Colorado State Just Launched a Stargazing Trail—Here’s What You Need to Know

Dark Sky Parks, certified by DarkSky International, are areas that have exceptionally clear skies. The area isn’t prone to heavy light pollution, meaning the cosmos are in full view.

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They’ve become quite the travel commodity over the last decade. As of 2026, DarkSky International has identified over 250 Dark Sky Parks around the world.

The state of Colorado has 13 parks certified by DarkSky International, which works with physicists and astronomers to identify and protect areas. You might already know of a few of Colorado’s Dark Sky Parks, which are often located in national parks.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one, along with Great Sand Dunes National Park. But that’s just the start. And to make your stargazing even more seamless, the state’s tourism board just put together a state-wide road trip that makes it easy to visit all 13 Dark Sky Parks.

Here’s what you need to know.

Inside the new Colorado Stargazing Trail™

The Colorado Stargazing Trail™ launched on June 2, creating easy road trips between the state’s top dark-sky destinations. These include the 13 official Dark Sky Parks, along with eight Dark Sky Communities.

All dark sky locations also come with campsite recommendations, which Colorado isn’t short on—there are around 10,000 statewide. The trail also includes tips on major stargazing events. These are often a great entry point for novice star-seekers, as they can rub elbows with more experienced stargazers.

Lastly, you can find a section in the stargazing trail on ‘stargazing businesses’. These include observatories, expedition organizers, and tour guides, such as AstroTours.

Here are Colorado’s 13 Dark Sky Parks:

1. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
2. Browns Canyon National Monument
3. Chimney Rock National Monument
4. Curecanti National Recreation Area
5. Dinosaur National Monument
6. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
7. Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
8. Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
9. Hovenweep National Monument
10. Jackson Lake State Park
11. Slumgullion Center
12. Mesa Verde National Park
13. Top of the Pines

Here are Colorado’s 8 Dark Sky Communities:

1. Breckenridge
2. Crestone
3. Norwood
4. Nucla & Naturita
5. Old Snowmass
6. Paonia
7. Ridgway
8. Westcliffe & Silver Cliff