Some are perfect for stargazing, and others, for the astronomer interested in dark skies, are to be avoided. Shop for gifts at the headquarters gift shop, the Nature Center and the George Observatory. Copper Breaks State Park. From US-59 south take Grand Parkway (TX-99)/Crabb River Road exit and proceed south on Crabb River Road. Public Restrooms. There is even a bunkhouse available for those that wish to stay overnight, or you can camp or stay in the surrounding area. Colorado Bend State Park. Forests are great spots for stargazing because the trees help block out light pollution when you’re stargazing. Pet Friendly. Brazos Bend State Park. Choose Your Site. July average high is 94 degrees. The pass is spanned by a bridge that’s part of the Bluewater Highway. Houston is America’s fourth largest city… but it also might be one of the most overlooked major cities in the country. 379 Ratings. Houstonians live within an hour of seeing live alligators on the trail, with only trail dust between you and them. Brazos Bend State Park. The park encompasses over 5,000 acres of vibrant wetlands and a diverse mix of forest and tallgrass prairie. But it's also one of the best places to go stargazing in the United States. Besides marveling at nature, you can also hike and bike, fish, picnic, geocache, ride your horse, and stay over­night. Every Saturday, 3-11 p.m. Public viewing through 36-inch, 18-inch, and 14-inch reflecting telescopes operated by the Houston Museum of Natural History on the grounds of Brazos Bend State Park. Ask in the comments. 3 Rivers Foundation Comanche Springs Astronomy Campus. ... For information on stargazing programs/passes and other programs, call the Observatory at 979/553-3400 or at 281/242-3055 : The Lakes. She decided to start the site after realizing how many friends and family had never seen the Milky Way, and that space tourism was going to unlock the next great travel destination: space! If you want a guide to visiting Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston, we’ve got you covered: click here. To guarantee entrance, Nearby State Parks, Historic Sites and State Natural Areas, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, Brazos Bend State Park Volunteer Organi­za­tion, Brazos Bend State Park Volunteer Organization, Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site, Brazoria Loop of the Great Texas Wildlife Trails, Check current restrictions at all our parks due to COVID-19, Birds of Brazos Bend SP: A Field Checklist | PDF, National Weather Service forecast for this area, Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center. Brazos Bend State Park is a 4,897-acre (1,982 ha) state park along the Brazos River in Needville, Texas, run by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.The park is a haven for a diverse mix of native wildlife and plants covering an equally diverse range of ecosystems. To best see the stars, drive down the road you’d take to exit the park, pulling off into a paved shoulder area in the road (there are many), and letting your eyes adjust to … With almost 40 miles of nature trails for hiking, biking, and horse riding, this state park has much to offer outside of camping. Contact the park to volunteer as a park host. As is the case for most cities, if you’re willing to drive up to two hours outside of Houston, your stargazing prospects improve dramatically. That’s an unfortunate reality of living in an urban setting where proper lighting and light shielding are not used correctly. Texas Local Parks and Rest Areas. With all that said, let’s get on to the stargazing spots – not in Houston, but near Houston. Sam Houston National Forest is a large forested area north of Houston, about one hours’ drive north on Interstate 45. Brazos Bend State Park is your answer! choice of colors! Group Hall Wed Jan 20 2021 - Thu Jan 20 2022. Description: For further information about this park, Click here. Camping near Brazos Bend State Park is easy with Hipcamp, where private landowners offer one-of-a-kind camping experiences. When you’re searching for a stargazing spot, the last thing you want is to pack up the car with all your gear, head out to a place, and realize it’s totally terrible due to light pollution. Arrive at 5 to reserve your … Listen: “Space Tourism in Houston, Texas” with STG Founder Valerie Stimac on the History Fangirl Podcast. Brazos Bend State Park. Outrage after alligator found with kitchen knife embedded in its head; Erin Weaver, from Texas, said she believes someone stuck the large knife in the creature's head on purpose In Stargazing Guide by Valerie StimacNovember 15, 20183 Comments. Operated by the Houston Museum of Natural Science (a fantastic museum in downtown Houston with a great planetarium, by the way! Brazos Bend State Park is located less than an hour from Downtown Houston, in Needville, Texas. Unfortunately, when 2.3 million people live anywhere, there’s probably going to be some light pollution. Brazos Bend State Park, approximately 45 minutes southwest of downtown Houston, includes 5,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, upland coastal prairie and wetlands. See exhibits on the three ecosystems in the park, as well as on reptiles that live here. New Homes in Needville. There are campgrounds throughout the forest, which are a great option for a night of stargazing. Are there spots like this at brazos? Featured photo credit: Adam Baker via Flickr. Copper Breaks State Park. Aransas Naitonal Wildlife Refuge. Amazing! Explore on foot, bike, or horseback. |  You can also check out the Burke Baker Planetarium at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. 21901 FM 762 Whether it’s on a weekend camping trip just for the sake of pointing out the Big Dipper in the night’s sky, stargazing is a past time for everyone ... Brazos Bend State Park Next door, Johnson Space Center is one of the main NASA facilities in the United States. Take virtual tour on our Interactive Trails Map. The Brazos River flows through this Texas state park located an hour outside of Houston. Home to the 5,000 acre Brazos Bend State Park, Needville residents have easy access to the park’s beautiful scenery, wildlife and adventure. Less than an hour’s drive south of Houston, Brazos Bend is located in a more remote section of this part of the state, along the Brazos River. Even better, Davy Crockett National Forest is far enough away from Houston or any other big cities at a two-hour drive that you’re guaranteed pretty dark skies. Reservations can be made for today and can be made up to 12 Month(s) in advance. Neighboring state park, Big Bend Ranch State Park , has also earned a similar designation. Brazos River Retreat ... Stargazing. Bring your nonprofit youth group for a campout. DAY USE FEE: $7 per day, per person 13 and older. I have a few questions. Call the park to schedule a program for your group. Brazos bend has several large lakes, with piers. Home to 2,600 people, there are a few motels and hotels available where you can stay after a night of stargazing. If you’re looking for the best night sky clarity, the cooler months between December and April are ideal, as there’s less humidity and precipitation or cloud cover (the exception is January, where rain is a bit more common). Brazos Bend State Park. On either end of the bridge, there are good stargazing spots, though you’ll have less light pollution at San Luis Beach on the Galveston Island side. ), The George Observatory is open Saturdays year-round for stargazing. The next available arrival timeframe will be 1-5pm. but it has pretty much the same layout and design. I want to set up somewhere I can just lay down and look up at the stars. **Park Alert** We are starting the day SOLD OUT of the 8am-1pm arrival timeframe. Check current restrictions at all our parks due to COVID-19. Brazos Bend State Park. George Observatory is one of many local attractions that has been on my radar as … Brazos Bend State Park, 1pm - 5pm Entrance Brazos Bend State Park, 5pm - 10pm Entrance. Wildlife Viewing. If you’re a Houston local, that’s no big deal: you drive a ton anyway, right? There is plenty of parking near the observatory. Within one hour, there are some great options for stargazing near Houston. 21901 FM 762, Needville, Texas 77461 USA. If you’re curious about where to go stargazing in Houston (and the surrounding countryside), this post will give you all the info you need. Great This community is 113 miles from Houston and is bisected by Alternate Interstate-90, so you can reach it in about 1.75 hours drive from the city. Stargazing is a popular hobby here, as the town has one of the six Dark Sky Park designations in the U.S. Marie D. De Jesús/Staff photographer George Observatory in … Check out the HAS calendar for the next one! Good options include South Llano River and Guadalupe River state parks, which are relatively near San Antonio and Austin; Lake Ray Roberts and Lake Mineral Wells state parks in the DFW area; and Brazos Bend and Lake Somerville state parks near Houston. Please limit your additions to the pool to no more than 10 a day. If you are planning to stay overnight, it has plenty of RV and tent camping sites to choose from. ... Texas Stargazing. Houston has museums, restaurants and more. 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