San Miguel County is home to some of the most extraordinary night skies in the American West. The Western Slope Dark Sky Coalition is leading the effort to establish the county as an official International DarkSky Reserve, a designation that recognizes regions with exceptional natural darkness and strong community commitment to protecting it.
Preserves the region’s natural darkness
Supports wildlife and ecosystem health
Strengthens community identity and pride
Expands opportunities for education and astro‑tourism
Encourages responsible, energy‑efficient lighting practices
We are currently consolidating project materials and preparing the next phase of the application. Throughout summer 2026, we will be hosting community open houses across San Miguel County to share information, answer questions, and gather input.
Community participation is essential to the success of the Reserve. You can:
Attend an upcoming open house
Learn about responsible lighting
Volunteer with the Coalition
Sign up for project updates
For questions or to get involved contact:
Western Slope Dark Sky Coalition
westcoloradodarksky@gmail.com
Follow the Dark Sky Reserve's Instagram page for updates on the Coalition's progress of establishing San Miguel County as an International DarkSky Reserve!