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Mesa Verde Is the World’s 100th International Dark Sky Park

By: Author Bram Reusen

Posted on Last updated:

This week, the National Park Service (NPS) and the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) announced the designation of Mesa Verde National Park as the 100th International Dark Sky Park in the world.

This important certification is the result of the park’s efforts to implement responsible, energy-efficient lighting policies, which enhance the already-exceptional quality of its night sky.

It also offers more opportunities for public education, better visitor experiences and astronomy-based interpretive programs. Additionally, this designation will allow for more collaborations between the national park and nearby communities, especially in terms of using dark sky-friendly outdoor lighting.

“Little did we know on the occasion of the first International Dark Sky Park designation in 2007 that in less than 15 years we would designate 100 such sites around the world. Given the significance of today’s announcement to the history of the International Dark Sky Places Program, we are especially gratified that the newest accredited site is Mesa Verde with its rich archaeological and cultural value.”

– IDA Executive Director Ruskin Hartley
Milky Way in Mesa Verde National Park - Credit NPS Jacob W. Frank
Credit: NPS / Jacob W. Frank

Mesa Verde National Park Becomes the 100th International Dark Sky Park

Thanks to its designation as the 100th International Dark Sky Park, southwestern Colorado’s Mesa Verde joins a collection of 169 International Dark Sky Places in 21 countries all over the world. This includes 37 other National Park Service sites in the United States, 14 of which are national parks.

All of these Dark Sky Places went through a thorough application process, which shows significant support for dark sky certification from local communities.

The same applies to Mesa Verde National Park’s Dark Sky Park certification, which had widespread community support. Many nearby towns and organizations strongly supported the effort to make Mesa Verde a certified International Dark Sky Park, which is an important criterion for designation in the first place.

This milestone designation—the 100th in the world—is thanks to both efforts by park employees and the support from the city of Cortez, the towns of Dolores and Mancos, the Mesa Verde County Tourism Bureau and the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.

The National Park Service and the International Dark-Sky Association collectively said that “International Dark Sky Park certification promotes public education and astronomy-based recreation in parks, while improving energy efficiency and reducing operational costs through outdoor lighting upgrades, which in turn creates economic opportunities for neighboring communities through astronomy-based tourism.”

World Heritage Archaeological Site and World-Class Night Sky

Established in 1906, Mesa Verde National Park was the first national park created specifically to protect and preserve archaeological sites. Encompassing over 52,000 acres, the park is home to almost 5,000 heritage sites from the Ancestral Puebloans, who lived there for more than 700 years—from 600 to 1300 AD.

Those 5,000 known sites include no fewer than 600 cliff dwellings. This collection is so extraordinary that Mesa Verde National Park also enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status.

Additionally, the exceptionally dark night skies in Mesa Verde National Park—thanks to the park’s high elevation, remote location and dry climate—are an important part of its cultural landscape. They’re especially significant to the 26 Native American tribes affiliated with the park.

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

You can find more information about the International Dark Sky Park designation of Mesa Verde National Park here:

“We are happy to announce our work to advance the preservation of Mesa Verde’s night skies and provide visitors opportunities to experience the wonder of starry nights. This recognition is the result of great work accomplished by employees of Mesa Verde National Park and the Mesa Verde Museum Association. National parks are some of the best places in America to see a breathtaking array of stars, planets, and neighboring galaxies.”

– Mesa Verde National Park Superintendent Cliff Spencer.

Best Places for Stargazing in Mesa Verde National Park

Because there are no large cities in the entire Four Corners area, Mesa Verde offers fantastic stargazing opportunities. The night sky is clear and filled with stars on most nights, allowing you to easily see the Milky Way, as well as other celestial objects.

You can enjoy Mesa Verde’s night sky everywhere in the park, but these are the best locations, according to the NPS:

  • Far View Lodge: the park’s only lodging option between mid-April and mid-October has rooms with balcony offering expansive views.
  • Morefield Campground: the park’s only campground between mid-April and mid-October, situated in the Morefield Valley and has virtually no artificial light.
  • Montezuma or Mancos Overlooks: located along the Main Park Road and the two best spots for stargazing in Mesa Verde National Park.

Other “Dark Sky” National Parks in the USA

In addition to Mesa Verde National Park’s International Dark Sky Park certification, there are more than a dozen other U.S. national parks that have the same designation. They’re the following.

You can see the complete list of International Dark Sky Parks here.