AstroTours Featured in Motorcoach Living Magazine’s 2026 Stargazing Travel Issue

AstroTours.org was recently featured in the 2026 issue of Motorcoach Living Magazine, and it is always a good day when stargazing in Boulder gets a little more room in the travel world.

The article, “Travel Where the Night Sky Stars,” highlights astrotourism and places across the country where travelers can plan trips around the night sky. Colorado gets a nice feature in the section “The Rockies are for Stargazing,” and Boulder was included alongside places like Boulder, Leadville, Westcliffe, and Creede.

And right there on page 37, AstroTours gets a mention as one of the ways people can experience the night sky in Boulder with real telescopes and an astrophysicist guiding the way.

You can view the digital copy of the 2026 Motorcoach Living issue here:https://www.flipsnack.com/motorcoachliving/motorcoachliving2026

You can also request a physical copy from Motorcoach Living here:https://www.motorcoachliving.com/#magazine

Boulder Stargazing in a National Travel Magazine

The Boulder section talks about something we have always loved about this place.

Boulder is not the most remote town in Colorado. It is not Leadville. It is not Creede. It is not deep in the San Juans or tucked far away from every light on the map.

But Boulder has something special.

It has the Flatirons, open space, mountain air, easy access from Denver, and just enough darkness at Boulder Valley Ranch Trailhead to make the sky feel alive. You do not have to disappear into the wilderness to feel connected to the universe. Sometimes you just need to drive a few minutes outside of town, step away from the streetlights, and let your eyes adjust.

That is the whole point of our Boulder tours.

We are not trying to make stargazing intimidating. You do not need to own a telescope, memorize constellations, hike up a mountain, or know what a nebula is before you arrive. We set up the telescopes, point them at the good stuff, explain what you are seeing in normal language, and let the night do the rest.

What Motorcoach Living Said About AstroTours

The Motorcoach Living feature describes AstroTours as a local company that sets up high-powered telescopes at Boulder Valley Ranch Trailhead just outside the city. It mentions that under the guidance of an astrophysicist, guests may see craters of the Moon in sharp detail and even Jupiter’s moons lined up like tiny pearls.

That is a lovely way to put it.

Jupiter’s moons really do look like little beads of light when the seeing is good. They are not just random stars near Jupiter. They are worlds orbiting another planet. You can watch them change positions from night to night, and sometimes even during the same tour.

The Moon is another one that people think they know until they see it through a telescope. Through the eyepiece, it is not just a white circle in the sky. It becomes mountains, crater walls, shadows, lava plains, and bright highlands. It looks like a place.

That is why telescope tours still matter. We all have NASA images in our pockets now, but there is something different about seeing the real light with your own eye.

Why This Feature Matters

This coverage came to us through Visit Boulder, who had shared information about AstroTours with the state as part of their pitching efforts around stargazing in Colorado.

That part means a lot.

AstroTours started as a pretty simple idea: bring the kind of guided astronomy experience I learned in Australia back home to Colorado. Set up telescopes. Tell the stories. Explain the science. Make people feel welcome under the sky.

Over time, that small idea has become part of a much larger Colorado astrotourism movement.

Now Colorado has a Stargazing Trail. More towns are protecting dark skies. Resorts are adding astronomy programs. Visitors are looking for night-sky experiences the same way they look for hikes, hot springs, scenic drives, and ski days.

So to see Boulder and AstroTours show up in a magazine built for travelers, RV owners, and people planning their next road adventure feels like a sign that stargazing is becoming part of the Colorado travel map.

Not as a side note.

As a reason to go.

Why Boulder Works for Stargazing Travel

For travelers in motorcoaches, RVs, camper vans, or anyone road tripping through Colorado, Boulder makes a lot of sense as a stargazing stop.

You can spend the day on Pearl Street, hiking at Chautauqua, visiting local breweries, walking the creek path, or exploring Boulder’s open space. Then instead of ending the day after dinner, you can head out for a guided night under the stars.

That is one of my favorite things about astronomy tourism.

It changes the rhythm of travel.

Most vacations treat sunset as the end of the day. Stargazing flips that. Sunset becomes the beginning of the best part.

The sky darkens. The first bright planets appear. The stars come out one by one. Someone asks, “What is that bright thing?” and suddenly we are talking about Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, satellites, constellations, galaxies, or how fast the Earth is turning beneath our feet.

That is a good night.

Stargazing Without Making It Complicated

A lot of people think astronomy is hard to get into.

And it can be, if you start with telescope manuals, star charts, polar alignment, and trying to find faint galaxies by yourself in the dark.

But it does not have to start there.

It can start with looking through a telescope at the Moon.

It can start with seeing Saturn for the first time.

It can start with realizing the Big Dipper is not actually a constellation, but an asterism inside Ursa Major.

It can start with learning that some of the stars you are seeing may no longer exist, or that the light from a galaxy has been traveling for millions of years just to end up in your eye.

That is the kind of astronomy AstroTours is built around. Not astronomy as a test. Astronomy as an experience.

Thank You to Motorcoach Living and Visit Boulder

Thank you to Motorcoach Living Magazine for including Boulder and AstroTours in the 2026 issue.

And thank you to Visit Boulder for continuing to help share AstroTours with travel writers, tourism partners, and visitors looking for something real to do in Boulder after dark.

This kind of coverage helps people find us, but it also helps tell a bigger story: Colorado’s night sky is part of what makes this state special.

The mountains are not just beautiful in the daytime.The open spaces do not stop being meaningful after sunset.And the best view in Boulder might not be west toward the Flatirons.Sometimes it is straight up.

If you are planning a Colorado road trip, RV vacation, Boulder weekend, or night-sky adventure, come join us under the stars.

Book a public stargazing tour or request a private astronomy event at:https://www.AstroTours.org

Clear skies,

Luke

tags: AstroTours, Motorcoach Living Magazine, Boulder stargazing, Colorado stargazing, stargazing near Denver, Boulder Valley Ranch, Colorado astrotourism, RV travel Colorado, motorcoach travel Colorado, guided astronomy tour, telescope tour Boulder

AstroTours Featured by the Denver Astronomical Society in Their Colorado Stargazing Vacation Guide

AstroTours.org was recently included in a Denver Astronomical Society article about planning stargazing vacations in Colorado, and that feels like a real honor.

The article, “Planning Stargazing Vacations in Colorado: Camping, ranches, resorts, towns, tours, and trains under the stars,” is a great look at how Colorado is becoming one of the best places in the country for astrotourism. Not just “go outside and look up” tourism, but real night-sky travel where the stars are part of the reason for the trip.

You can read the full Denver Astronomical Society article here:https://www.denverastro.org/planning-stargazing-vacations-in-colorado/

Colorado Is Becoming a Stargazing Vacation State

For years, I have thought Colorado should be known for its night sky in the same way it is known for skiing, hiking, camping, hot springs, and mountain towns.

We already have the ingredients.

High elevation.Dry air.Big open spaces.Dark sky parks.Mountain towns.Ranches.Resorts.National parks.A lot of people who already like being outside after dark.

The Denver Astronomical Society article points out that Colorado’s new Stargazing Trail is helping connect all of that together. The trail highlights certified International Dark Sky Parks and International Dark Sky Communities across the state, but the article also looks at what is growing around the trail: campgrounds, dark-sky lodging, train rides, observatories, local astronomy groups, and guided telescope tours.

That is the part I am most excited about.

A stargazing vacation should not have to mean standing alone in a parking lot, looking at a dark sky, and wondering which bright dot is Jupiter and which one is an airplane. That can still be fun, but it is only the start.

With the right guide, telescope, place, and story, the night sky becomes something you can actually experience.

AstroTours on the Colorado Stargazing Trail

In the article, Denver Astronomical Society included AstroTours.org as one of the guided astronomy options helping visitors experience Colorado’s night sky.

They wrote about AstroTours bringing guided astronomy tours to locations on Colorado’s Stargazing Trail, using telescopes, astronomy education, constellations, planets, deep-sky objects, sky stories, and real-time answers to the questions people naturally ask under a truly dark sky.

That means a lot because this is exactly what we try to do.

We do not want people to just see “stars.”

We want them to see Saturn as a real world with rings.Jupiter as a giant planet with moons moving around it.The Moon as a landscape with mountains, craters, and shadows.Star clusters as families of young stars.Nebulae as places where stars are born.Galaxies as whole island universes far beyond our own Milky Way.

And just as important, we want people to understand that the sky has always been part of the human story. Navigation, calendars, myths, science, seasons, farming, migration, religion, art, and curiosity are all tied to people looking up.

That is why astronomy tours work so well in Colorado. The landscape already feels big. The sky makes it bigger.

Why This Coverage Matters

The Denver Astronomical Society is not just some random travel blog. DAS has been part of Colorado astronomy for a long time, connected with Chamberlin Observatory, public astronomy nights, local observers, astrophotographers, educators, and people who genuinely care about the night sky.

So being included in their guide feels different from being listed on a generic “things to do” page.

It means AstroTours is being seen as part of Colorado’s larger astronomy community and part of the future of Colorado astrotourism.

That is something I am proud of.

AstroTours started because I came back to Colorado after working under the stars in Broome, Australia, and realized that we had incredible skies here too, but not many hands-on guided astronomy experiences for visitors. People could go to a planetarium, or they could buy a telescope, or they could try to figure it out alone.

But there was room for something in between.

A real astronomer.A real telescope.A dark or semi-dark place.A group of curious people.A night where science, stories, and wonder all get to sit together.

That has always been the heart of AstroTours.

Stargazing Vacations Are More Than a Trend

I like the phrase “stargazing vacation” because it changes how people think about travel.

Usually, the night is treated as the end of the day. You hike, ski, raft, shop, eat dinner, and then the vacation day is over.

But with stargazing, the night becomes the main event.

You plan around the Moon.You check the weather.You drive away from city lights.You bring warm layers.You let your eyes adjust.You turn your flashlight red.You wait for the first stars to come out.

That shift is powerful. It slows people down.

The Denver Astronomical Society article does a good job showing all the different ways people can build a Colorado trip around the sky. Camping at Jackson Lake State Park. Visiting Great Sand Dunes or Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Staying in dark-sky communities like Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, or Breckenridge. Booking ranch stays, resorts, glamping tents, observatory nights, train rides, or private astronomy guides.

That variety is important because not everyone wants the same kind of stargazing trip.

Some people want to camp under the Milky Way.Some want a resort balcony and a telescope.Some want a family-friendly tour with no hiking.Some want a private astronomer for a wedding, retreat, or corporate event.Some want to learn constellations.Some just want to finally see Saturn.

All of that counts.

Guided Stargazing Makes the Sky Easier to Love

A dark sky can be overwhelming if you do not know where to start.

People look up and ask:

What am I seeing?Where is the Milky Way?Is that a planet?Can you see galaxies from here?Why do some stars twinkle and others do not?What is the best time of year to see Saturn?Why does the Moon look so different through a telescope?How far away is that star?

Those questions are the tour.

A telescope is great, but the real value of a guided astronomy tour is having someone there who can connect the dots. Sometimes literally.

That is what AstroTours tries to bring to Colorado stargazing vacations. We bring the telescopes, lasers, chairs, blankets, and astronomers, but more than that we bring a way into the sky.

You do not need to know astronomy before coming on a tour. You do not need to know constellations. You do not need to own gear. You do not need to pretend you understand the difference between a nebula and a galaxy.

You just have to be curious enough to look up.

Thank You to the Denver Astronomical Society

Thank you to the Denver Astronomical Society for including AstroTours.org in this guide and for helping tell the bigger story of Colorado astrotourism.

Colorado’s night sky is worth protecting, but it is also worth experiencing.

The more people who see the Milky Way, Saturn’s rings, the Moon’s craters, or a galaxy through a telescope, the more people understand why dark skies matter in the first place.

That is the hope.

That people come for a vacation, a tour, a train ride, a campsite, a resort stay, or a dark-sky town, and they leave caring a little more about the sky above them.

If you are planning a stargazing vacation in Colorado, read the Denver Astronomical Society guide here:https://www.denverastro.org/planning-stargazing-vacations-in-colorado/

And if you want a guided astronomy experience with telescopes and astronomers, AstroTours.org would be honored to show you the sky.

Book a public stargazing tour or request a private astronomy event at:https://www.AstroTours.org

Clear skies,

Luke

tags: Colorado stargazing vacation, Denver Astronomical Society, Colorado astrotourism, Colorado Stargazing Trail, guided stargazing Colorado, AstroTours.org, dark sky Colorado, stargazing near Denver, Breckenridge stargazing, Boulder stargazing

Colorado Stargazing Trail: Experience the Stars with Telescopes and Astronomers

Colorado has officially become one of the best places in the country to plan a stargazing trip.

The Colorado Stargazing Trail highlights certified International Dark Sky Parks and International Dark Sky Communities across the state, giving travellers a map to some of the best night skies in Colorado. It is a wonderful resource for anyone looking to explore the Milky Way, planets, constellations, meteor showers, and the quiet beauty of the natural night.

But once you pick a place on the Colorado Stargazing Trail, the next question is:

How do you actually experience the stars once you get there?

You can always drive to a dark place and look up. Sometimes that is enough. But if you want to know what you are seeing, look through real telescopes, explore galaxies and nebulae up close, and learn from an expert astronomer, AstroTours.org can help turn a scenic stop into a true astronomy experience.

AstroTours.org offers guided stargazing tours with professional astronomers, large telescopes, laser-guided constellation tours, chairs, blankets, and a relaxed educational approach designed for curious people of all backgrounds.

The Colorado Stargazing Trail shows you where to find dark skies.

AstroTours helps you actually experience them.

What is the Colorado Stargazing Trail?

The Colorado Stargazing Trail is a statewide guide to Colorado’s certified dark-sky destinations. It includes International Dark Sky Parks and International Dark Sky Communities that have worked to reduce light pollution and protect the natural night sky.

These places are ideal for travellers who want to see stars, planets, the Milky Way, meteor showers, and Colorado’s mountain landscapes after dark.

The official Colorado Stargazing Trail includes Colorado dark-sky parks and communities such as:

• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

• Browns Canyon National Monument

• Chimney Rock National Monument

• Curecanti National Recreation Area

• Dinosaur National Monument

• Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

• Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

• Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area

• Hovenweep National Monument

• Jackson Lake State Park

• Slumgullion Center

• Mesa Verde National Park

• Top of the Pines

• Breckenridge

• Crestone

• Norwood

• Nucla and Naturita

• Old Snowmass

• Paonia

• Ridgway

• Westcliffe and Silver Cliff

You can explore the official trail here: Colorado Stargazing Trail

These are beautiful places to look up, and we love seeing Colorado recognise dark skies as one of the state’s great natural resources.

Why Book a Guided Stargazing Tour?

A dark sky is amazing, but a guided astronomy tour helps answer the questions that naturally come up once you are standing under it.

What planet is that bright object in the west?

Where is the Milky Way?

Why can I see so many more stars here than in the city?

What does Saturn look like through a telescope?

Can you really see galaxies from Colorado?

What is a nebula?

Why does the sky change throughout the year?

On an AstroTour, You are exploring with an astronomer who can guide you through the night sky, answer questions, and show you objects that are hard or impossible to find on your own.

Through our telescopes, guests may see:

• The rings of Saturn

• Jupiter’s cloud bands and moons

• Craters and mountains on the Moon

• Star clusters filled with young stars

• Nebulae where stars are born

• Galaxies far beyond the Milky Way

• Double stars, satellites, meteors, and seasonal constellations

AstroTours Runs Stargazing Programs Across Colorado

AstroTours.org has been bringing astronomy tourism to Colorado for nearly a decade. We run regular public stargazing tours and private astronomy events throughout the state, including in and around many of the destinations highlighted by the Colorado Stargazing Trail.

We regularly offer public tours in key Colorado locations and also work with local partners to bring annual, quarterly, monthly, and seasonal astronomy events to communities, resorts, parks, schools, camps, festivals, and private venues.

That means you do not have to hope your vacation happens to line up with one ranger program or one special stargazing night. If you are planning a trip, event, retreat, wedding, conference, school program, or family gathering, AstroTours can often bring the telescopes and astronomers to you.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Stargazing

Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of Colorado’s most dramatic landscapes by day and one of its most powerful dark-sky destinations by night. The steep canyon walls, remote setting, and protected night sky make it a perfect place to experience the Milky Way.

A guided astronomy experience near Black Canyon can help visitors identify constellations, planets, star clusters, and deep-sky objects before or after exploring the canyon.

Browns Canyon National Monument Stargazing

Browns Canyon National Monument combines rafting, rugged canyon scenery, mountain views, and dark skies. It is a great destination for travelers looking for outdoor adventure during the day and stars at night.

For private groups, retreats, camp programs, and outdoor events, AstroTours can help turn a Browns Canyon visit into a full day-to-night Colorado adventure.

Chimney Rock National Monument Stargazing

Chimney Rock is one of Colorado’s most meaningful places for connecting astronomy, archaeology, and cultural history. The landscape has deep connections to ancestral Puebloan sky knowledge and the movement of celestial objects.

A guided astronomy program near Chimney Rock can help guests connect the modern telescope view with the long human history of watching the sky.

Curecanti National Recreation Area Stargazing

Curecanti National Recreation Area offers reservoirs, mesas, mountain views, and protected dark skies. Visitors camping near Blue Mesa Reservoir or traveling through Gunnison country can experience clear, open views of the night sky.

A telescope tour adds structure to the experience, helping guests find planets, constellations, and deep-sky objects instead of guessing at what they are seeing.

Dinosaur National Monument Stargazing

Dinosaur National Monument is known for fossils, river canyons, geology, and some of the darkest skies in the country. It is an ideal place to connect deep time on Earth with deep space overhead.

A guided astronomy program here can connect dinosaurs, geology, planetary science, and the night sky into one unforgettable experience.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Stargazing

Florissant Fossil Beds is one of the most accessible dark-sky destinations from Colorado Springs and the Front Range. It combines ancient fossils, mountain scenery, and excellent night-sky viewing.

For families, school groups, and visitors looking for an educational evening, a guided telescope program near Florissant can turn a fossil-focused day into a cosmic night.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Stargazing

Great Sand Dunes is one of the most iconic places in Colorado to see the Milky Way. The dunes, mountains, and dark sky create a landscape that feels almost otherworldly.

A guided stargazing experience near Great Sand Dunes can help visitors understand what they are seeing overhead while enjoying one of Colorado’s most unforgettable nighttime landscapes.

Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Stargazing

Gunnison Gorge is remote, rugged, and exceptionally dark. It is a strong destination for campers, hikers, anglers, and travelers looking for a quieter dark-sky experience.

A guided astronomy tour can help groups make the most of the darkness by bringing telescopes, sky interpretation, and expert guidance to the night.

Hovenweep National Monument Stargazing

Hovenweep is one of the most powerful places in the region to connect ancient architecture, ancestral Puebloan history, and dark skies. Its stone towers and remote setting create an unforgettable night-sky backdrop.

A guided astronomy program near Hovenweep can help visitors explore both the scientific and human sides of stargazing.

Jackson Lake State Park Stargazing

Jackson Lake State Park was Colorado’s first state park to earn International Dark Sky Park certification. It is a great option for campers and families looking for a dark-sky experience on the plains.

A guided telescope night at Jackson Lake can help guests see planets, star clusters, the Moon, and seasonal constellations while learning why protecting dark skies matters.

Slumgullion Center Stargazing

The Slumgullion Center and the Lake City area offer high elevation, mountain scenery, and dark skies. With nearby high-country viewing opportunities, this region is a natural fit for astronomy, astrophotography, and meteor shower watching.

AstroTours can help private groups build astronomy into retreats, destination events, and outdoor education programs in places like Lake City and the San Juan Mountains.

Mesa Verde National Park Stargazing

Mesa Verde is known for ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, cultural history, and protected landscapes. At night, the sky adds another layer to the experience.

A guided astronomy experience near Mesa Verde can help connect visitors with the same sky that people have watched from this landscape for generations.

Top of the Pines Stargazing

Top of the Pines near Ridgway offers mountain views, camping, and some of the darkest skies in Colorado. It is an excellent destination for people looking for a quiet, scenic place to experience the stars.

A private telescope event at or near Top of the Pines can help groups explore the night sky while surrounded by the San Juan Mountains.

Breckenridge Stargazing

Breckenridge is one of Colorado’s most exciting stargazing destinations and Colorado’s first International Dark Sky Certified ski resort community. It combines mountain town charm, high elevation, dark-sky work, and easy visitor access.

AstroTours offers astronomy experiences in Breckenridge and works with local partners to bring guided telescope programs to the community. If you are visiting Breckenridge and looking for a unique evening activity, a guided stargazing tour is one of the best ways to experience the mountains after dark.

Learn more about AstroTours in Breckenridge: AstroTours.org

Crestone Stargazing

Crestone sits near the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Great Sand Dunes region, making it a powerful place for quiet stargazing, spiritual retreats, and dark-sky travel.

A guided astronomy program can add a scientific and educational layer to a Crestone visit, helping guests explore the sky through telescopes while connecting with the stillness of the landscape.

Norwood Stargazing

Norwood’s high mesa setting and dry climate make it one of Colorado’s excellent dark-sky communities. The wide-open views are ideal for Milky Way viewing, meteor showers, and deep-sky observing.

AstroTours can support private stargazing events, public programs, and partner events in communities like Norwood where the night sky is already a major part of the destination.

Nucla and Naturita Stargazing

Nucla and Naturita are surrounded by dramatic western Colorado landscapes, red rock formations, quiet roads, and dark skies. They are ideal for visitors looking for an off-the-beaten-path stargazing destination.

A guided telescope tour can help guests turn a remote dark-sky stop into a structured astronomy experience with real objects to see and understand.

Old Snowmass Stargazing

Old Snowmass is one of Colorado’s newer dark-sky communities and offers wide-open skies in the Roaring Fork Valley. It is a great destination for visitors staying near Aspen, Snowmass, and the surrounding mountain communities.

AstroTours can help create private astronomy programs for retreats, lodges, family gatherings, and destination events in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Paonia Stargazing

Paonia combines orchards, vineyards, mountain scenery, and dark skies. It is one of Colorado’s most charming dark-sky communities and a great destination for travelers interested in food, wine, camping, and the stars.

A guided astronomy event in Paonia can pair beautifully with a weekend getaway, farm stay, retreat, or community event.

Ridgway Stargazing

Ridgway sits in the San Juan Mountains with dark skies, mountain views, and access to some of western Colorado’s most scenic landscapes. It is a natural place for stargazing, astrophotography, and outdoor events.

With telescopes and astronomer guides, visitors can do more than admire the stars. They can explore them up close.

Westcliffe and Silver Cliff Stargazing

Westcliffe and Silver Cliff are among Colorado’s best-known dark-sky communities and home to a strong culture of public astronomy. The Wet Mountain Valley is famous for dark skies, star parties, and the Smokey Jack Observatory.

For visitors planning a trip to Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, a guided astronomy program can deepen the experience by connecting the landscape, community, and sky.

Public Stargazing Tours in Colorado

AstroTours offers regular public stargazing tours in Colorado, including:

Boulder Stargazing Tours

Our Boulder astronomy tours are one of the easiest ways to experience the night sky near Denver and Boulder. Guests join professional astronomers for a two-hour night-sky experience with telescopes, laser-guided constellation tours, chairs, blankets, and plenty of time for questions.

Book a Boulder stargazing tour: Boulder Stargazing Tours

Breckenridge Stargazing Tours

Breckenridge is one of Colorado’s top dark-sky destinations, and AstroTours brings guided astronomy experiences to the mountains with telescopes and expert astronomers.

Learn more about Breckenridge stargazing: AstroTours.org

Castle Rock and South Denver Stargazing Tours

For visitors south of Denver, our Castle Rock and South Denver night-sky programs make astronomy more accessible without requiring a long drive deep into the mountains.

Learn more: AstroTours.org

Private Astronomy Events Anywhere in Colorado

If you are planning a private event on or near the Colorado Stargazing Trail, AstroTours can help bring the universe to you.

Private astronomy events are great for:

• Resorts

• Hotels

• Destination weddings

• Corporate retreats

• Conferences

• School groups

• Camps

• Nonprofit events

• Festivals

• Family reunions

• Birthday parties

• Community programs

• Visitor centers

• Mountain lodges

• Private dark-sky trips

AstroTours can provide:

• Professional astronomer guides

• Large telescopes

• Laser-guided constellation tours

• Chairs and blankets

• Solar telescope programs

• Custom educational content

• Programs for children, adults, or mixed-age groups

• Astronomy entertainment for events and receptions

• Help choosing the best time and location for the sky

Request a private astronomy event: AstroTours Private Events

Do You Need to Be an Astronomy Expert?

No.

AstroTours is designed for everyone, from complete beginners to lifelong space lovers. You do not need to know constellations, own a telescope, or understand physics to enjoy the tour.

Our astronomers make the night sky approachable, fascinating, and fun. We explain the science in a way that makes sense, answer questions as they come up, and help guests feel connected to the universe instead of overwhelmed by it.

If you have ever looked up and wondered what you were seeing, this is for you.

When is the Best Time to Stargaze in Colorado?

Colorado has great stargazing year-round, but the experience changes with the seasons.

Spring brings galaxies, star clusters, and rising summer constellations.

Summer is one of the best times for Milky Way viewing, warm nights, meteor showers, and mountain stargazing.

Fall brings crisp air, darker evenings, and excellent views of planets and deep-sky objects.

Winter offers some of the clearest skies of the year, along with Orion, the Pleiades, bright planets, and sparkling mountain nights.

For the darkest skies, plan around the new moon. For the best telescope views of the Moon, choose nights when the Moon is not full, because shadows along the lunar surface reveal craters, mountains, and valleys in dramatic detail.

If you are not sure when to book, AstroTours can help you choose the best night for your group.

Colorado Stargazing Tips

Whether you join AstroTours or explore the Colorado Stargazing Trail on your own, these tips will help:

• Dress warmer than you think you need to, even in summer.

• Check the weather before heading out.

• Plan around the new moon for the darkest skies.

• Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark.

• Use red lights instead of bright white flashlights.

• Avoid shining headlights or phone lights at other stargazers.

• Bring water, layers, and offline maps for remote locations.

• Stay on designated roads and trails.

• Respect wildlife, quiet hours, private property, and local communities.

• Leave no trace and help protect the dark sky for the next visitor.

The darker the place, the more important it is to treat it carefully.

The Colorado Stargazing Trail is the Map. AstroTours is the Guide.

The Colorado Stargazing Trail is an incredible resource for finding dark skies across the state. It points travelers toward places where the Milky Way still shines, where communities value the night, and where visitors can reconnect with the universe overhead.

AstroTours.org helps make those skies come alive.

Instead of simply going somewhere dark and looking up, you can look through telescopes, ask questions, hear the stories of the stars, and explore planets, galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters with expert astronomers.

If you are searching for:

• Colorado Stargazing Trail tours

• Colorado stargazing tours

• Colorado dark sky tours

• Guided astronomy tours in Colorado

• Telescope tours in Colorado

• Breckenridge stargazing tours

• Boulder stargazing tours

• Castle Rock stargazing tours

• Stargazing near Denver

• Private astronomy events in Colorado

• Things to do on the Colorado Stargazing Trail

AstroTours.org can help you plan a night under the stars that your guests, family, students, or travelers will remember.

Colorado’s night sky is worth protecting.

It is also worth experiencing up close.

Book a public tour or request a private astronomy event at AstroTours.org.

Tags: Colorado Stargazing Trail, Colorado stargazing tours, Colorado dark sky tours, guided astronomy tours Colorado, telescope tours Colorado, Breckenridge stargazing, Boulder stargazing, private astronomy events Colorado, Colorado dark sky parks, Colorado dark sky communities