State campgrounds available for '24 solar eclipse

Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, N.Y.
·4 min read

Jul. 11—Those who want to experience a rare total solar eclipse this April can stay at seven state park campgrounds that will open for the event. The early opening will help accommodate an expected influx of visitors heading to several regions of the state to witness the celestial event.

Reservations are now available from State Parks at a total of 335 campsites, cottages and cabins stretching across eight counties in western, central, and northern New York. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will trace a narrow path of totality across 15 U.S. states, including much of western and upstate New York. For visitors with reservations for the night of April 8, check-out time is 11 a.m. the following morning, so visitors can avoid traffic and enjoy the attractions of the region after the eclipse.

"Next year, New Yorkers and visitors alike will have the opportunity to witness an extraordinary, celestial show in our state as the solar eclipse passes over the heart of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Adirondacks in 2024," Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "Our State Parks will open campground accommodations early, prior to the traditional camping season, to ensure people can see this amazing display in one of New York's beautiful natural settings. I encourage all who are interested to reserve their spot beginning this week for this incredible event."

Reservations can be made nine months in advance for a minimum of two nights through ReserveAmerica.com.

Sites will be available April 4-8 at the following local State Parks:

—Four Mile Creek State Park, 1055 Lake Road, Youngstown for 50 campsites.

—Golden Hill State Park, 9691 Lower Lake Road, Barker for 25 campsites.

—Evangola State Park, 10191 Old Lake Shore Road, Irving for 25 campsites.

—Allegany State Park, 2373 ASP, Rte 1, Salamanca for 165 sites, including campsites, cabins, cottages, and a group camp.

—Letchworth State Park, 1 Letchworth State Park, Castile for 19 cabins and cottages.

New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "Visitors not only will get a chance to see this inspiring cosmic display — which won't happen again in the continental U.S. until 2044 — they will also be able to enjoy the beauty of early spring in some of our most beautiful state parks and see how we are continuing to enhance our accommodations."

In the U.S., the eclipse will pass northeast through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The eclipse will begin in western New York shortly after 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Full totality will begin in Chautauqua County at 3:17 p.m., moving through the state to Plattsburgh at 3:25 p.m.. Locations in the path of totality could experience total darkness for up to 4 minutes. The eclipse will then enter Canada in southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton.

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. People viewing the eclipse from locations where the moon's shadow completely covers the Sun — known as the path of totality — will experience a total solar eclipse. The sky will become dark, as if it were dawn or dusk. Weather permitting, people along the path of totality will see the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright face of the sun.

Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun's bright face, it is unsafe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. According to NASA, viewing any part of the sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury. The partial phases of the solar eclipse can only be safely observed directly with specialized solar viewing glasses ("eclipse glasses") or a handheld solar viewer. Regular sunglasses, polarized or otherwise, are not a safe replacement for solar eclipse glasses.

For more information about the 2024 Total Eclipse in New York State, visit https://www.iloveny.com/events/eclipse-2024/.