10 of the Most Spectacular Places to Stargaze in Colorado

Have you taken a moment to stop what you're doing and look up at the night sky? We don't do this nearly enough. When looking for an opportunity to stargaze, you'll find these to be some of the best places in Colorado.

To enjoy a clear look at the stars you need clear skies, as little light pollution as possible, and a break from distractions. While the roof of your house may be adequate, these are a few of the "ideal" locations around Colorado.

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All You Need is the Colorado Sky

If you've ever found yourself in "that spot" where you need to pause and ponder things, there's nothing like a little stargazing. For our purposes here, we're not talking about firing up a NASA telescope and taking notes. I'm talking about enjoying a clear look at the wonders of what surrounds us.

You Don't Have to Travel Far

Years ago I used to play a bar near Vernal, Utah. There were a number of things going on in my life, some not so pleasant, I needed to work out. Given the circumstances at the time, I had to drive home each night. That's right, I had to commute each day from Grand Junction to Vernal and back at roughly 150 miles.

The one good thing about that was the nighttime drive. My route would vary, but because of road construction underway at the time, I had little choice but to drive from Vernal to Rangely and take Douglas Pass.

The drive really was lousy, but it came with one amazing perk - stopping on Douglas Pass, shutting off the engine, and lying on the back of my luxurious Volkswagen Golf while staring at the stars.

Now's the Time

At this instant, Monday, October 11, 2021, we're enjoying what will be one of the last few days to look around and not see snow on the mountain peaks. Some of the best stargazing sites will soon present new challenges when trying to access them. If you don't mind the cold, then please, knock yourself out.

You've already heard my pick for a great stargazing location - Douglas Pass. If you want to enjoy more Colorado locations, Colorado.com recommends these ten awesome locations: