Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory

Bask in the wonders of the cosmos at Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory—which helps amateur astronomers understand the depths of outer space with the largest collection of publicly accessible telescopes in the United States.

All year long, staff members and volunteers bring together telescopes of varying sizes to showcase stars, planets, satellites, moons, constellations, galaxies, meteor showers, and other cosmic curiosities. Depending on the night, visitors can enjoy a 1.5-hour, in-depth session that begins with an educational overview—or an hour-long affair that dives right into the nighttime viewing. Each session ends with a guided constellation experience.

The conditions around the observatory are ideally suited to stargazing, as well. In 2020, the community of Sunriver was designated a Dark Sky Friendly Development of Distinction by the nonprofit DarkSky International—which advocates against artificial light pollution and for darker night skies. Sunriver earned the distinction for its collective commitment to minimizing artificial light and preserving the clear night skies above.

Note that reservations are required for all stargazing experiences—and that nighttime viewing slots can fill up weeks in advance, especially for summer weekends. If visiting in summer, try to buy tickets as soon as you know your plans. And while children are welcome, the nighttime experience is not generally recommended for those 5 and younger.