Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area becomes Colorado’s eleventh International Dark Sky Park

Montrose, Colorado

Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA) was certified as an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International. The achievement highlights the NCA’s naturally dark skies and signifies that the night sky over Gunnison Gorge is a valued resource worthy of protection.

Gunnison Gorge is one of nineteen NCAs managed by the BLM, the only agency that manages these areas. National Conservation Areas are designated by Congress to conserve, protect, and enhance their nationally significant resources, objects, and values through a framework of multiple use and sustained yield. Gunnison Gorge NCA was designated through the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Act of 1999, Public Law 106-76, including the 17,784-acre Gunnison Gorge Wilderness. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison Boundary Revision Act of 2003, Public Law 108-78, expanded the NCA to its current size of 63,150 acres.

Nearly 186,000 people visited the Gunnison Gorge NCA between October 2021 and October 2022 to discover and engage in a broad array of recreational activities. The NCA offers abundant opportunities for night sky viewing, with over 225 miles of trails (of which about 96% are accessible at night), two off-highway vehicle (OHV) “open play” areas (where riders are free to ride cross-country and camp at the staging areas), Gold Medal trout fishing along the Gunnison River, whitewater boating and primitive camping within the Wilderness, and more family-friendly flatwater activities further downstream. These areas all provide visitors with the chance to spend a night under the stars.

The NCA’s diverse natural environments – ranging from the salt-brush desert on its western flank, to piñon-juniper uplands near the canyon rim, to the riparian and aquatic environments of the river – provide a range of habitats for animals that call the Gunnison Gorge home. Common species include mule deer, elk, mountain lions, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, coyotes, ringtail cats, river otters, small mammals, neo-tropical migratory birds, raptors, chukars, and many more. The presence of such a diversity of wildlife indicates the naturalness of the area—away from human development and mechanization.

Due to its cultural and historical values, Gunnison Gorge NCA was in part designated to provide an opportunity for visitors to engage in heritage tourism. The NCA features several cultural sites, including prehistoric rock art panels and campsites, as well as historic rock structures, cabins, and mines. Evidence suggests that Native Americans lived and hunted in the area as early as 13,000 years ago. In historic times, few people settled permanently in the canyon. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, John Howell, the Duncan brothers from Olathe, and other settlers, built cabins and eked out a living prospecting for gold and mining mica in the Ute Park and Duncan Trail areas. Historic records indicate that settlers in covered wagons and on cattle drives crossed the area in the late 1800s. Between the 1950s and 1970s, uranium miners carved primitive routes into the canyon. Descendants of early settlers continue to graze sheep and cattle here.

To earn the certification, Gunnison Gorge NCA staff, partners, and dedicated volunteers documented the quality of the dark skies within the NCA by taking official dark sky readings over some time and across various locations within the NCA. In addition to readings, volunteers took photographs of the dark skies, which portrayed the visibility of the Milky Way. A lighting inventory was conducted, confirming that the NCA has zero artificial lights within its boundaries. A light management plan was developed to guide future lighting installations (should they be installed) and outreach and education materials about conserving the dark sky resource were developed to engage the public. Future threats to the natural night sky, although minimal, were addressed in the application. Finally, many outreach events were conducted – and many more planned – to promote the efforts toward certification and beyond. 

“This certification is yet another example of the exceptional resources and experiences our local communities can benefit from thanks to the ongoing stewardship of our National Conservation Areas. At Colorado Canyons Association, our mission is to highlight what makes these places so special and ensure that future generations are afforded these opportunities in the future, such as witnessing the Milky Way and a multitude of stars from the banks of the Gunnison River,” remarked a representative from the Colorado Canyons Association. 

The BLM, partner groups, and local municipalities will continue to share information with the public through social media, newsletters, press releases, interpretive materials, and in-person and virtual events. Topics will include the importance of dark sky conservation, educational materials on the night sky, including the effects of light pollution, and guides to stargazing. 

“This community-driven push for certification showcases the power of local conservation partnerships. By uniting public outreach, sky quality monitoring, and collaborative efforts, this initiative preserves our natural and celestial heritage and sets a powerful example of how communities and federal agencies can work together to protect our environment for future generations. We are excited to add another BLM-managed area to our list of certified Places,” remarked Amber Harrison, Dark Sky Places Program Manager. 

The BLM plans to incorporate information about light pollution on trailhead kiosks, brochures, webpages, and social media, all to promote dark sky viewing, astro-tourism, and astrophotography as recreational opportunities on public lands within the NCA. The BLM will also include a “know before you go” section on their website to aid visitors with planning a dark sky outing (i.e., “star party”) and to help with visitor safety.

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. Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area now joins more than 220 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:

DarkSky’s mission is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. Learn more at darksky.org.

Contacts:

Maggie Magee
BLM Public Affairs Specialist
Southwest District Office
+1 (970) 240-5323
[email protected]

Michael Rymer
Dark Sky Places Program Associate, DarkSky International
+1 (520) 347-6365
[email protected]