Continental Divide Trail Coalition

The Continental Divide Trail Coalition describes the CDT as “a gateway to some of the most pristine night skies” in the continental United States.[1]

For 2026, CDTC held a Dark Sky Party at Marshall Pass Trailhead on August 1–2 with guided stargazing, hiking and community programming. The organization described the event as an opportunity for stargazers, hikers and photographers to spend time under the Continental Divide's dark skies.[1]

What that establishes

Marshall Pass is not just a modeled dark point: a national trail organization selected the trailhead for an organized dark-sky event. That supports its inclusion as a real astronomy destination, while still leaving road condition, exact telescope surfaces and seasonal access to current land-manager information.[1]

Sources

  1. [1]

    Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Dark Skies Along the Continental Divide — cdtcoalition.org/dark-skies