Colorado Stargazing Trail

The Colorado Tourism Office describes Top of the Pines as a 175-acre recreation area at the foot of the Sneffels Range, with dark skies supported by sky-brightness monitoring. The trail presents April through November as the most comfortable snow-free stargazing season and also notes winter moonlight skiing and snowshoeing.[2]

Top of the Pines

Top of the Pines says it is “quite far removed from any urban light pollution” and directs campers into the meadow for stargazing.[3]

Its visitor guidance asks campers to minimize outdoor lighting, avoid decorative lights, use shielded warm-colored lights when necessary and favor red-light headlamps. The organization also connects its protected night environment with outdoor-lighting ordinances in Ridgway and Ouray County.[3]

Sources

  1. [1]

    Photo: Top of the Pines — Stargazing at TOP

  2. [2]

    Colorado Tourism Office, Colorado Stargazing Trail™ — colorado.com/colorado-stargazing-trail

  3. [3]

    Top of the Pines, Stargazing at TOP — topofthepines.org/stargazing.html

  4. [4]

    Top of the Pines dark skies

  5. [5]

    Top of the Pines camping

  6. [6]

    Light Pollution Map — NASA Black Marble / VIIRS sky brightness

  7. [7]

    Current place / land-manager details