Steamboat Rock State Park

Steamboat Rock State Park, a peninsula located in Banks Lake, spans 600 acres (243 hectares) at an altitude of 800 feet (244 m). Its landscape dates back at least 13,000 years, having been carved by ice age floods into a canyon dotted with lakes. The park is a popular place for hiking and biking on 13 miles (21 km) of trails, water activities and camping, as well as winter recreation. The night time skies above the park are dark and make for great stargazing from one of the campground areas (the park is otherwise closed from dusk). A stargazer from the EarthSky community says: “The park is clear of city lights and industrial lighting. There are some park lights though, but you can find secluded spots with great views of of the night sky.”