GUIDED NIGHTS / EVENTS
Ranger programs, observatory sessions, star parties and guided telescope nights can turn a dark place into a night with a plan. Open an event for the date, time, cost and current organizer link.
ON THE CALENDAR / CURRENT + RECURRING
Check the organizer before departure. Clouds, fire restrictions, capacity and staffing can move faster than a calendar.
Most clear nights / current booking calendar · Starts around sunset; approximately 2 hours
A recurring two-hour guided telescope night at the Bortle 4 Boulder Valley Ranch observing site, with an astronomer guide and laser-guided sky interpretation.
Open event ↗Thursdays through September 24, 2026 · 9:00–11:00 pm
Devil's Thumb Ranch currently lists a weekly Thursday Dark Sky Tour with guided stargazing, astronomy, celestial navigation and Milky Way viewing when conditions allow.
Open event ↗September 5, 2026 · 11:00 am–12:00 pm
Dark Skies of the Wet Mountain Valley hosts free, safely filtered public solar observing at Bluff Park on September 5 from 11am to noon.
Open event ↗September 5, 2026 · 8:30–10:30 pm
The September 5 Smokey Jack visual star party uses the observatory's 14-inch telescope, additional telescopes and Star Guide interpretation of the autumn sky.
Open event ↗September 12, 2026 · 7:00–10:00 pm; check-in 7:00–7:30 pm; program 7:30–9:30 pm
The final listed 2026 Chimney Rock Night Sky Program is September 12, combining Puebloan sky context with interpretation of constellations, galaxies and observable planets.
Open event ↗September 12, 2026 · 11:00 am–12:00 pm
Dark Skies of the Wet Mountain Valley hosts free, safely filtered public solar observing at Bluff Park on September 12 from 11am to noon.
Open event ↗September 12, 2026 · 8:15–10:15 pm
Smokey Jack Observatory's September 12 EAA event uses a camera on the 14-inch telescope to project live color views onto a 10-foot outdoor screen.
Open event ↗September 12, 2026 · 8:30–11:00 pm
Northern Colorado Astro Society volunteers bring telescopes to North View Campground Site 241 for Jackson Lake's September 12 public star party.
Open event ↗September 19, 2026 · 11:00 am–12:00 pm
Dark Skies of the Wet Mountain Valley hosts free, safely filtered public solar observing at Bluff Park on September 19 from 11am to noon.
Open event ↗Current Antonito booking page lists September 20 and October 3, 2026 · September 20 departure 6:30 pm; return about 11:00 pm
Cumbres & Toltec's current Dark Sky Train booking page lists additional 2026 Antonito departures after the August 15 trip, with a sunset and stargazing stop at Big Horn.
Open event ↗October 3, 2026 · 7:30–9:30 pm
The final published 2026 Florissant night-sky event brings Colorado Springs Astronomical Society telescopes and astronomers to the park visitor center on October 3.
Open event ↗June 30–July 4, 2027 · Multi-night event
The Colorado Springs Astronomical Society's major multi-night star party returns to its 35-acre Starry Meadows observing site outside Gardner from June 30 through July 4, 2027.
Open event ↗Selected bookable dates; use the current operator calendar · Around sunset; approximately 2 hours
An astronomer-led telescope program on Beaver Run Resort's Imperial Deck inside Breckenridge's certified Dark Sky Community.
Open event ↗Mid-May through September 2026; astronomy days and times vary · Check at the South Rim Visitor Center
Black Canyon's 2026 ranger schedule keeps astronomy programs on varying days even though general twilight and evening programs are not offered this year.
Open event ↗Tuesdays and Thursdays, with occasional Saturdays · 8:30 pm April–August; 7:30 pm September–March
Denver Astronomical Society Astronomy Nights combine a multimedia astronomy presentation with weather-permitting observing through Chamberlin Observatory's historic 20-inch refractor.
Open event ↗Monthly Saturday dates on the DAS calendar · At dusk; varies seasonally
Denver Astronomical Society's monthly Open House is a free mini-star party on Chamberlin Observatory's south lawn with member telescopes and weather-permitting access to the 20-inch refractor.
Open event ↗Summer 2026; individual dates appear on the NPS calendar · Evening; varies by program
Curecanti offers summer ranger astronomy, laser-guided sky tours and weather-dependent telescope viewing, typically at Elk Creek Campground amphitheater.
Open event ↗Select summer nights; no future post-August 15 date is currently verified · Varies by date
Dinosaur's 2026 Night Sky Programs use the closed loop at the south end of Split Mountain Campground for ranger talks and weather-dependent sky viewing, sometimes with telescopes.
Open event ↗Available reservation nights through October 12, 2026 · Around sundown; about two hours
Estes Park Memorial Observatory is accepting 2026 stargazing reservations through October 12, with one approximately two-hour session per night and a 14-person dome limit.
Open event ↗Seasonal summer/fall schedule
Seasonal ranger-led night programs focused on the night sky and nocturnal ecology; use the NPS schedule for current offerings.
Open event ↗Selected 2026 dates shown in the live availability calendar · Generally about two hours
Smokey Jack Observatory's reserved star parties are free, volunteer-led sessions limited to eight total guests and generally lasting about two hours.
Open event ↗KEEP ON THE RADAR
These are useful programs to remember, but the next date may still need to be announced or confirmed.
March 5, 2026 — completed · 5:30–7:00 pm; guided stargazing 6:00–7:00 pm
A sold-out family astronomy evening on the Aspen Art Museum rooftop produced with Aspen Science Center and led by science educators.
Open event ↗Every Wednesday through October 14, 2026 · 9:00 pm through September 2; 8:30 pm September 9–October 14
Mesa Verde rangers lead Wednesday night-sky programs at Morefield Campground Amphitheater through October 14 with a ranger talk, laser sky tour and weather-permitting telescope viewing.
Open event ↗June 6, 2026 — completed · 8:15–10:00 pm
A June 6 Golden Gate Canyon State Park star party where astronomers provided telescopes and helped visitors identify stars, galaxies and other night-sky objects.
Open event ↗June 12–13, 2026 — completed · Two-day schedule; main Slumgullion observing Saturday at 8:30 pm
Lake Fork Valley Conservancy's 2026 Star Fest combined arts, astronomy talks, hands-on science and guided observing in Lake City and at Slumgullion Pass.
Open event ↗Every Tuesday, June 16–August 25, 2026 · 8:30–10:30 pm on current event listings
Lake Fork Valley Conservancy's current 2026 weekly program runs Tuesday evenings through August 25 at Slumgullion Pass with guided observation and telescope viewing.
Open event ↗July 17, July 18, August 7 and August 14, 2026 — completed · 8:30–11:00 pm
RMNP's 2026 Astronomy in the Park series used the Bear Lake Road Park & Ride for ranger interpretation, volunteer telescopes and independent observing after the program ended.
Open event ↗July 24 and August 15, 2026 — completed · Evening
Copper Mountain's 2026 Ales & Astronomy paired guided stargazing with Odell Brewing Co. beer or non-alcoholic drinks in West Village.
Open event ↗August 8, 2026 — completed · Festival schedule completed
Dark Sky Crestone's Sixth Annual Crestone Dark Sky Festival was held August 8, 2026; the organizer's 2026 calendar also includes a later October star party.
Open event ↗August 8, 2026 — completed · 8:30–10:30 pm
Mueller State Park's August 8 star party brought Colorado Springs Astronomical Society volunteers and multiple telescopes to the Visitor Center area.
Open event ↗August 10, 2026 — completed · 6:00–10:30 pm
Aspen Snowmass's seventh annual Stars Above Aspen brought guided telescope stations, a planetarium minidome and astronomy activities to the 11,212-foot Sundeck on August 10, 2026.
Open event ↗August 12, 2026 — completed · 8:00–10:00 pm
A Headwaters Center fundraiser at Devil's Thumb Ranch combining telescopes, Perseid meteor watching, dark-sky ecology, s'mores and a fire-pit gathering.
Open event ↗August 14–15, 2026 — completed · 8:00 pm; 1 hour
Colorado National Monument's August 14–15 Astronomy Nights used telescopes and a ranger program at Saddlehorn Picnic Area.
Open event ↗August 15, 2026 — completed · 9:00–11:00 pm
Black Canyon Astronomical Society volunteers brought high-powered telescopes to the Ridgway State Park Visitor Center for a free August 15 star party.
Open event ↗Custom/private tours available; confirm current dates directly · By booking
Aspen Stargazing currently markets portable private and event telescope tours; the Colorado trail's standing reference to The Gant is not confirmed on the operator's current site.
Open event ↗Summer programs are promoted, but no specific upcoming 2026 date is currently verified · Event-specific
Colorado's official trail recommends timing a Browns Canyon trip with summer stargazing programs sponsored by Friends of Browns Canyon, but no specific upcoming 2026 program date is currently published in the direct source checked.
Open event ↗Private experience; arrange directly with CampV · By arrangement
CampV currently offers a private Stargazing + Snuggles add-on with cookies, blankets, cider and a fire under the West End sky.
Open event ↗No future 2026 event is currently shown on the organizer calendar · Event-specific
Dark Skies Paonia's current event page shows its June 19, 2026 Dark Sky Film Night but no later 2026 public event, so this listing is on watch rather than presented as continuously scheduled.
Open event ↗Fridays and Saturdays through September 5, 2026 · Programs generally begin around 9:00 pm
Gunnison Valley Observatory's 2026 public season runs through September 5 with astronomy talks, outside telescopes and several ticketed ways to observe through its 30-inch dome telescope.
Open event ↗Summer programs are typical; no specific future 2026 astronomy date is currently verified · Program-specific
Hovenweep says rangers typically offer summer astronomy programs, but the latest specific 2026 astronomy event found was June 7 AstroFest, so no later date is being implied without a current NPS listing.
Open event ↗No current 2026 public date verified · Confirm directly with the observatory
Little Thompson Observatory remains an active facility, but its published reservation page still references August and September 2025, so this guide does not present an unverified 2026 public star-night date.
Open event ↗No specific 2026 public astronomy event is currently listed · Independent stargazing for registered users/campers
Top of the Pines actively promotes stargazing and dark-sky camping, but its current calendar does not publish a specific 2026 astronomy-event date.
Open event ↗Host availability varies; confirm for your stay · After dark when Astronomy Hosts are available
Orient Land Trust's Astronomy Hosts share telescope views with Valley View guests using a 20-inch telescope under the San Luis Valley sky.
Open event ↗QUARANTINED / DEFUNCT
Dead or retired program listings are moved here instead of being presented as current experiences. We keep the record visible in case an organizer brings the program back.
LAST KNOWN / Former program; no longer available · Previously seasonal
The guided Ouray KOA stargazing program has been verified as no longer available. The campground remains open, but the astronomy program should not be used to plan a stay.
Open event ↗LAST KNOWN / Former experience; no longer available · Previously tied to dome stays / seasonal programming
The organized Dome Stargazing Experience at The Nest at Black Hawk has been verified as no longer available. The lodging property remains open, but this stargazing experience should not be used to plan a trip.
Open event ↗NIGHT RIDE / NEXT EXITS
Take a turn you have not tried yet. Follow the road into a new place, a new kind of night or something worth knowing before the next stop.
Pick the landscape before you pick the stop.
TAKE THIS BRANCH ↗EXIT 02 / OFFICIAL 21Jump straight to the 21 parks and communities at the center of the route.
TAKE THIS BRANCH ↗EXIT 03 / ROAD BOOKString a few good nights together without trying to drive the whole state.
TAKE THIS BRANCH ↗EXIT 04 / FIELD MANUALMoon, darkness, roads, gear, Milky Way and observing skills.
TAKE THIS BRANCH ↗COSMIC ROULETTE / RANDOM GUIDE SIGNAL
Click once and the guide will race through the places on the statewide map, lock onto one at random, then open that place page.