This Colorado National Park Was Just Named One of the Best Places for Stargazing in the U.S.

The U.S. now has another official International Dark Sky Park.

Mesa Verde National Park, which spans more than 52,000 acres in southwestern Colorado and includes more than 5,000 known archeological sites, just became one of the world’s newest destinations to receive the designation. Take in its pictographs, petroglyphs, and ancient cliff dwellings by day, but once the darkness sets in, be prepared to be wowed from above.

This national park is an epic spot for stargazing, especially if your post-pandemic travel list includes basking under the glow of the gorgeous Milky Way. “National parks are some of the best places in America to see a breathtaking array of stars, planets, and neighboring galaxies,” Mesa Verde National Park superintendent Cliff Spencer said in a press release.

  • a group of people in front of Notre Dame de Paris: Notre Dame Cathedral's Reconstruction Could Take Up to 20 Years, Rector Say

    Notre Dame Cathedral's Reconstruction Could Take Up to 20 Years, Rector Say

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a large ship in the background: CDC Recommending Cruise Passengers, Crew Be Vaccinated Before Boarding

    CDC Recommending Cruise Passengers, Crew Be Vaccinated Before Boarding

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a view of a city at night: Egypt Transported 22 Mummies in Elaborate Parade to Celebrate New Museum in Cairo

    Egypt Transported 22 Mummies in Elaborate Parade to Celebrate New Museum in Cairo

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a plane flying in the air: Delta Cancels About 100 Flights on Easter Sunday, Temporarily Fills Middle Seats to Allevi

    Delta Cancels About 100 Flights on Easter Sunday, Temporarily Fills Middle Seats to Allevi

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a group of people in front of a building: 9 of the Best Places to Retire in Europe

    9 of the Best Places to Retire in Europe

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a person with a sky background: The Lyrid Meteor Shower Will Bring Dazzling Shooting Stars This Month

    The Lyrid Meteor Shower Will Bring Dazzling Shooting Stars This Month

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a metal fence: 5 Mistakes Travelers Make in Los Angeles

    5 Mistakes Travelers Make in Los Angeles

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a group of people standing in a room: Vaccinated Americans Can Travel Freely Without Having to Quarantine or Test for COVID-19,

    Vaccinated Americans Can Travel Freely Without Having to Quarantine or Test for COVID-19,

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a plate of food: This Map Shows the Cheapest Michelin-Starred Restaurants Around the World

    This Map Shows the Cheapest Michelin-Starred Restaurants Around the World

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a view of the ocean: Croatia Becomes Latest Country to Exempt Vaccinated Travelers From Pre-Arrival Testing Req

    Croatia Becomes Latest Country to Exempt Vaccinated Travelers From Pre-Arrival Testing Req

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a large ship in a body of water: Venice Bans Cruise Ships From Historic Center

    Venice Bans Cruise Ships From Historic Center

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a body of water with Willemstad in the background: You Can Work From This Dreamy Island Paradise for Up to 6 Months

    You Can Work From This Dreamy Island Paradise for Up to 6 Months

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a woman sitting at a desk: Hotels.com Has a Way to 'Write Off' All the Travel You Didn't Do Last Year

    Hotels.com Has a Way to 'Write Off' All the Travel You Didn't Do Last Year

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a person walking down a street: Puerto Rico Imposes $100 Fines for Tourists Who Violate Face Mask Rules

    Puerto Rico Imposes $100 Fines for Tourists Who Violate Face Mask Rules

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a man standing in front of a mirror posing for the camera: This Wine Just Spent a Year in Orbiting Earth — Here's How It Tastes

    This Wine Just Spent a Year in Orbiting Earth — Here's How It Tastes

    Travel + Leisure Logo

    Travel + Leisure

  • a group of people in front of Notre Dame de Paris: Notre Dame Cathedral's Reconstruction Could Take Up to 20 Years, Rector Say
    Notre Dame Cathedral's Reconstruction Could Take Up to 20 Years, Rector Say
    The cathedral managed to hold a small Holy Week celebrations two years after the devastating fire.

    Travel + Leisure Logo
    Travel + Leisure

  • a large ship in the background: CDC Recommending Cruise Passengers, Crew Be Vaccinated Before Boarding
    CDC Recommending Cruise Passengers, Crew Be Vaccinated Before Boarding
    "All eligible port personnel and travelers (passengers and crew) get a COVID-19 vaccine when one is available to them."

    Travel + Leisure Logo
    Travel + Leisure

  • a view of a city at night: Egypt Transported 22 Mummies in Elaborate Parade to Celebrate New Museum in Cairo
    Egypt Transported 22 Mummies in Elaborate Parade to Celebrate New Museum in Cairo
    Mummies, including Ramses II and Queen Hatshepsut, will now live at Egypt's new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

    Travel + Leisure Logo
    Travel + Leisure

UP NEXT

The park’s official dark-sky certification recognizes the exceptional quality of its night skies and its sustainable approach to lighting. Parks have to apply for the certification, a multiyear process that includes light pollution surveys, taking an inventory of light sources, and sometimes making energy-efficient upgrades, the Associated Press noted.

Loading...

Load Error

In the U.S., Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park, Montana’s Glacier National Park, and the Grand Canyon in Arizona are among the sites that have earned accolades from the International Dark-Sky Association, an organization aimed at combating light pollution around the world.

At Voyageurs National Park, visitors can even take in the stars — and if they’re lucky, the northern lights — from a houseboat.

Meena Thiruvengadam is a Travel + Leisure contributor who has visited 50 countries on six continents and 47 U.S. states. She loves historic plaques, wandering new streets and walking on beaches. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Source: Read Full Article