Entry No. 66 — the Pueblo file — filed under: after-dark
Westcliffe & Silver Cliff Dark Sky Community Star Parties
Westcliffe and Silver Cliff were the first communities in Colorado certified as an International Dark Sky place, and they are among the highest-altitude dark-sky communities on Earth. Dark Skies of the Wet Mountain Valley runs a season of free public star parties from spring through fall, each themed to whatever is overhead that month. Beyond the scheduled events you can also book a free private star party led by a trained volunteer Star Guide on clear evenings.
The story
In April 2015, Westcliffe and Silver Cliff—the only two incorporated settlements in Custer County's high-altitude Wet Mountain Valley—became the very first certified International Dark Sky Community in Colorado. Sitting at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level between the Wet Mountains and the Sangre de Cristo range, these twin ranching towns pulled off something rare: they deliberately clamped down on municipal light pollution to keep the night sky as transparent as it was a century ago.
The engine behind this effort is Dark Skies of the Wet Mountain Valley, a local volunteer group operating out of Bluff Park on the west end of town. From May through October, they host free public star parties keyed to whatever astronomical calendar events are passing overhead. You won't find ticket booths, gift shops, or travel-brochure commercialism here—just serious amateur astronomers pointing heavy optics at deep-sky objects.
The real insider move here isn't just showing up for the crowd events. Outside scheduled calendar dates, you can actually reserve a private star party online completely for free. A trained volunteer Star Guide meets you at the site on clear nights, opens up the gear, and spends hours running custom targets through the dark.
What it's like
Drive about an hour west from Pueblo and head straight up in elevation. The moment the sun drops behind the Sangre de Cristos, the temperature plunges, so bring heavy winter layers even if you left Pueblo in shorts and a t-shirt. The site at Bluff Park uses strict dark-sky protocols—dim red flashlights only, no white phone screens flashing in people's eyes. Once your night vision kicks in, the Milky Way isn't a vague streak; it's a solid, structured cloud casting visible light. Book your reservation early through their site, as private Star Guide slots book out fast.
The move: Drive up for a themed summer star party, then book a free guided private session with a Star Guide who'll walk just the two of you through the constellations rising that night.
📍 Before you go Free but reservations recommended; star parties are seasonal (roughly May-October) and weather-dependent. About 55 miles / one hour west of Pueblo at high elevation, so bring warm layers even in summer.
- 📍 Westcliffe & Silver Cliff
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Bluff Park / Smokey Jack Observatory area, Westcliffe, CO 81252
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Smokey Jack Observatory — Step directly from the park lawn to the roll-off roof shed that houses the community's 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.
- Silver Cliff Cemetery — Pair deep-space stargazing with a midnight stop less than two miles away to look for the unexplained light orbs reported in the gravestones since the 1950s.
- Mission: Wolf — Spend the late afternoon navigating the dirt roads up to the 9,300-foot wolf sanctuary before descending into Westcliffe for the night sky.
Good to know
How much does it cost to attend a star party?
Both public themed star parties and private guided sessions are entirely free, though donations to the nonprofit Dark Skies group are welcome and reservations must be made in advance online.
When is star party season?
Events run seasonally from spring through fall (roughly May through October) and are entirely dependent on clear weather conditions.
How do private star parties work?
You book a slot online ahead of time, and a volunteer Star Guide meets your group at the dark sky site on clear evenings to run a personalized tour of the constellations and deep-sky objects.
What should I bring?
Pack heavy cold-weather layers, gloves, blankets, sturdy shoes, and a flashlight equipped with a red filter or red light setting to protect everyone's night vision.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: darkskiescolorado.org · Official site · visitwetmountainvalley.com
last checked: 2026-06-23