Pick-Your-Passion Itineraries / COME TO LIFE DARK-SKY HOT SPOTS Who knew being exceptionally dark was such an asset? Well, for those seeking unfettered Milky Way views, Colorado’s home to some of the best star-spotting around. Denver MOUNTAINS & MESAS: 234 MILES TOTAL BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK 50 Start at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park , an International Dark Sky Park, that hosts an astronomy festival in June, with four days of special activ-ities. Then head to Lake City where you can marvel at the planets — is that Mars? — constellations and other nighttime phenomenon. Drive down to Creede and take notice of the blanket of bright-white stars each night. Round out your trip with Chimney Rock National Monument . Park volunteers will help you use telescopes to find things like Orion’s Belt. Lake City Creede Pagosa Springs CHIMNEY ROCK NATIONAL MONUMENT Denver MYSTIC SAN LUIS VALLEY & PIKES PEAK WONDERS: 181.9 MILES TOTAL Home of one of the most powerful telescopes in the world, the Smokey Jack Observatory in Westcliffe is a must-visit on your journey. Just 1 mile west of La Veta , the Southern Colorado Astronomical Park allows you to find the North Star. Sixty-four miles north, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a new internationally recognized Dark Sky Park. Finish your nighttime odyssey with a clear night in Crestone , which sits at almost 8,000 feet in elevation. Denver FOOTHILLS: 50 MILES Boulder CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ROXBOROUGH STATE PARK; CHIMNEY ROCK NATIONAL MONUMENT; GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, JASON J. HATFIELD. South of Denver, Roxborough State Park ’s trails wrap around red-rock formations that seem to rip un ex-Morrison pectedly RED ROCKS PARK AND AMPHITHEATRE through fields of prairie greenery. The contrast between the red of the rocks and a bright-blue cloudless sky sets up a Technicolor scene worthy of “The Wizard of Oz.” FLATIRONS 50 SMOKEY JACK OBSERVATORY Crestone Westcliffe 25 Denver 70 GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE La Veta Sedalia Denver ROXBOROUGH STATE PARK DENVER & CITIES OF THE ROCKIES & PIONEERING PLAINS: 220 MILES TOTAL HORSETOOTH RESERVOIR Skirting along the foothills as you head north, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre ’s massive, slanting red-rock outcroppings rise from the earth to create an acousti-cally ideal natural amphitheater in Morrison. Continue northward to Boulder’s famed Flatirons , five reddish-grey monuments — named by pioneers for their shape — jutting up from the grassy foothills to stand guard over the city of Boulder below. Begin in historic down-town Georgetown , where they are making an effort to reduce light pollution every day. Then hop in the car for two hours northward toward Horse tooth Reservoir . It’s worth it — Horsetooth Rock has views of Fort Collins on one side and the night sky on the other. Next, you’re off to Jackson Lake State Park ; the glassy lake reflects a miracle of sparkles. End your adventure at Pawnee National Grassland , where there are no lights or mountains to block your view of the ebony sky. 25 PAWNEE NATIONAL GRASSLAND JACKSON LAKE STATE PARK 70 Georgetown NEWEST ON THE SCENE: DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT TUCKED ART INTO COLORADO’S NORTHWEST CORNER, DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT IS COLORADO’S NEWEST ADDITION TO THE INTERNATIONAL DARK-SKY ASSOCIATION’S LIST OF DARK SKY PARKS. COLORADO.COM / 85
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2020: Page 85
