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Castle Rocks Star Party
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The Magic Valley Astronomical and the Idaho Parks and Recreation Department
host an annual star party at the Castle Rocks State Park. This location is
not as high as the Pomerell star party, but the skies are darker.
The star party is informal and at this time there is no registration to attend. The parks department does require a vehicle fee of $4, or entrance is waived in the event you have already purchased a seasonal pass. Information about the vehicle fee may be obtained from the Idaho Parks and Recreation page by following this link here. http://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/passes_fees_regulations.aspx Castle Rocks state park is located off of the Almo-Elba highway in southern Cassia Co. Idaho. Castle Rocks is a dramatic geological area of granite spires and monoliths similar to its larger neighbor, City of Rocks, to the north. The 1,440-acre Ranch Unit encompasses a portion of the rocks, as well as remnants of its ranching history, Indian pictographs, and superb recreational opportunities. This unit includes two picnic areas, miles of multiple-use trails, and excellent sport climbing routes. Castle Rocks State Park includes two other park units near Almo: Smoky Mountain (240-acres), and the Administrative Unit (12-acres). Smoky Mountain Unit offers 38 campsites (6 are open to equestrian campers), RV dump station, and equestrian trail head for the historic California Trail. The Administrative Unit includes the visitor center for Castle Rocks and City of Rocks, a picnic area, historic wagons exhibit, and park offices. Idaho's newest state park features giant granite spires known collectively as Castle Rocks. Congress authorized the National Park Service to purchase Castle Rock Ranch in November 2000. The Park Service exchanged the ranch for land owned by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation inside Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. The exchange was completed in 2004. Some of the geologic features are outside the park, but within the Castle Rocks Interagency Recreation Area. The department has partnered with the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to manage recreation throughout the Castle Rocks geologic area. Amongst these primitive and yet modern features is one of Idaho.s most dramatic dark sky areas and thus the location of the Castle Rocks / City of Rocks star party. Still in its infancy, the star party is now an annual event which features some of the darkest skies in all of Idaho. If you have not had the opportunity to visit this new state park and wanted to stay in an area once visited by pioneers where even today some people say not much has changed since that time when the pioneers visited the area. There is plenty of recreational opportunities here and there is no limit to the amount of fun you may have. If you have the need to attend an informal star party and avoid the larger crowds of other star parties then the Castle Rocks Star Party is for you. Please contact us for more information. |