Colorado's Dark Sky Advantage
Colorado ranks fourth in the nation with 12 certified International Dark Sky places, an impressive achievement for a state with a rapidly growing population. But numbers alone don't tell the full story. What truly sets Colorado apart is its unique combination of high elevation and remote mountain terrain.
Many of Colorado's best stargazing locations sit above 8,000 feet, placing you above a significant portion of Earth's atmosphere. This elevation advantage means less atmospheric distortion, reduced light scattering, and exceptionally sharp views of celestial objects. The air is thinner, clearer, and more transparent to starlight than at sea-level locations.
The state's geography creates a fascinating mix of stargazing environments: towering mountain peaks, high desert plateaus, alpine valleys, and even North America's tallest sand dunes. Colorado Tourism has embraced this astronomical heritage with the "Experience the Night" itinerary, a self-guided route connecting multiple dark sky locations across the state.
Whether you're driving 90 minutes from Denver to Jackson Lake State Park or making the pilgrimage to the remote Great Sand Dunes, Colorado offers world-class stargazing with mountain backdrops that can't be found anywhere else in the United States.
High Elevation Considerations
Top 10 Stargazing Locations in Colorado
1. Great Sand Dunes National Park ★★★★★
The Great Sand Dunes are Colorado's most iconic astrophotography location. Rising 750 feet from the floor of the San Luis Valley, these are the tallest sand dunes in North America, creating surreal foreground compositions unlike anywhere else on Earth. The sand reflects starlight beautifully, creating an ethereal glow beneath the Milky Way.
Why it's special: The combination of massive sand formations, dark Bortle 3 skies, and the dramatic backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains creates photography opportunities you simply can't find anywhere else. On moonless nights, the dunes themselves seem to glow faintly beneath the stars.
Access: The park is relatively remote at 3.5 hours from Denver and 4 hours from Albuquerque. Camping is available in the park, with both developed campgrounds and backcountry permits for camping on the dunes themselves. Spring and fall offer the best balance of clear skies and comfortable temperatures.
2. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park ★★★★★
The Black Canyon is one of Colorado's most underrated astronomical destinations. The canyon's sheer walls plunge nearly 2,000 feet, creating a natural frame that directs your gaze upward. It's a certified International Dark Sky Park with exceptionally pristine conditions.
Programs: The South Rim offers regular astronomy programs during summer months, with rangers providing telescopes and expertise. The park sees significantly fewer visitors than Rocky Mountain or Mesa Verde, meaning you often have viewing areas to yourself.
The canyon's depth and darkness create an almost cathedral-like atmosphere at night. Standing on the rim with thousands of feet of void below you and the Milky Way overhead is a uniquely powerful experience.
3. Jackson Lake State Park ★★★★☆
Jackson Lake is a game-changer for Front Range residents. At just 90 minutes from Denver, it's the most accessible true dark sky location for Colorado's urban population. This makes it perfect for weeknight stargazing trips when you don't have time for a longer journey.
Water reflections: The lake's calm surface can create stunning mirror reflections of the Milky Way and bright stars. This is particularly beautiful in spring and fall when the water is calmer. You'll notice some light pollution from Denver and Fort Collins on the horizon, but overhead views remain excellent.
The state park has developed camping facilities with restrooms and showers, making this an accessible option for families and beginners who aren't ready for more remote locations.
4. Westcliffe & Silver Cliff ★★★★★
Westcliffe and neighboring Silver Cliff form Colorado's first International Dark Sky Community, a designation that requires the entire town to adopt strict lighting ordinances. This means you can enjoy dark skies while staying in hotels, dining in restaurants, and accessing modern amenities.
Setting: The towns sit in the scenic Wet Mountain Valley with panoramic views of the Sangre de Cristo range. The combination of high elevation, valley location, and lighting protection creates exceptional conditions. Several local businesses cater specifically to stargazers and astrophotographers.
This is an ideal destination for a weekend trip. You get world-class dark skies with the comfort and convenience of an actual town. Local astronomy clubs often host star parties and events, making this a great social stargazing destination.
5. Dinosaur National Monument ★★★★☆
This is one of Colorado's most remote and pristine dark sky locations. Straddling the Colorado-Utah border in the state's northwest corner, Dinosaur National Monument offers exceptional darkness due to its distance from any significant population centers.
Day and night: The monument is famous for its fossil quarry with over 1,500 exposed dinosaur bones. By day you explore prehistoric history; by night you contemplate cosmic history under some of the darkest skies in the Lower 48.
The remoteness is real - bring all supplies you need and plan for limited cell service. But if you're willing to make the journey, you'll be rewarded with incredibly dark, pristine skies.
6. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument ★★★★☆
At just 2 hours from Denver, Florissant offers surprisingly good dark skies for its proximity to the Front Range. The monument preserves ancient redwood stumps from 34 million years ago, creating unique foreground subjects for night photography.
Programs: The monument regularly hosts dark sky programs and astronomy events. The high elevation (8,400 feet) helps compensate for some light pollution from nearby Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
This is an excellent choice for a Saturday evening trip from Denver - close enough to return the same night, but far enough for genuinely good stargazing.
7. Ridgway State Park ★★★★☆
Ridgway sits in one of Colorado's most scenic mountain valleys, surrounded by dramatic San Juan Mountain peaks. The reservoir provides water reflections, while the mountain backdrop creates dramatic silhouettes against the Milky Way.
Facilities: This is a well-developed state park with excellent camping facilities, making it comfortable for families. The nearby towns of Ridgway and Ouray offer lodging and dining options. Combine stargazing with visits to Ouray's hot springs for a perfect Colorado mountain getaway.
Summer evenings can feature spectacular sunset alpenglow on the peaks, followed by excellent stargazing as darkness falls.
8. Steamboat Springs ★★★★☆
Steamboat Springs is known as Ski Town USA, but it's also an excellent stargazing destination. While the town itself has typical ski resort lighting, driving just a few miles out of town reveals excellent dark skies in the Yampa Valley.
Community: The Yampa Valley Astronomy Society is active and welcoming, hosting public star parties and events throughout the year. The area offers the rare combination of resort amenities and genuine dark skies.
Visit in winter for skiing by day and stargazing by night, or come in summer when the high country is accessible and the Milky Way is at its most dramatic.
9. Paonia ★★★★★
Colorado's newest International Dark Sky Community, certified in 2024. Paonia is a small agricultural town nestled in the West Elk Mountains, surrounded by extensive public lands that provide buffer zones of darkness.
Growing scene: The town is developing a growing astro-tourism infrastructure. Local businesses are embracing the designation, and the community actively promotes dark sky awareness. Paonia's fruit orchards and vineyards add unique character to a stargazing destination.
This is an emerging destination worth watching. As word spreads about the certification, expect more astronomy-focused events and facilities to develop.
10. Mesa Verde National Park ★★★★☆
Mesa Verde combines archaeological wonders with excellent stargazing. The ancient Ancestral Puebloans who built the famous cliff dwellings tracked celestial events and aligned structures with astronomical phenomena, making this a site of both cultural and astronomical significance.
Night programs: During summer months, the park offers night sky programs at Far View sites, where rangers discuss both modern astronomy and ancient Puebloan astronomical knowledge. The high mesa provides panoramic sky views with minimal obstructions.
Standing near 1,000-year-old dwellings while viewing the same stars the ancient builders observed creates a profound connection across time. Mesa Verde is remote enough to offer genuinely dark skies while being a developed national park with full facilities.
What is the Bortle Scale?
Colorado's "Experience the Night" Route
Colorado Tourism has created a self-guided dark sky itinerary called "Experience the Night" that connects several of the state's premier stargazing locations. This route can be completed in 4-5 days and offers a comprehensive Colorado stargazing experience.
Suggested Itinerary
- Day 1:Great Sand Dunes National Park - Camp on the dunes or stay in nearby Alamosa
- Day 2:Drive to Black Canyon of the Gunnison (4 hours) - Evening stargazing at South Rim
- Day 3:Ridgway State Park - Combine with hot springs in Ouray
- Day 4:Mesa Verde National Park - Cliff dwellings by day, stars by night
This route showcases Colorado's geographic diversity: sand dunes, deep canyons, mountain valleys, and archaeological sites. You can camp throughout, stay in lodges, or mix both options. Each location offers unique photographic opportunities and different perspectives on the night sky.
High Elevation Stargazing: What You Need to Know
Colorado's high elevations create exceptional stargazing conditions, but they also require special considerations:
The Benefits
- Less atmosphere: At 8,000+ feet, you're above roughly 25% of Earth's atmosphere, resulting in sharper, clearer views
- Reduced scattering: Less air means less light scattering and more transparent skies
- Better seeing: Atmospheric turbulence is reduced, creating steadier views for telescopes
- Darker baseline: Thinner atmosphere means naturally darker skies even with some distant light pollution
The Challenges
- Altitude sickness: Headaches, nausea, and fatigue can occur above 8,000 feet. Stay hydrated and ascend gradually when possible
- Cold temperatures: Even summer nights drop to 40-50°F at elevation. Winter can see -20°F or colder. Dress in layers
- Intense UV exposure: Daytime UV is significantly stronger at altitude. Use sunscreen and sun protection during the day
- Physical exertion: You tire more easily at altitude. Activities that seem easy at sea level become more demanding
Pro Tip
Driving Distances from Denver
Most of Colorado's population lives along the Front Range, making Denver a natural starting point for dark sky trips:
- Jackson Lake State Park1.5 hours (90 miles)
- Florissant Fossil Beds2 hours (100 miles)
- Steamboat Springs3 hours (160 miles)
- Westcliffe / Silver Cliff3 hours (175 miles)
- Great Sand Dunes National Park3.5 hours (235 miles)
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison4.5 hours (290 miles)
- Dinosaur National Monument~5 hours
Most Colorado stargazing destinations require a half-day or full-day drive from Denver. Plan for weekend trips or longer to make the journey worthwhile. Jackson Lake and Florissant are feasible for evening trips if you're willing to drive home late or camp overnight.
Best Times for Colorado Stargazing
Colorado's elevation and continental climate create distinct seasonal stargazing conditions:
June - September: Peak Milky Way Season
Pros: Full Milky Way visible in dark skies, mountain roads are open, comfortable temperatures, long daylight hours for daytime activities.
Cons: Afternoon thunderstorms common (though evenings often clear), peak tourist season means crowds and full campgrounds, some haze from distant wildfires possible.
September - October: Ideal Conditions
Pros: Excellent weather, fewer crowds, fall colors, still-accessible mountain roads, reduced thunderstorm activity.
Cons: Nights getting colder (30s-40s°F), some high passes may close after early snowfall, shorter daylight hours.
May: Spring Awakening
Pros: Milky Way rising in early morning hours, wildflowers beginning, fewer visitors.
Cons: Many high-elevation roads still closed, possible late-season snow, unpredictable weather, mud season in some areas.
November - March: Winter Stargazing
Pros: Exceptionally clear, dry air creates the sharpest views, minimal crowds, winter constellations, longer nights.
Cons: Extreme cold (sub-zero temperatures), most mountain roads closed, shorter Milky Way visibility window, equipment can malfunction in extreme cold.
Mountain Weather and Lightning Safety
Colorado's mountains are famous for rapid weather changes and afternoon thunderstorms. Understanding these patterns is essential for safe stargazing:
Summer Thunderstorm Pattern
From June through August, a predictable pattern dominates Colorado's mountains: clear mornings, building clouds by noon, thunderstorms from 2-6 PM, clearing in the evening. This pattern is driven by solar heating of the mountain slopes.
- Storms typically clear by 7-8 PM, leaving excellent evening skies for stargazing
- Lightning is extremely dangerous in exposed mountain locations
- If you hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck - descend immediately
- Avoid ridgelines, isolated trees, and open areas during storms
Lightning Safety
Checking Forecasts
Before any Colorado stargazing trip, check detailed forecasts. The National Weather Service provides mountain-specific forecasts, and services like Mountain-Forecast.com offer elevation-specific predictions. Cloud cover can vary dramatically with just 1,000 feet of elevation change, so verify conditions for your specific location and altitude.
Plan Your Colorado Stargazing Adventure
Colorado's combination of certified dark sky places, high-elevation viewing, and stunning mountain landscapes creates stargazing opportunities unmatched anywhere else in the United States. Whether you're standing on North America's tallest sand dunes watching the Milky Way emerge, peering into the cosmic depths from a canyon rim, or enjoying dark skies from a designated community with full amenities, Colorado delivers.
The state's 12 certified dark sky locations represent just the beginning. Countless additional spots throughout Colorado's vast public lands offer exceptional viewing. The key is understanding elevation considerations, respecting mountain weather patterns, and choosing locations that match your comfort level and experience.
From Denver residents making the 90-minute drive to Jackson Lake for a weeknight session to dedicated astrophotographers spending a week exploring the Experience the Night route, Colorado welcomes all levels of stargazers to experience some of North America's most pristine night skies.
Ready to see the Milky Way from Great Sand Dunes?
Check real-time cloud cover, moon phase, and visibility conditions.
Check Tonight's Forecast