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What we do International Dark Sky Places

Mesa Verde National Park

The center of the Milky Way sets over Point Lookout in Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Jacob W. Frank.

About

Mesa Verde National Park comprises 52,253 acres of high mesa in southwestern Colorado, U.S. The park was established in 1906 to protect the rich history and well-preserved archeology of the Ancestral Puebloan people, who inhabited the mesa from around 550 to 1300 CE. It preserves over 5,000 known archeological sites, including mesa-top villages, farming terraces, reservoirs, pictographs and petroglyphs, towers, and cliff dwellings. These cultural sites are some of the most notable and well preserved in the United States. These sites are sacred ancestral homes and often visited by Mesa Verde’s 26 affiliated tribes. Today, Mesa Verde preserves exceptionally dark skies thanks to the park’s remote location, dry climate, and high elevation. 

Designated

2021

Category

International Dark Sky Park

Address

PO Box 8
Mesa Verde National Park, CO 81330 USA
Google Maps

Contact

John Cahill
Website
Tel.: +1 970-529-4629

Land Area

212 km2

Documents

Application
Announcement
Annual Reports

Weather

Click here to find ideal environmental conditions for viewing the night sky at Mesa Verde National Park (37.2405, -108.4605). Don’t forget to plan your trip during the new moon and astronomical twilight to enhance the viewing experience!