You have heard about dark sky parks (if you haven’t, you should read about Mesa Verde National Park or the tiny town of Westcliffe), but have you ever heard of a dark sky reserve? Imagine the darkest sky you can with absolutely no light pollution, and then multiply that by ten – that’s a dark sky reserve, and Colorado is soon going to be home to the largest in the world:

Coming soon to Colorado is the Sangre de Cristo International Dark Sky Reserve, slated to be the largest in the world!
Flickr/Bryce Bradford
Spanning an impressive 4,200 square miles, the Sangre de Cristo International Dark Sky Reserve will be the second of its kind in the country - the first being the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve - and will encompass parts of 6 different counties (Saguache, Alamosa, Chaffee, Custer, Freemont, and Huerfano).
Flickr/Duncan Rawlinson - Duncan.co
To receive this prestigious designation, the area must house at least 270 square miles of public or private land and boast a sky quality meter (SQM) reading of equal to or darker than 20 magnitudes per square arc second (a measurement for star and sky brightness).
Flickr/Jason Barnes

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According to Afar's Colorado Could Soon Be Home to the World’s Largest Dark Sky Reserve, at least 80% of the proposed area must meet these criteria, along with "public and private street lighting controlled by lighting ordinances, a minimum five-year community commitment, dark-sky educational programs, and dark-sky community signs."
Flickr/David Welch
The date for the official designation of the Sangre de Cristo International Dark Sky Reserve is unknown, but the coalition hopes to apply before the end of 2022.
Flickr/Bureau of Land Management
While you wait to visit the Sangre de Cristo International Dark Sky Reserve, you can check out a few of Colorado's International Dark Sky locations, including the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, and Jackson Lake State Park.
Flickr/Zach Dischner

For even more of Colorado’s most beautiful skies, check out This Year-Round Campground In Colorado Is One Of America’s Most Incredible Sky Parks.

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