View of Milky Way looking south to Chimney Rock. Photo credit: Andy Butler
Chimney Rock National Monument has been designated an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International. The monument becomes Colorado’s 19th certified International Dark Sky Park and joins a growing list of places known for dark sky conservation and education.
“We are thrilled to receive the dark sky designation as it further recognizes Chimney Rock National Monument as a special place in southwest Colorado,” said Joshua Peck, district ranger for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Services’ San Juan National Forest Pagosa Ranger District.
Situated between Pagosa Springs and Durango in a minimally developed valley near the Colorado-New Mexico border, the monument’s remote location offers some of the darkest night skies in the San Juan National Forest. This location allows staff to host astronomy-focused activities and events such as night sky programming, solstice and equinox sunrise events, and Perseids meteor shower viewings.
“So many people who appreciate cultural heritage and astronomy are drawn to Chimney Rock National Monument to observe lunar standstills and other phenomena that take place at night,” said Michael Rymer, DarkSky International’s Community Program Manager. “This certification further demonstrates the national monument’s mission to conserve not just the natural environment, but also the spiritual significance it has held for centuries. We are ecstatic to have Chimney Rock as a certified International Dark Sky Park, bringing further dark sky protections and awareness to southwest Colorado.”
The effort to seek DarkSky certification was a collaboration between the Forest Service, Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) and local advocates for dark skies. Individuals collected and compiled dark sky data, gathered lighting inventory and collaborated on new education kiosks and resources for the monument. These efforts led to the successful certification in 2024 and will continue to educate the public on the importance of dark sky preservation for years to come.
“Joining the Dark Sky community aligns with CRIA’s mission to educate our visitors about the importance Ancestral Puebloans placed on the world above them and enhances our efforts to provide nighttime programs highlighting the beauty of the heavens above Chimney Rock National Monument,” said Tony Aldwell of CRIA.
The U.S. Forest Service and CRIA plan to continue their efforts to preserve and enhance the monument’s night sky through nighttime tours, expanding educational programs, and promoting responsible outdoor lighting practices. These efforts will educate the public on the importance of dark sky preservation for years to come.
About Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock National Monument encompasses about 4,726 acres of federal land and has many outstanding characteristics that attract visitors worldwide. It is rich in history and highly valued by Indigenous and First Nation people for its cultural significance. One of the largest Pueblo II (A.D. 900-1150) communities in southwestern Colorado, considered a Chacoan cultural outlier, is at the monument. The Chaco phenomenon was a complex system of dispersed communities bound by economic, political and religious interdependence centered in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. More than 150 documented archaeological resources grouped into eight clusters around Chimney Rock date to the Pueblo II period, including pit houses, great kivas and great houses. The monument is also home to diverse flora and fauna. It was designated a national monument Sept. 21, 2012, by President Barack Obama, making it the seventh national monument managed by the USDA Forest Service.
About the International DarkSky Places Program
Founded in 2001, the International DarkSky Places Program is a non-regulatory and voluntary program encouraging communities, parks, and protected areas worldwide to preserve and protect dark sites through effective lighting policies, environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and public education. When used indiscriminately, artificial light can disrupt ecosystems, impact human health, waste money and energy, and block our view and connection to the universe. Chimney Rock National Monument now joins more than 220 Places that have demonstrated robust community support for dark sky advocacy and strive to protect the night from light pollution. Learn more by visiting https://darksky.org/what-we-do/international-dark-sky-places/.
For more information, please contact Pagosa Ranger District at (970) 264-2268.
For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website, or follow us on social media (X and Facebook).