Dark Sky Community Overview

In 2015, the twin towns of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff made history by becoming the very first certified International Dark Sky Community in Colorado. At the time of their certification, they were the highest-elevation Dark Sky Community in the world. Situated in the immensely broad Wet Mountain Valley, these towns offer one of the most stark, dramatic backdrops for astrophotography in the American West.

The geography here is awe-inspiring. To the east, the valley is bordered by the rolling Wet Mountains. But to the west rises the jagged, unbroken wall of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains—a tightly packed row of 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks that shoot almost completely straight up from the valley floor with no intervening foothills to block the view.

Because the towns are deeply committed to dark skies (even hosting the public Smokey Jack Observatory right in the town park), astrophotographers don't have to venture far into the wilderness to find perfectly dark skies. You can capture the Milky Way cresting over historic ranch barns, or shoot crystal-clear reflections of the Sangre de Cristo peaks in the nearby DeWeese Reservoir, all within a few miles of town.

Sky Facts & Coordinates

GPS Reference

38.1336° N
105.4655° W

Location

Westcliffe / Silver Cliff
Custer County

Designation

International
Dark Sky Community

Landscape Type

High Alpine Valley
14k ft Peaks

Primary Foregrounds

Sangre de Cristo Range
Historic Barns

Nearby Public Lands

San Isabel
National Forest

Nearby Dark Assets

DeWeese Reservoir
Great Sand Dunes NP

Best Use

Milky Way Panoramas
Alpenglow / Moonlight

Prime Night Photography Locations

Smokey Jack Observatory / Bluff Park

In-Town Access · Deep Space Tracking

Located right in the center of Westcliffe at Bluff Park, this is one of the most accessible public observatories in the state. The park itself is kept incredibly dark and offers a wide-open view of the mountains.

You don't need a telescope to shoot here. Set up your tripod in the park and use the observatory building itself as an anchor for wide-angle Milky Way shots.

DeWeese Reservoir

Still Water Reflections · Sangre de Cristo Views

Just five miles north of town, this state wildlife area offers unobstructed views looking south and west over the water toward the towering Sangre de Cristo peaks.

The valley winds usually die down completely between 1:00 AM and 4:00 AM. Wait for the water to glass over to capture flawless reflections of the Milky Way and the mountain range.

Alvarado Campground / Foothills

Forest Edges · Imposing Scale · Isolation

Driving up Hermit Road or towards Alvarado Campground takes you right to the base of the mountains where the pine forest begins. The sheer scale of the peaks from here is staggering.

Because you are so close to the eastern face of the mountains, they will block the western horizon early in the night. Shoot here when you want the mountains to consume the bottom half of your frame.

Wet Mountain Valley Floor

Historic Ranchlands · Winding Roads · Wide Skies

The dirt county roads crisscrossing the valley floor offer endless opportunities to frame rustic fences, old mining ruins, and historic wooden barns against the stars.

Almost all the land on the valley floor is private ranching property. Stay on the public county roads to shoot, and never cross a fence line in the dark.

Moon & Milky Way — Seasonal Reference

These are planning references rather than fixed clock times. For actual field work, check a moon calendar, weather forecast, smoke forecast, and the Milky Way position. The Sangre de Cristos run north-to-south, heavily dictating your shooting angles.

New Moon Window

Best ForMilky Way Detail

Use± 3–4 Days

The valley achieves profound darkness. The Sangre de Cristos will render as a massive, jagged black wall blocking out the western stars.

Face south down the valley axis to capture the Milky Way core hovering between the Wet Mountains and the Sangre de Cristos.

Quarter Moon Window

Best ForMountain Texture

Use25% – 45%

Because the mountains face east, a rising moon illuminates them beautifully while keeping the western sky dark enough for stars.

A half-moon provides incredible light to bring out the deep texture and snowfields of the 14,000-foot peaks.

Summer Milky Way

MonthsJun – Aug

TimingLate Evening

The core is bright and well-positioned to the south. Summer monsoons frequently build over the Sangres in the afternoon.

Wait for the storm clouds to break around midnight. The rain washes the dust from the valley, leaving incredibly sharp skies.

Autumn Milky Way

MonthsSep – Oct

TimingEarly Evening

The air in the valley turns sharply cold, and the Milky Way sets early in the southwest, diving right behind the highest peaks.

One of the best times of year to capture the core setting directly behind the Crestone Needle or Crestone Peak.

Seasonal Guide — Night Sky & Field Conditions

Spring

March – May

The valley floor thaws, but the mountains remain locked in deep snow. Spring winds sweeping across the wide valley floor can make long exposures difficult due to severe tripod shake.

Best for: Snowy peak silhouettes, pre-dawn Milky Way, quiet isolation.

Summer

June – August

Comfortable valley temperatures, but intense afternoon thunderstorms over the peaks. The valley is green and lush. Star parties are frequently hosted at the Smokey Jack Observatory during the summer.

Best for: Distant lightning photography, DeWeese Reservoir reflections, accessible night shooting.

Autumn

September – October

The most reliable weather window. The monsoon ends, leaving the skies perfectly stable and transparent. The scrub oak and aspens in the foothills turn a brilliant yellow.

Best for: Crisp Milky Way captures, moonlit fall foliage, comfortable early-evening shooting.

Winter

November – February

The valley becomes a frozen wind-tunnel. Temperatures routinely hit sub-zero with harsh wind chill. While the skies are dark and clear, outdoor photography requires extreme cold-weather preparation.

Best for: Hardcore dedication, Orion over frozen ranchlands, deep-space tracking.

Sky Conditions & Photographer Cautions

Valley Winds

The Wet Mountain Valley acts as a massive wind funnel. Even on clear nights, sustained winds can ruin long exposures. Use a heavy tripod, hang your bag from the center column, and remove your camera strap.

Private Property

The vast majority of the valley floor is private, working ranch land. Never cross a fence or open a gate to get a better photo angle. Shoot strictly from the public county road shoulders.

Pueblo / Springs Light Domes

Because the valley is so dark, you will notice a faint light dome to the east over the Wet Mountains (from Pueblo) and to the north (from Colorado Springs). Frame your shots south and west to avoid them.

Wildlife on Roads

Deer, pronghorn, and elk are incredibly dense in the valley. They frequently bed down near the dirt roads at night. Drive carefully and constantly scan the ditches when moving locations.

Extreme Cold

Sitting at nearly 8,000 feet, the valley floor loses heat rapidly once the sun sets behind the Sangres. Bring winter gloves and extra layers even if you are visiting in July.

Respect the Observatory

If visiting the Smokey Jack Observatory during a public or private viewing, use only red-filtered headlamps. Do not use white flashlights or car high-beams anywhere near the telescope.

Nearby Dark Sky Assets

Great Sand Dunes National Park

International Dark Sky Park · 90 Mins South

Located on the other side of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, this Dark Sky Park offers massive, shifting sand dunes as a completely unique, otherworldly foreground for the Milky Way.

NPS Great Sand Dunes ↗

San Isabel National Forest

Vast Wilderness · Western Flank

Encompassing the Sangre de Cristo mountains directly west of Westcliffe. It provides miles of rugged 4x4 trails climbing high into the peaks for completely isolated, high-altitude night shooting.

San Isabel NF ↗

Slumgullion Pass / Lake City

Dark Sky Park · 3 Hours West

If you are on a Colorado dark sky road trip, Slumgullion Center near Lake City was certified as an International Dark Sky Park in 2020, offering extreme-elevation stargazing deep in the San Juan Mountains.

Visit Lake City ↗

Official Dark Sky & Planning Resources

Westcliffe & Silver Cliff — Dark Sky Reference
Certified as a joint Dark Sky Community in 2015. Use the Dark Skies of the Wet Mountain Valley organization page for observatory bookings and star party schedules. Check US Forest Service pages for campground and trailhead access.

DarkSky Westcliffe ↗ Wet Mountain Dark Skies ↗ Visit Wet Mountain Valley ↗ DeWeese Reservoir ↗