Mesa Verde National Park

Cortez, ColoradoBortle 2 Best in Fall

Truly dark sky, with the zodiacal light clearly visible.

Best known for its ancient Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, Mesa Verde is also a certified dark sky park with excellent viewing conditions in the high mesa country of southwestern Colorado. The combination of cultural history and night sky access makes it one of the more unique stargazing destinations in the West.

What's here

On the map

What to bring

Our picks for a good night under the stars.

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Beginner Telescope

A grab-and-go refractor for first light.

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Red-Light Headlamp

Preserve your night vision hands-free.

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Stargazing Recliner

Lie back and scan the whole sky in comfort.

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Star Chart App

Identify what you are looking at in real time.

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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