Since time immemorial our ancestors have looked to the stars for guidance and spirituality. But in today’s modern world the glow of street lights, headlights, and screens are omnipresent as we zip around from home to office, school to shopping, and everywhere in between. In fact, a study from Science Advances magazine, estimated that the Milky Way is hidden from more than one-third of humanity, including 60% of Europeans and nearly 80% of North Americans.
The rare celestial event captures our shared consciousness and inspires a twilight pilgrimage away from the bright lights of cities and towns in search of a quiet, dark spot where families and friends can share in the majesty of the heavens above.
Lucky for us, here on the Western Slope our vast public lands provide endless opportunities for exploration, and for those willing to stay up past their bedtime a universe of otherworldly wonders awaits.
The Gunnsion Gorge National Conservation Area (GGNCA) is one such destination. First designated by Congress in October 1999, the GGNCA is valued for its diversity of recreational opportunities, including challenging OHV trails, camping, hiking, and Gold Medal trout fishing in a whitewater wilderness setting. Aside from roads, trails, and minor developments such as primitive campgrounds and trailheads, the NCA is largely undeveloped. There is no electrical service within the NCA and no artificial lights.
Although the towns of Montrose, Olathe, Delta, Hotchkiss and Paonia are all nearby, the GGNCA has very dark skies and excellent air quality. Wanting to recognize these values the Gunnison Gorge NCA staff, in partnership with Western Slope Conservation Center and the Colorado Canyons Association, enlisted a group of dedicated volunteers to document the quality of the dark skies within the NCA by taking official dark sky readings 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.
As a result of these efforts we are pleased to share that as of August 30, 2024 the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area will be officially recognized by DarkSky International as a Dark Sky Park!
Dark Sky Parks are also important for the conservation of many plant and animal species. Earth’s daily light and dark cycles govern life-sustaining behaviors. For many animals, the natural night sky signals when to eat, sleep, hunt, migrate and even when to reproduce. It is estimated that half of all species on Earth start their “daily” activities at sundown.
Within the GGNCA you have the chance to observe mule deer, elk, mountain lion, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, coyote, ringtail cat, small mammals, neo-tropical migratory birds, raptors, chukar, river otter, and many more. Notably, in 2021, wildlife biologists captured audio recordings of 14 of the 16 potential species of bats that could inhabit the area. Some species of bats are examples of animals that have adapted their physiology and behavior to function under low or extremely low light conditions, thus benefiting from GGNCA’s naturally dark skies.
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We are so thrilled to announce that the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park! Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who helped us collect data to support the application.
From DarkSky International: “We are delighted to announce Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area as Colorado’s newest international Dark Sky Park! Nestled in rural western Colorado, where the Colorado Plateau meets the Southern Rocky Mountains, Gunnison Gorge spans approximately 63,000-acres. It offers pristine wilderness, challenging trails, and breathtaking dark skies – perfect for stargazing!
Established by Congress in October 1999 and administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Gunnison Gorge remains largely undeveloped, preserving its natural beauty and ensuring an absence of artificial light. With an average sky quality reading of 21.38 magnitudes per square arc-second, it’s a haven for night sky enthusiasts.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of local communities and partners, Gunnison Gorge joins the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area as a vital link in protecting our night sky heritage.
Learn more about Gunnison Gorge and their efforts to become a Dark SKy Park by visiting https://bit.ly/3Tb8OVb”
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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 210 Places that have demonstrated robust community support for dark sky advocacy and strive to protect the night from light pollution.
Learn more about Dark Skies and look out for the official announcement by visiting: https://darksky.org