Golden Gate Canyon State Park designated an Urban Night Sky Place
Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Colorado, U.S.A
Golden Gate Canyon State Park was certified as an Urban Night Sky Place by DarkSky International. Golden Gate is the second state park in the Colorado state park system to be designated as a Dark Sky Place, with the first being Jackson Lake State Park in 2020. This recognition highlights the importance of preserving dark skies that are so close to the Denver metropolitan area for wildlife and visitors.
“DarkSky International is proud to welcome another of Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s state parks into the International Dark Sky Place Program with Golden Gate Canyon State Park’s certification as an Urban Night Sky Place,” said Michael Rymer, DarkSky International’s Community Program Manager. “Golden Gate Canyon is Colorado’s first Urban Night Sky Place, and sites like these are integral to protecting nighttime environments that are so close to urban areas, while also educating visitors about the issue of light pollution and why dark skies are so important. The staff and volunteers at Golden Gate Canyon have done exceptional work, and we are encouraged to see further progress in and around the park in the future.”
Golden Gate Canyon State Park (GGCSP) offers a variety of recreation opportunities within an hour’s drive of the Denver metro area. With over 12,000 acres ranging in elevations from 7,280 to 10,388 feet. GGCSP is located in the northeast region of Colorado, and spans the boundary between Gilpin and Jefferson counties within the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
The State of Colorado began purchasing parcels of land in the area in the 1960s. These lands were first used by the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho Native Tribes and then by home settlers during the 1860s. Remnants of old homesteads can still be seen throughout the Park. The state officially designated Golden Gate Canyon State Park as a State Park in 1960, becoming Colorado’s second state park. Since then, GGCSP has become the third largest state park in Colorado with an annual visitation of over 1.7 million visitors.
Due to the size and topographical features, GGCSP is home to a variety of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Moose, elk, black bear and mountain lions roam the forest floors, while red tail hawks, great horned owls and Steller’s Jay navigate the sky above. Little brown bats, wood-house frogs, and tiger salamanders may be small compared to the big game animals, but they make an important contribution to the ecosystem of the Park. Park staff are aware of the importance of dark skies and how they contribute to the livelihood of so many wildlife.
The recreation opportunities are vast at GGCSP, having something for almost any outdoor enthusiast. There are 35 miles of trail, both hiking only and multi-use, providing access to high mountain meadows, rocky peaks and dense forest of aspens and confirers. GGCSP also has two established campgrounds for tent and RV camping, along with twenty backcountry primitive sites that you must hike up to 2 miles to get to. The Park also allows trout fishing and big and small game hunting within certain areas of the Park. The jewel of the Park is Panorama Point, which offers spectacular views of over 100 miles of the Continental Divide.
Starting in 2024, GGCSP participated in the Colorado State Parks Dark Sky Certification Mentor Program, a partnership with Colorado Tourism Office, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and DarkSky Colorado. This program provided up to 15 hours of assistance a year and toolkits to advance certification efforts. In 2025, GGCSP started taking sky quality measurements, updating non-compliant light fixtures and expanding the educational and outreach programs on dark sky topics.
Park Ranger Jake McCulloch collected most of the sky quality measurements taken at the Park. Ranger McCulloch says “As the Denver metro continues to encroach on the mountains each year, it’s more important than ever to protect and promote nighttime sanctuaries like Golden Gate Canyon State Park.”
Part of Administrative Assistant Bronwyn Phillips’ job is to facilitate educational programs with the help of local organizations, Park staff and volunteers. “Becoming an urban night-sky place gives us a great opportunity to get people excited about the night sky and learn why it’s worth protecting it.”
“It’s great to help out a place that I love and care about to achieve a goal like this.” Says seasonal park maintenance Chad Ferrians. “Updating some of the lights was a no-brainer for me, being able to see all the stars at night just makes this place more special!”
With the increase of visitation to GGCSP, Park staff are adamant about maintaining the natural night sky above. With being accessible to the Front Range of Colorado, GGCSP might be the closest place that visitors can get to to have their first experience with dark skies. Park staff will continue to develop relationships with other parks and communities that achieve a certification to help expand education and outreach programs.
About the International Dark Sky Places Program: Founded in 2001, the International Dark Sky 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, contribute to climate change, and block our view and connection to the universe. Golden Gate Canyon State Park now joins more than 275 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/.
About DarkSky International: The mission of DarkSky is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. Learn more at darksky.org
Media Contacts
Kara Van Hoose
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
(303) 829-7143
[email protected]
