Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Cosmic Colorado: A Stargazer’s Guide to the Centennial State

It’s tough to measure awe, but we’ll give it a shot. Imagine jaw-dropping views of stars, planets, flying meteors, and other celestial wonders illuminating the night sky over a rugged mountainscape. In Colorado, you can see all of this and more at one of its many Dark Sky places. For anyone entranced by the wonders of stargazing, the state has nearly ten percent of the world’s Dark Sky Parks and Communities, places untouched by light pollution. To put it another way, Colorado boasts nearly 300,000 acres of dreamy campgrounds, gleaming waterways, and beaches beneath star-freckled skies. That’s a lifetime of awe right there. So what makes the Centennial State so perfect for stargazing? Thank the high altitude, remote towns, and wide-open landscapes. All those ingredients ensure vivid views of the universe beyond. Then, of course, there are the landscapes. From the sprawling sand dunes of the San Luis Valley, to the ancient cliff dwellings of the desert southwest, the state is covered in picture-perfect backdrops. Consider the Colorado sky your silver screen, and these nine destinations your front-row seats to the show of a lifetime. Here are some of the best places to stargaze in Colorado.