Entry No. 66 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: after-dark
Coeur d'Alene Astronomy Club star parties (Farragut State Park)
The local astronomy club hosts public stargazing nights, often at Farragut State Park about 25 miles northeast of town, where members set up high-powered telescopes for anyone who shows up. The dark, forested-mountain skies of North Idaho, away from city light, make for genuinely good viewing of planets and deep-sky objects. Dates float with the moon and weather, so confirm before heading out.
The story
Drive twenty-five miles northeast of Coeur d'Alene into Athol, and the city’s light glow drops away behind the thick pine canopy of Farragut State Park. Down in town, streetlights wash out all but the brightest stars, which is precisely why local amateur astronomers haul their gear out here instead. Founded by local night-sky advocate Michael Christiansen, the Coeur d'Alene Astronomy Club operates on a simple premise: getting front-row views of the universe shouldn't require a university observatory or a five-figure telescope rig.
On select public nights, club members haul heavy-duty telescopes out to clearings in the park and aim them at whatever is putting on a show—from Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons to nebulae and star clusters thousands of light-years away. The schedule doesn't follow a rigid monthly calendar; dates float around moon phases, aiming for moonless windows when atmospheric contrast is highest.
You don't need an invitation or a physics degree to show up. You pay the state park entry fee at the gate, park near the gathering, and wander over to whoever has glass pointed at something interesting. The club members handle the tracking and focusing for you—you just have to step up to the eyepiece and look.
What it's like
Expect pitch-black conditions, crisp mountain air, and a scattered circle of red flashlights in a state park meadow. When you arrive, turn off your headlights as soon as practical and use red-light filters on flashlights or phones to preserve everyone's night vision. Bring lawn chairs, heavy blankets, and warm layers even in midsummer, because standing still in North Idaho forest air gets chilly quickly. You'll take turns looking through various members' telescopes while they walk you through what you're seeing. Always confirm on the club's Facebook page or call 208-906-1698 before driving out, as one sudden cloud bank will cancel the event.
The move: Check the club's Facebook for the next public viewing night, then drive up to Farragut, bring camp chairs and warm layers, and take turns at the members' telescopes.
📍 Before you go Public events are scheduled around moon phase and weather and cancel for clouds. Confirm via the club's Facebook (208-906-1698). Farragut charges a state-park day-use fee.
- 📍 Athol
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Farragut State Park, 13550 ID-54, Athol, ID 83801
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Bird Aviation Museum & Invention Center — Pair an afternoon examining vintage aircraft in Hayden with an evening peering into deep space in Athol.
- Bellville Mine — Contrast a night spent looking up at open dark skies with a visit to the historic underground mine sites tucked into the nearby Lakeview district.
- Triple Play Family Fun Park — Swap bright indoor arcades and bowling lanes in Hayden for pitch-black forest stargazing up at Farragut.
- Skate Plaza — Trade retro roller-rink lights in Coeur d'Alene for unlit mountain skies north of town.
Good to know
Is there an entry fee for the star party?
The star party itself is free to the public, though Farragut State Park charges its standard daily vehicle entry fee at the park gate.
How do I know when the next star party is scheduled?
Because events depend on moon phases and weather forecasts, dates float. Confirm upcoming dates on the club's Facebook page or call 208-906-1698 before heading out.
Do I need to bring my own telescope?
No. Club members bring and set up their own high-powered telescopes for visitors to look through, though you are welcome to bring binoculars or camp chairs.
What should I bring with me?
Bring warm layers, camp chairs, blankets, and a red-light flashlight or red filter for your phone light so you don't compromise night vision.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Facebook · Official site · parksandrecreation.idaho.gov · krem.com
last checked: 2026-06-24