Colorado has long been one of the best places in the country to experience the night sky. From the San Luis Valley to the Western Slope and the Eastern Plains, our state offers some of North America’s darkest and most spectacular skies.
Now, a new initiative is helping residents and visitors discover those destinations more easily. The Colorado Stargazing Trailâ„¢ links together certified dark-sky parks, dark-sky communities, and astronomy-focused destinations across the state, creating a guide for exploring Colorado after sunset.
The Colorado Stargazing Trail is also a natural companion to our annual guide, Where to Explore the 2026 Denver Night Skies, which explores observing opportunities ranging from local Denver-area sites to Colorado’s certified Dark Sky Parks and Communities, as well as major star parties held across the country.
A Partnership Years in the Making
The Colorado Stargazing Trail did not appear overnight. It represents years of collaboration among several organizations working to preserve Colorado’s natural night environment.
Key partners include:
The Colorado Tourism Office has helped promote dark-sky destinations as a unique tourism asset while supporting certification programs and mentoring efforts throughout the state. DarkSky Colorado provides technical expertise and guidance to communities seeking certification, while Colorado Parks and Wildlife has expanded dark-sky initiatives throughout the state park system.
At the center of these efforts is DarkSky International, the organization responsible for the International Dark Sky Places program. Through education, advocacy, lighting standards, and certification programs, DarkSky International works worldwide to reduce light pollution and preserve access to naturally dark night skies.
Colorado Becomes a National Leader in Dark-Sky Tourism
The Colorado Tourism Office has been investing in dark-sky initiatives for several years through programs such as the Dark Sky Certification Mentor Program and partnerships with DarkSky Colorado. The launch of the Colorado Stargazing Trail represents the next step in that effort, connecting certified destinations across the state into a single resource for travelers and astronomy enthusiasts. Colorado now has one of the largest collections of certified dark-sky destinations in the United States, making it a premier location for astrotourism.
Following the Colorado Stargazing Trail
The trail connects dozens of destinations across Colorado, including International Dark Sky Parks, International Dark Sky Communities, state parks, national parks, and astronomy-friendly tourism destinations.
Visitors can use the interactive map on the Colorado Stargazing Trail website to plan trips around:
- Dark Sky Parks
- Dark Sky Communities
- Stargazing events
- Astronomy festivals
- Campgrounds and overnight destinations
- Observatory programs and public outreach events
The result is a statewide network that encourages travelers to experience Colorado after dark while supporting rural communities that benefit from astronomy tourism.
Suggested caption: The Colorado Stargazing Trail links many of the state’s premier dark-sky destinations. Map adapted from the Colorado Stargazing Trail website.
Why Dark Sky Certification Matters
Dark-sky certification is about much more than astronomy.
Poorly designed outdoor lighting can waste energy, disrupt wildlife behavior, interfere with human sleep cycles, and wash out views of the stars. Dark-sky certification encourages communities and parks to use lighting only where it is needed, direct light downward, reduce glare, and limit excessive brightness.
For astronomers, the benefits are obvious. Darker skies reveal fainter stars, nebulae, galaxies, and the Milky Way itself.
But communities also benefit through:
- Reduced energy consumption
- Lower lighting costs
- Wildlife protection
- Improved nighttime safety through better-designed lighting
- Increased tourism and visitor spending
- Preservation of cultural and natural heritage
Dark-sky certification helps ensure that future generations will be able to experience a truly dark night sky—something that has become increasingly rare in many urban areas.
What It Takes to Become a Dark Sky Community
Receiving International Dark Sky Community certification is a significant undertaking.
Communities must demonstrate a long-term commitment to protecting the night environment through:
- Public education and outreach
- Community engagement
- Outdoor lighting policies and ordinances
- Lighting inventories and assessments
- Ongoing monitoring of sky quality
- Plans for future improvements and compliance efforts
Certification is not simply awarded because a place happens to have dark skies. Communities must actively demonstrate that they are working to preserve those skies for the future.
This process often requires years of planning, cooperation among local governments and residents, and continued commitment after certification is achieved.
How Other Communities Can Get Involved
One of the most exciting aspects of Colorado’s dark-sky movement is that more communities can join it.
The Colorado Dark Sky Certification Mentor Program, operated through the Colorado Tourism Office and DarkSky Colorado, provides technical assistance to communities interested in pursuing certification. The program offers guidance on lighting ordinances, application preparation, stakeholder engagement, sky-quality measurements, lighting inventories, and public outreach.
The goal is simple: help more Colorado communities protect their night skies while developing sustainable tourism opportunities and improving quality of life for residents.
As more communities participate, Colorado continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s premier destinations for dark-sky tourism.
What This Means for Colorado Astronomers
For members of the Denver Astronomical Society and astronomy enthusiasts across the state, the Colorado Stargazing Trail is more than a travel guide.
It represents growing recognition that dark skies are a valuable natural resource worth protecting.
Every new certified park, community, and educational program helps raise awareness about light pollution and encourages responsible lighting practices. Those efforts make it easier for all of us to enjoy the night sky—whether we’re observing from a remote dark-sky site, attending a star party, or simply stepping outside into our own backyard.
Keep Looking Up
Colorado’s new Stargazing Trail showcases some of the finest night-sky destinations in the nation, but its greatest achievement may be the partnerships behind it. Through the efforts of DarkSky International, DarkSky Colorado, the Colorado Tourism Office, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, local communities, and countless volunteers, more Coloradans are discovering the value of preserving darkness as a natural resource.
Whether you’re planning a weekend observing trip or simply looking for your next dark-sky adventure, the Colorado Stargazing Trail offers a new way to explore the Centennial State—one star-filled night at a time.
