Entry No. 79 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: after-dark
Mueller State Park Star Party
Tucked in the forested high country behind Pikes Peak, Mueller is dark enough to show the Milky Way with the naked eye and is actively pursuing International Dark Sky Park certification. The astronomical society sets up telescopes in the Visitor Center parking lot for free guided sky tours (a 2026 session runs July 17, 9-11pm). It's a quieter, piney alternative to the big-name parks closer to town.
The story
While crowds choke Front Range viewpoints near Colorado Springs, those who know where to turn head west on Highway 24 and cut south at Divide into the dense pine high country behind Pikes Peak. Sitting at 9,000 feet, Mueller State Park isolates itself from the city's massive light dome, leaving a night sky clear enough that the Milky Way shows up to the naked eye as a distinct galactic ribbon. That clean horizon is why the park is actively working toward official International Dark Sky Park certification in partnership with DarkSky Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
On select nights throughout the season, the park hands over its Visitor Center lot to the volunteer astronomers of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society. Members haul in deep-sky Dobsonian telescopes, set up tracking rigs, and aim their optics at Saturn's rings, binary stars, and faint nebulae, giving visitors guided tours of the cosmos without charging anything beyond the park's standard daily vehicle entry.
What it's like
You'll pull into the Visitor Center lot right as dusk settles, watching the pine forest fall into pitch darkness. Volunteer astronomers set up near the lot and gazebo, using green laser pointers to trace constellations before inviting you to queue up at different eyepieces. The vibe is quiet and community-minded, but mountain temps drop quickly at this elevation—even mid-summer star parties call for heavy winter coats and gloves. Bring a red-lens flashlight to navigate the asphalt, and dim your headlights on entry so you don't ruin everyone's dark adaptation.
The move: Pay the day-use fee, settle in at the Visitor Center lot at dusk, and follow a volunteer's laser-pointer constellation tour before queuing for telescope views of planets and clusters.
📍 Before you go State Park entrance fee applies; event is free but date-specific and weather-dependent. About 25-30 miles west via Divide.
- 📍 Divide
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Mueller State Park Visitor Center, 21045 Hwy 67 S, Divide, CO 80814
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Florissant Fossil Beds Night Sky Program — Compare views with another high-country dark sky site just six miles down the road at Florissant Fossil Beds.
- Pancake Rocks Trail — Scramble up to these bizarrely stacked granite formations during the afternoon before descending to the Visitor Center lot at dusk.
- Cripple Creek Wild Donkey Herd — Spend the afternoon feeding carrots to feral burros roaming the streets nine miles south in Cripple Creek before nightfall.
- Petrified Forest Loop at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument — Pair stargazing at night with a daytime walk around 34-million-year-old petrified redwood stumps six miles west.
Good to know
Do I need tickets or reservations for the star party?
No event tickets or advance reservations are required. The star party itself is free, though every vehicle must pay the standard Colorado State Parks daily park pass fee or hold a valid Keep Colorado Wild pass.
What should I bring with me?
Pack heavy cold-weather clothing, warm boots, and a red-light flashlight or headlamp. Standard white flashlights and bright phone screens ruin night vision for everyone in the telescope area.
What happens if it rains or gets cloudy?
Star parties are strictly weather-dependent. Overcast skies, rain, or lightning will cancel observing sessions, so confirm sky conditions on the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society calendar or call the park before driving out.
Are facilities open during the night event?
Yes, the Mueller State Park Visitor Center indoor restrooms remain open and accessible throughout the duration of the star party.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: csastro.org · cpw.state.co.us · oedit.colorado.gov
last checked: 2026-06-23