Imagine what it would be like to go to the edge of Estes Park and see dozens of stars, or even the Milky Way Galaxy. Just steps past the final streetlight, the stars glow brightly as the ground dims, making it feel as though you’ve teleported to some distant, remote location. Step back into town, and the warm glow of the streetlight is back, guiding you home safely.
This is the goal of those advocating for dark-sky-compliant lighting and the official Dark Sky Community certification from DarkSky International, and the reality for some communities that have already achieved it. There are now seven official dark-sky communities in Colorado that have made strides to preserve dark skies in their areas.
Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, two close-neighboring towns in southern Colorado, joined forces to become Colorado’s first International Dark Sky Community designation. They were officially designated in 2015.
According to a news release on DarkSky International’s website, a group of citizens established Dark Skies, Inc. of the Wet Mountain Valley, a nonprofit organization, in 1998. One year later, Dark Skies Inc. President Smokey Jack negotiated with the Custer County Hospital District to use dark sky-friendly light fixtures.
Susan “Sam” Frostman was among the original founding members of Dark Skies Inc. and has held various leadership positions.
“We talked about dark skies a long time before anyone else was even talking about it, and I think the reason for that was it’s such a pristine place,” Frostman said in an interview with the Estes Valley Voice. “There’s very few people in the whole world that can see the Milky Way at night anymore because of extra light, and we wanted to preserve it.”
Over the first 10 years, Frostman said that Dark Skies Inc. focused primarily on educating residents and county leaders to garner community support for dark skies. According to the Dark Skies Inc. website, they advertised in the local paper, planned educational events such as star parties, supported an art contest at the Custer County School District, and even created a publication showcasing dark sky-friendly building permits and lighting fixtures.
“So it’s a matter of education all the way along the line,” Frostman said. “We’re not trying to change what you have. We want to give you light. We’re not taking it away. We’re just changing where it goes.”
Once the towns were officially certified, Frostman said astro-tourism increased and became a prominent part of the towns’ tourist appeal. In 2015, the Smokey Jack Observatory opened to the public, attracting even more stargazing enthusiasts.
“After we became an International Dark Sky community, what happened is, people came to Westcliffe and Silver Cliff because it was an International Dark Sky community, and that helped the economy,” she said. “It’s become something that everybody relates to.”
Paonia, Colorado, officially designated in 2024, is the sixth certified dark sky community. According to Aaron Watson, a volunteer with Dark Skies Paonia and a consultant for the state chapter of DarkSky International, DarkSky Colorado, they started working towards preserving dark skies and building community engagement back in 2018, when he founded Dark Skies Paonia alongside Dark Skies Paonia Board President and co-founder Lyn Howe and former Paonia mayor Mary Bachran, who came up with the name.
“Education is key for people to understand that what this really is, it’s a win-win,” Watson said in an interview with the Estes Valley Voice. “We’re not coming to take your lights away; we want to use them responsibly and just keep it out of the night sky.”
Watson said that in June 2021, the town released a proclamation, a non-legally binding document, expressing its support for protecting dark skies. In 2022, the town officially adopted a dark sky-friendly lighting ordinance, which Watson said was the “biggest hurdle.”
According to Watson, there is some flexibility in how dark sky-compliant lighting policies are implemented. Dark Skies Paonia works with public buildings, such as the local church, to create custom shades for its lights to transition to dark sky-compliant lighting.
Watson said that while certification does attract tourists who usually visit to see the Milky Way galaxy, tourism isn’t why they pursued the certification.
“It’s not necessarily tourism driving it,” Watson said. “It’s quality of life. The residents here just want better lighting, they want to sleep better, and they just want more natural (sic). They love the night sky, and they want to be able to see it.”
Watson also said he’s seen Paonia’s activism inspire other nearby places, like the Gunnison Gorge Conservation Area, to get certified as well. Late last year, Breckenridge officially joined the list of IDSCs in Colorado, becoming the newest community.
Visit Estes Park is still advocating for dark sky policies and for the town to apply to become an IDSC. Dana Paiement, senior destination manager at VEP, said in a previous interview that incorporating dark-sky principles into the town code is the final step needed for Estes Park to apply and potentially qualify.
When asked for advice to those advocating for dark skies, both Watson and Frostman emphasized the importance of education and community engagement.
“Education — that is the key,” Frostman said. “All the way along the line, you have to explain and actually show people…so they can actually see the difference and look at the light on the ground…and then people will understand why it’s important if they want to see the stars in the sky.”
Upcoming Dark Sky measurement events are scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2026, and Monday, Sept. 7, 2026 with Visit Estes Park. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Estes Park landscape and nature photographer Rick Martinez shared some of his night sky photography with the Estes Valley Voice for this series. An installation of his work can be seen at the Sinclair Station on Morraine Avenue in Estes Park. Through his company, Rocky Mountain Journeys, Rick offers guided hikes, star tours, and photography classes. His work can also be purchased through his online store.