Old Snowmass, Colorado
About
Situated at an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet, Old Snowmass is a rural mountain enclave defined by its prehistoric roots, ranching heritage, and expansive open spaces. Once a Jurassic-era dinosaur habitat and later a summer hunting ground for the Ute Tribe, the area rose to prominence as a vital agricultural hub during the silver boom in nearby Aspen in the 1880s.
Old Snowmass remains largely undeveloped, allowing its natural resources and quiet character to flourish. With the large open space areas afforded by county zoning restrictions it is a portal for world-class outdoor recreation and a sanctuary for diverse wildlife including vast herds of elk and mule deer, a wide variety of birds from raptors to songbirds, and predators such as fox, coyote and black bear.
The wealth of natural environment in Old Snowmass also includes multiple streams and creeks as well as an expansive, very dark sky. This trifecta of organic land, water and sky is what has inspired local residents, led by the Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus and its advisory board to Pitkin County, to embrace and protect these natural wonders that remain fairly untouched by human development.
WildSky Old Snowmass was established as the dark sky advocacy group formed to work with the Caucus to bring information and education through a profuse offering of dark sky presentations in Old Snowmass and throughout the adjacent Roaring Fork Valley. Working alongside Pitkin County, Old Snowmass has successfully implemented an updated County-wide dark sky compliant lighting code, featuring a specialized code overlay specifically for Old Snowmass. WildSky Old Snowmass has also been responsible for providing widespread outreach and education for dark skies throughout Pitkin County, and the group intends to continue finding creative ways to bring residents and visitors to Old Snowmass to know the beauty of the night sky.
Area
2.6 km²
Designated
2026
Category
International Dark Sky Community
Address
Old Snowmass, Colorado 81654
Google Maps
Contact
Martha Ferguson
[email protected]
Michael Rymer
Community Program Manager
DarkSky International
+1 (520) 347-6365
[email protected]
Website
www.snowcapcaucus.org
www.wildskyoldsnowmass.org
