Stargazing in Colorado Springs, CO 2024

Endless skies and high elevation make Colorado Springs attractive not just during the day, but also at night. Spot the Milky Way, Orion, and Cassiopeia as you gaze in the sky over the beautiful nature preserves and parks surrounding Colorado Springs. The Milky Way is best visible in Colorado between late March through late September.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the best locations for stargazing in central Colorado. A remote preserve within an hour's drive from Colorado Springs hosts Night Sky Programs in partnership with the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society. Reservation and a special pass with the program are required for stargazing activities in the park, which was officially recognized as an International Dark Sky Park. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument provides views of the Milky Way, planets, star clusters, nebulae, comets, and other wonders of the night sky.

Garden Of The Gods is the most popular park in Colorado Springs thanks to dramatic views and towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak. Low light pollution and rugged peaks will guarantee excellent nighttime photography in the park, which is open from 5 am to 10 pm during the summer season.

In approximately 1.5 hours, it's possible to get from Colorado Springs to Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, the first communities in the state to be recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association as ideal for stargazing. These neighboring spots offer excellent astronomy experiences. Visit the Smokey Jack Observatory in Westcliffe, which is equipped with an advanced telescope. It hosts a wide variety of astronomy and stargazing events throughout the year.