Dark Skies of the Wet Mountain Valley
The organization says “Star party reservations for 2026 at the Smokey Jack Observatory are now open.”[2]
Reserved sessions are free, hosted by trained volunteer Star Guides and strictly limited to eight people total. The organization says sessions generally last around two hours and can include multiple small groups in the same reservation slot.[2]
How reservations work
Visitors must select their group size before choosing a date because the calendar filters availability based on the observatory's eight-person capacity. The organization says there is no additional availability beyond what the live calendar shows.[2]
A public restroom is a short walk from the observatory. Donations are welcomed because the observatory and Star Guide program are volunteer-supported.[2]
Current status
The 2026 reservation calendar is active. Use the live availability page for the actual open date rather than a static list in this guide.[2]
Sources
- [1]
Photo: Colorado Tourism Office / Phil Lum — Stargazing in Colorado
- [2]
Dark Skies of the Wet Mountain Valley, Reserve SJO — darkskiescolorado.org/reserve-sjo