Community · CO, US
Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, Colorado
Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, in Colorado's Wet Mountain Valley, were the state's first International Dark Sky Community (2015). Free public star parties run May through October at the Smokey Jack Observatory in Bluff Park, at the west end of Main Street. Dark Skies, Inc. answers questions about the observatory at 719-398-1284.
Official site (opens in new tab) View on OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab) Source (opens in new tab)
| Type | Community |
| State / Province | CO |
| Country | United States |
| Nearest town | Westcliffe |
| Certified | 2015 |
| Coordinates | 38.1347, -105.4658 |
| Source | https://darksky.org/places/westcliffe-and-silver-cliff-dark-sky-community/ (opens in new tab) |
Plan Your Night
Tonight’s moon
Waning Crescent
1% illuminated. Rises 5:07 AM MST. Sets 3:54 PM MST. Times are local to the park.
Next new moon
November 9, 2026
The darkest, best-for-stargazing night in the current lunar cycle. See the full trip planner for the next 12 months of new-moon windows.
Upcoming meteor showers
- Leonids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, November 17, 2026
- Geminids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, December 13, 2026
- Ursids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, December 22, 2026
5 nearest dark sky places
- Crestone, Colorado · 26 km (16 mi)
- Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve · 40 km (25 mi)
- Kosmos Stargazing Resort & Spa · 60 km (38 mi)
- Trinchera Ranch · 84 km (52 mi)
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument · 88 km (55 mi)