Colorado Launches Stargazing Trail Linking Dark Sky Sites

Colorado just made it easier to find some of the darkest, most star-filled skies in America. The state launched a new stargazing trail this month that connects certified dark sky destinations and highlights astronomy events from beer-themed star tours to special train rides under the stars.

The route links 13 International Dark Sky Parks and eight International Dark Sky Communities, with dozens more locations working toward certification from DarkSky International. Visitors can now plan trips that take them from one pristine stargazing spot to another, discovering events and local astronomy businesses along the way.

"If you hit that timing right, you can see the entire Milky Way like a stripe across the sky," says Tim Wolfe, director of the Colorado Tourism Office. He adds that photos don't do it justice.

The timing couldn't be better. Colorado celebrates its 150th anniversary in August, and the trail debuts as part of statewide birthday festivities including exhibitions, festivals and community celebrations.

Many of Colorado's dark sky sites sit high above sea level in dry climates, making them perfect for viewing stars, planets and other celestial bodies. Towering mountain ranges provide extra protection by blocking light glow from distant cities and highways.

The Ripple Effect

Light pollution has been getting worse worldwide. Between 2011 and 2022, night skies grew 9.6 percent brighter each year on average because of artificial lighting.

But Colorado communities are fighting back with smart solutions. Towns across 32 counties have received over 1,400 hours of technical help to reduce light pollution, often by adding shields to fixtures that prevent light from radiating upward.

"This isn't about turning lights out. This is about smart lighting," says Deb Stueber, who helped lead dark sky efforts in western Colorado towns. Smart lighting saves energy, reduces carbon emissions, and protects both wildlife and human health.

The benefits go beyond stargazing. Light pollution can exhaust moths that swarm around street lights and disorient baby sea turtles trying to find the ocean. Research links it to human health problems including sleep disorders, depression and diabetes.

Rural residents also see dark skies as part of their heritage worth protecting. "If a big new development shows up right next to you and starts turning up lights uncontrolled, you're not going to like it and your cows are not going to like it," says Bob Grossman, a retired atmospheric scientist who championed dark sky efforts in Norwood.

The new trail makes Colorado's natural nighttime beauty accessible to everyone looking to reconnect with the cosmos.