Dark Sky Parks
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Florissant, ColoradoBortle 2 Best in Summer
Truly dark sky, with the zodiacal light clearly visible.
Set in a high mountain valley at 8,400 feet, Florissant Fossil Beds offers dark, high-altitude skies just two hours from Denver. The monument is certified by DarkSky International and sits far enough from the Front Range corridor to escape the worst of Colorado's urban glow.
What's here
On the map
What to bring
Our picks for a good night under the stars.
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Nearby in Colorado
Bortle 3
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Montrose, Colorado
A natural amphitheater for the night sky with regular ranger-led astronomy programs.
Best in Summer
Bortle 2
Browns Canyon National Monument
Salida, Colorado
Remote Arkansas River canyon pairing dark skies with world-class whitewater.
Best in Summer
Bortle 2
Chimney Rock National Monument
Chimney Rock, Colorado
Ancestral Puebloan archaeoastronomy site with dramatic twin rock spires.
Best in Summer