COLORADO Since mountainous areas in Colorado get you that much closer to the skies above, you can simply unzip the tent, step outside and observe the cosmos in their full magnificence. The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve , with elevations ranging from 7,520 feet to 13,604 feet, is an excellent place to trek up to some of the best Milky Way views in the United States. Schedule your trip around a new moon to ensure complete darkness. Light pollution is the biggest enemy of proper stargazing. The closer you steer to cities, the less twinkling you see above at night. Higher population areas typically rest within the “light dome,” where street lights, glowing signage, homes and other luminaries prevent visitors from seeing the vast expanses of space. In Colorado, dark places are easy to find for a quick weekend away in the mountains, where the soaring peaks play their part to block the lights from urban areas. Towns like Westcliffe and Silver Cliff make a point to keep the lights off to support the nearby Smokey Jack Observatory , where one of Colorado’s most powerful telescopes magnifies the celestial show in the sky. Classes and stargazing events at the observatory welcome the community and visitors to learn all about astronomy and how to protect their star views for generations to come. But you don’t need a telescope to get started in the Centennial State — simply head 20 to 30 minutes beyond the city limits of your favorite mountain town, hang a hammock at a campsite and stare for hours at the untouched beauty of space. Late summer and early autumn is the best time to make the trip to towns like La Veta , when the Milky Way is the most visible and rests above the horizon of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. As evening falls, limit your site’s lights as much as possible to reduce the glow and maintain your night vision. Wherever you end up on your Colorado adventure, be sure to roll out a blanket, turn off your headlamp and take in the radiance of the region. Estes Park Copper Mountain FROM TOP: COPPER MOUNTAIN RESORT/TRIPP FAY; ALLEN KENNEDY Learn more about the best places to stargaze on Colorado.com COLORADO . COM 103
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