop! We tried to go here a while back but it was out of season and the Observatory was closed but we reattempted earlier this summer and it was a success. Many astronomical obsevatories are research based and don't alow tourists or casual visitors to them. But this observatory is open to the public. It is free and a Washington State Park. The only fee involved is the paid parking or State Park Fee. There are two presentations here. There is a day presentation where you look at the sun with the telescope (with filters so it's safe) and a night presentation where you look at the stars. The night presentation runs pretty late like past midnight so that is something to know but I am sure the stargazing is amazing. To do either presentation you will need to make reservations on the Goldendale Observatory website to secure a visit. When we did the day presentation we looked through the telescope. It may look anticlimactic looking at a white circle but the staff will tell you that is how it will be. If you see black spots on the white circle you are looking are sunspots. After we looked through the telescope we heard a lecture by the park staff going into great detail about the sun which was fascinating! They have souvenirs here so you can get things like refrigerator magnets and such. Definitely a worthy stop! read more

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Five stars ++! The Goldendale Observatory is an experience that's not to be missed! While this is a place for everyone; older children, particularly teens will truly benefit from visiting. The Rangers are passionate about the Observatory and it shows! Troy is a font of information, he delivers his wisdom with enthusiasm and a bit humor. He and Laura work in tandem to ensure a positive and fulfilling experience. NOTE: You will be walking and climbing ladders to use the telescopes = wear sensible shoes. Bring a water bottle, a snack and a warm jacket, as it can get cold. Enjoy, enjoy! read more

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I'm so glad we came on such a perfect evening! I was a little worried the visibility would be poor since it had rained the night before, but everything worked out beautifully. I had actually been planning this trip for months to line it up with the Perseids meteor shower, so the timing couldn't have been better. Troy was amazing--so knowledgeable and engaging. He even asked the group if anyone had requests, and when I asked to see a nebula, he absolutely delivered, finding us the Ring Nebula! He put on such a fascinating show! The highlight, of course, was seeing the night sky in all its glory: the Milky Way, the Hercules cluster, the Ring Nebula as previously mentioned, the Double Double system, a few meteors, and even Saturn! What an absolute treat. And just as we were leaving we caught the stunning Autumn star - Fomalhaut! One of my personal favorites! I'd definitely come back. Yes, it's a long drive, but totally worth it. They also keep their website updated with upcoming events, moon phases, and even hourly visibility forecasts, which is super helpful for planning. One tip: bring a jacket--it gets chilly out there! We also learned that, unfortunately, due to government budget cuts, Troy is the only official employee left, which means the winter season will be more limited. So definitely keep an eye on their website calendar if you're planning a visit. read more

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A truly magical and mind opening experience! It is definitely something you should do once, or 100 times! The facility is beautiful. It feels both ominous and warmly welcoming at the same time, love the red lights. Pay at the machine for parking before going in to save yourself time. Director, Troy Carpenter, along with Wes, put on a phenomenal time from start to finish. Troy is entertaining and witty, keeping everyone engaged from young to old. We saw Venus, Jupiter, Orion Nebula, and Earth's Moon. They were all mind blowing, but our Moon in that kind of detail was jaw dropping to me. Seeing Jupiter was a childhood dream fulfilled! It is cold in the dome, bring your cold gear. Be respectful and listen to the rules. read more

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Came out to the Gorge with a visit to the observatory being one of our main motivations. Got (free) tickets in advance for the night show. On the night of our visit, it was partially cloudy so we weren't sure what to expect. But it was SO worth it. There was a big crowd in attendance. A few minutes before the show started, we got to each take a look in the big telescope at some stars. The show then started outside, where the director wowed the group with a show & tell of the stars. We then went inside for the classroom portion, which was equally fascinating. Can't say enough good stuff about the director, who was a really great presenter and had amazing facts to share - truly a walking encyclopedia of information. After that was done, we went back to the telescope and got to see Saturn. We had a great time and would definitely come back again. read more

A gem. The ranger was incredibly knowledgeable and funny. The inside presentation was unexpected - they have amazing visuals with large screens. Like going to a seminar. Looking through giant telescopes where someone knows where to point them is cool. read more

Troy is a very talented teacher!! He somehow manages to juggle the very good tech of the show while responding to every question. Instead of just talking at the audience with a rigid agenda, he uses questions to launch into engaging illustrates discussions from how fast is earth really moving to whether Voyager I will ever make it out of the galaxy (no). Pretty amazing and I went away with a lot to think about. The views through the telescopes were the icing on the cake. read more

We were there before the observatory opened, so while I can't speak for inside the grounds and trails are great! I really enjoyed the trails. It was our first visit, and we started off from the trail parking in the opposite direction of the trail map. We noticed quickly that the paths are color coded, and silly us...by missing the map we didn't have the info along the way. No matter, we still really enjoyed the trails. Lots of winding and meandering with gorgeous views around every turn. All paths were clean and well maintained and signed. There's a big gravel trailhead lot at the bottom, and another large paved lot at the observatory. Views are lovely from open spots along the trails and from the observatory deck. The trails cross-cross and vary in footing, so no matter your desire or ability there's probably something for you. Highly recommend! read more

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If u want a look at the cosmos this is the place. Plus U'll get an education. The place has been completely remodeled and it was done perfectly. read more

Walk inside the observatory for a telescope view into the starry cosmos. Or take a walk on a few miles of trails surrounding the observatory and you'll walk into an oak woodland cosmos. That's right! These oaks are far out looking into a natural cosmos with tree lichen (fungus and algae) hanging on every branch. Looks like fur on Bigfoot. Actually I saw some big big really big foot prints on the trail. Could it be? No! Maybe - Big Foot is a notably indigenous and mythical legend. And the trails now are abundant with wildflowers like lupine, balsam route, tretelia, aster, so on. Take a walk, have a look! So you don't need to look into space with a 24" reflecting telescope to be a little spaced out with the surroundings in your natural cosmos world! read more

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Just want to give a shout out to the Staff @ Goldendale Obeservatory. The lunar night experience from beginning to end was simply amazing. My wife and I were both very impressed with the passion, level of detail & expert knowledge that was present with all the Rangers there. Whether you know something about astronomy or not, I'm sure you'll learn something new with these guys ! Thank you again for a great time and we will be back for the Solar experience next. You guys rock ! read more

We didn't know what to expect when we visited, but this is a real gem! We attended the afternoon instructional session led by Ranger Peter, and it was funny, entertaining, and very educational. We learned things about the atmosphere and stars and Earth that we had never known. Did you know the sun is powered by nuclear fusion? Or, 1.3 million Earth's would fit in the sun? read more

Goldendale Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Goldendale, Washington

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If you're in the area or just passing by, you should add this spot to your itinerary! Daytime tours for viewing the sun and evening programs for the night sky are both worth the time! Great park rangers to provide the programs and answer questions! read more

Small observatory is easily accessible to all. Beautiful setting (of course). Clean restrooms. Well-marked walking path. Enjoy!

It wasn't planned exactly, but I found myself in Goldendale for a few nights and spent a great evening at the Observatory. I attended the evening program (9pm-Midnight). It's free to go but your vehicle will need a WA State Parks Discover Pass ($10 day-pass, $30 annual) which you can purchase when you arrive. The two rangers/interpreters were amazing! Very entertaining and informative. They handled a large crowd with ease, ensuring all questions were answered and everyone was able to take a turn at the different telescopes. I highly recommend spending some time reading through the website so you won't be surprised if they turn you away if you arrive late, and you know to wear layers as it can get cold up there in the evening even if the day was hot, hot, hot! read more

Literally SUCH a neat experience! Troy is fantastic and we really enjoyed it! Give it a shot if you've never been. And come learn how little you know about space! read more

Goldendale Observatory - Moon - Observatories Near Me - Goldendale, Washington

We came here to stargaze on a clear night. We actually drove from Puyallup just to be able to enjoy a show when the staff did a presentation. We got so lucky because there was no rain. We saw the Milky Way, a couple of galaxies from their telescope and of course the not so bright North Star (among others). We got a little lecture about nebulas, the other people that came to the show were engage and all participated in the conversations. There were a couple of kiddos too who seemed to enjoy the show. All in all I recommend this place and I will totally do another 4 hr drive just to hear about the constellations and stargaze again. read more

Fabulous evening show including opportunity to look at planets and star systems through the big telescopes. We learned so much about what is known about the universe that was new to me. Troy's program has interesting content for all ages. We'll be back for more! read more

Well, unfortunately the skies were cloudy and somewhat rainy when we went (all the way from Duvall, WA) so we did not get to look through the telescope. We had an indoor presentation which was VERY long, especially sitting on hard wood chairs. Most of the physics went over my head (and my friends' as well). It was at least 90 minutes long. But the observatory is a cool place and I'm looking forward to going again. read more

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What an AMAZING place! The family and I attended the Solar and Evening Program. Troy and Peter ran the programs and they were so knowledgeable. We learned so much! We got to see the sun, sunspots and solar flares during the Solar Program using special lenses. Fortunately, during the Evening Program the weather cooperated. We were able to see the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, a Nebula, the Milky Way and the Andromeda. It was a great experience and highly recommended. Make sure to bring warm clothes in the Evening Program because it got pretty chilly. Everyone wore masks and all the doors were opened since they had multiple telescopes in and out of the building. The Programs are free. Parking is $5 or a Discover Pass. read more

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Such a fantastic show and experience. Whatever the two guys on duty make they should get more. Funny, passionate, engaging and really educational for my daughter and wife and I. Had a great time. Thank you so much! Highly recommend coming to see this if in the area. read more

What an awesome experience! The only other observatory I've been to is the Griffith Observatory in LA. Although larger, I had a way better time at Goldendale. We arrived early for a Saturday night presentation which started as the sun began to set. Troy Carpenter took over about a year ago as presenter after his predecessor, Steve Stout, retired. I heard Steve was great too, from friends that have visited in the past, but Troy was the man! He was just the right mixture of clever and cliched to appeal to everyone in the audience, all ages and from all over the NW. Throughout the night, which lasted far longer than expected, we transitioned from several glances through the telescope to view various plantets and the moon, then went outside a couple times to catch the international space station and orbiting satellites passing by, to the classroom where we got a very informative presentation that included a great interactive discussion. It's not often you can learn some really interesting things while being entertained and stimulating your imagination all at once. I wish it wasn't so far away, because with how hard it is to predict a clear night sky, it might be awhile before I get to visit again. read more

Troy is awesome. Even if you stop by during the day there is something to see. How many opportunities do you get to look directly into the sun? Have you ever gotten to see a star nursery? It is well worth the 10$ for parking. You can tell Troy loves what he does, and he draws you into the information session. I will be back, I have finally found something to do in this town. read more

Goldendale Observatory - Observatories Near Me - Goldendale, Washington

I've been visiting the observatory once or twice a year for the past 30 years. The presentations are always new and interesting. The Rangers are passionate about "stargazing" and it really shows in their talks. Well worth a trip! read more

Must visit!! 5 STARS! Many thanks to Troy Carpenter for making it such a great visit. Troy is so knowledgeable. He kept us engaged for 2.5 hrs in a conversation about space, physics, chemistry and so many aspects of science I wished I had learnt in school. Me and my wife went there on a moonless night but the sky was cloudy so we couldn't see through the telescope. But it didn't feel like we missed something even for a second. Troy gave us an excellent presentation with graphics he created himself. He is very engaging and intelligent. It was just the 2 of us as an audience and we felt lucky to have such a close interaction with him. Troy is a gem and and the wonderful place absolutely deserves someone nice and smart as him. I wish him and the observatory lots of good luck. read more

Must visit! Great way to learn about the cosmos, have fun and be entertained! Troy was absolutely amazing; he has great ability to engage a diverse audience, present an interesting topic, and his passion and excitement for science and space is infectious. Loved this trip! Washington State is lucky to have attracted and retained him these past few years. Note: Remember to have/buy a Discover pass to gain access and park. read more

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I really do like this place. I got some amazing shots of the Perseid's Friday night. It has lots of potential, however, there needs to be signs (lots and large) for people to turn off their headlights at night coming in & leaving the parking lot (parking lights are sufficient to maneuver around the lot). Also, remind people to only use red flashlights or head lamps and place red gel over your phone. (this helps to preserve night vision). Someone had mentioned extensive renovations are planned. Maybe these issues can be addressed. It would be nice to have an area for amateur astronomers/photographers to set up their own gear, especially on busy nights. Again, thought it was a great place, and I look forward to visiting again in the future! read more

If your into the night sky, star watching or astronomy this is the place for you. Washington state is so lucky to have this facility and the story behind it is really interesting. read more

The Goldendale observatory is a must see. The staff is so knowledgeable. Troy could answer any question we asked and made our experience that much more enjoyable. Thank you Troy for being so passionate about your job. It was infectious. I highly recommend the Goldendale Observatory if you have even the slightest interest in space or not. We were actually able to see Saturn with the rings, a star nursery, the sun during the day through the telescope and so much more. Thank you Goldendale observatory and Troy for giving us an experience we will never forget read more

A gem! A great opportunity to get up close and personal with a large telescope and dome. It was exciting because it was like a school field trip in the middle of the night. i recommend for kids and adults alike. read more

Loved this! Came to take advantage of the dark skies and no moon. First night unfortunately there were some clouds so we left early. Hoping tonight will be better! The hosts, especially Troy, were very knowledgeable and entertaining. read more

Troy is amazing!!! I highly recommend going to see him and learn even though the park is still under construction for a few more months. They substitute the location with the Maryhill Stonehenge location a few miles away, which is also a must see! My boyfriend and I went on a Sunday night and there were only 6 people in our group, which is unusually small for a summer weekend. This was fun because it encouraged us all to ask more questions. You should definitely ask any question that you have because Troy has all the answers. He is witty, nice, and all around a super cool guy, this is obviously his passion and it is really refreshing to be taught by someone who cares so much about what they do. He makes his own graphics which was really helpful as a learning tool, he let us play with mercury and neon, which was also really interesting and fun. I thought seeing the planets through the telescope would be the cool part, but really it was Troy and his knowledge that was the coolest part. Unfortunately our night turned cloudy but our whole group was having so much fun that we stayed until 11:15 (45 minutes after close) just talking and waiting for the clouds to move. He showed us helpful and cool apps to use for different things, as well as made sure we were able to see everything we could given the weather circumstances. We will definitely be going back many times! To the new campus and I'm sure many times after that. Also I should mention we didn't have to pay anything!! We got a free lesson, a show, and honestly it was the highlight of our gorge weekend vacation completely free! Score! read more

This place is AWESOME ! Amazing equipment , Troy rocks !

Loved this. The explanation of the science of our nearest star and what we now know about its timeline was a bit of an ah ha moment. Rangers who teach are a rare breed and Washington here has at least one very knowledgeable and engaging. Taking the time to teach, to get us to feel our place in this universe. Thank you for filling this soul with wonder. Now to ponder pixies and sprites and plasma clouds.... In New Mexico we have the Sunspot Observatory in the Sacramento mountains, Very Large Array by Datil and the St Augustine Plain and the Dark Sky state park certified Observatory at Clayton State Park by the edge of the Dust Bowl windswept towns of Roy and Mosquero. Science is still welcomed there. Coming from there I can honestly say as it has great company in Goldendale Observatory. It was a revelation well met using the Discovery Pass. read more

After a beautiful drive through rural Washington we arrived at the observatory to look at the sun. Sarah checked us in and proceeded to take us through a 75 minute journey to, through and around the Sun. We learned about it as well as all about optics and telescopes. Sarah handled all of our questions with expert knowledge and made it all very interactive, with a lot of relevance for our 14 year old (and adults alike). What was really cool is they had just received a camera to mount on the viewfinder of the sun telescope, enabling them to project live onto a TV. The answer is 8 minutes in the winter, 8 1/2 in the summer... read more

I've lived in Goldendale for 6 years and have never bothered to visit the observatory.This evening my daughter convinced me to go with her. We arrived about 10:30 p.m. to a full house. There were lots of people laughing, looking at the stars, asking questions and generally having a good time. The young man giving the presentation, obviously loves his work. He was personable, helpful, and never made people feel silly for the questions they asked. Many folks lingered and chatted with him after the crowd dispursed. He has a great sense of humor, is passionate about astronomy and enjoys sharing what he knows. There are exciting things in the works for the observatory which will be a refreshing change. It's hard to believe that such a small town has such a great place to visit. He has a day time presentation about the sun, there are hiking trails and interesting things to look at around the grounds, refreshments and plenty of seating and it is handicap accessible. Please take time to visit the observatory and chat about the stars with Troy. He's a really cool guy! read more

This is way cool! Troy, the guide, does an amazing job explaining things. I learned so much from our visit. This is an experience I highly recommend for any family. The kids will not forget this experience! read more

The tour guide was fantastic. Of course he might not always be there but he was funny and informative. I've wanted to go there for years. Looking at the constellations was worth the trip. A unique opportunity. read more

I recently visited the observatory expecting to enjoy a short presentation on the solar system and a brief look at a nearby planet, which I figured would be worth my time given that I'd be staying in the area and was looking for something to do. I ended up enjoying my time so thoroughly that I felt compelled to return two more times to ask more questions and view everything from the Hercules Globular Cluster to Andromeda. I actually walked away from the experience with a lot more knowledge of how stars are born, fusion, galaxies, and even hydrogen jets. The presentation is extremely engaging, even though the crowds were a bit daunting at night. If you have a lot of questions, I'd suggest going to the observatory during the day and seeing the presentation on the sun. The group sizes seem smaller, and you will get a chance to ask a lot of questions and engage in personal conversations. Plan on going back at night for the major presentation, however. You don't want to miss it! I was so moved by my experience here that I am planning on following up on this visit with a lot of study and the purchase of a telescope of my own. read more

This was an amazing experience. The staff was very knowledgeable on the subjects and were very professional in presenting the subjects and operating the equipment. During the day, and weather permitting, there is a telescope that allows you to view the sun through a filter and the staff will explain to you what you see. They, my staff member I believe was named James, teach about the flares, prominences, and some basic physics of the things you see. Then when it gets dark the night sky is very dark. You can see thousands of stars, when they say dark skies guaranteed they mean it. Then Troy, another staff member who is very smart on which stars are what and their status, will give a lesson on stars and what they are doing. Troy's presentation is amazing and it enthralled everyone. There is even a smaller lecture before both viewing sections that give the story of the origin of the national park, and I found it very informative but young kids may get bored, but if you are a well rounded person you will enjoy every aspect of the national park. I highly suggest visiting the observatory, I enjoyed it thoroughly. read more