Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, a Dark Sky Park
A Colorado canyon park that never closes, with rim overlooks set back from the road for dark, quiet stargazing.
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Entry
- $30 per vehicle, 7 days · open all night
- Food & town
- Montrose · about 10 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2015
How dark is it, really?
Dark enough to see the Milky Way overhead on a clear night, though glow from nearby towns washes out the sky near the horizon. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 4, an estimate.)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 6–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–12 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Leonids) |
| Dec 5–11 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Geminids) |
| Jan 3–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | A sky full of stars, and a meteor shower peak (Quadrantids) |
More dark windows, through Oct 2027
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1–8 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 2–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| May 1–7 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| Jun 1–6 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–6 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 6 | Mostly none · crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 4 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 3 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Mid Feb to mid Oct. Out of season until mid Feb. In season now, through mid Oct.
Meteor showers ahead: Leonids on Nov 17–18 (half moon, sets around midnight), Geminids on Dec 13–14 (thin crescent, sets early), Ursids on Dec 22–23 (full moon, up all night), and Quadrantids on Jan 3–4 (thin crescent, rises late)Lyrids on Apr 22–23 (bright moon for most of the night)Eta Aquariids on May 5–6 (none · darkest skies)Southern Delta Aquariids on Jul 30–31 (thin crescent, rises late)Perseids on Aug 12–13 (bright moon for most of the night).
Email me before the next dark window at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
About one email a month, a few days before the moon goes dark: the dates here, the moonlight, and what's worth staying up for. Unsubscribe in one click.
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What it's like
Black Canyon of the Gunnison became an International Dark Sky Park in September 2015, and the park never closes, so you can look up at any hour. The best spots are overlooks set well back from the road, where passing headlights don't reach. On the South Rim, try Chasm View, Dragon Point, or Sunset View; on the North Rim, the Chasm View Nature Trail or Kneeling Camel Overlook. All are good for a personal telescope or astrophotography. You can also watch from the canyon bottom at places like East Portal, though the canyon walls cut down how much sky you'll see.
Timing matters here. Moonlight in a place this dark is striking, but it hides the faint stars and the Milky Way, so aim for the new moon or nights when the moon rises late. In summer the Milky Way is at its brightest, climbing until it sits directly overhead late in the evening; in fall it's overhead early.
Through the summer, rangers, volunteers, and the Black Canyon Astronomical Society run programs on the South Rim, free with park entry: solar viewing, talks, constellation tours, and telescope nights. The park also holds a multi-day Astronomy Festival each year. In winter, you can cross-country ski by moonlight or headlamp; a red light keeps your night vision intact.
Getting in after dark
The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. Some facilities have limited hours or close in winter.
Food, fuel, and supplies
South Rim: Montrose, CO, about 10 mi away, with groceries (Safeway, City Market, Walmart Supercenter and 2 more), 20+ gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: CMC Bakery, El Buen Sabor, and Ted Nelson's Steakhouse.
North Rim: Hotchkiss, CO, about 15 mi away, with groceries (City Market), 2 gas stations, and 3 places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: The Lazy J Coffee Shop, North Fork Boardwalk, and Zach's BBQ.
In winter the South Rim Road is open to cars only as far as Gunnison Point at the visitor center, and the North Rim road closes, typically from mid-November to May.
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
✓ Certification verified Jul 2026 against DarkSky International registry (Internet Archive capture) · entry fee from National Park Service (Sep 2026) · after-dark access from National Park Service (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Dark Sky Park Dark Sky Community Town of Paonia, Colorado
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
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Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Park Curecanti National Recreation Area
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
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