When the mercury drops, most Coloradans prefer to head indoors, especially after the sun goes down. But cold air (which holds less hazy moisture), longer nights and fewer crowds make winter the ideal time for constellation viewing.

Colorado is home to 15 certified International Dark Sky Places — 10 parks and five communities committed to preserving and protecting the night sky from light pollution. These efforts not only make it easier for stargazers to see and appreciate the beauty above but also can safeguard wildlife habitats and their natural rhythms.

Plan to visit some of our favorite celestial sanctuaries this season.

Dinosaur National Monument: Straddling the Colorado–Utah border, Dinosaur National Monument is notable for its incredible array of dinosaur fossils and petroglyphs. So you’d be forgiven for not realizing a nighttime visit is worth your time too. On clear, moonless nights, more than 4,000 stars — and, perhaps, the International Space Station — might be visible to the naked eye. Split Mountain Campground is the monument’s designated stargazing location.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: An awe-inspiring chasm by day, Black Canyon is equally impressive at night thanks to limited artificial light. In the summer, the park partners with an astronomy society to host regular stargazing events. In the winter, drive or cross-country ski along the South Rim or join a ranger-led snowshoeing trek on a full moon night.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument: You don’t have to travel far from the city to peek the constellations. Florissant Fossil Beds, less than an hour’s drive from Colorado Springs, benefits from what DarkSky International calls a “light-screening effect” in which the southern Front Range blocks urban light pollution from reaching the monument. The parking lot by Hornbek Homestead is always open to allow for public stargazing access.

Mesa Verde National Park: Another of Colorado’s archaeological wonders, Mesa Verde was once home to a thriving community of Ancestral Puebloans. Look up, and you’ll see a sky that’s relatively unchanged since they lived on the land. Though much of the park is closed to the public at night, overlooks and pullouts are safe observation spots for constellation-seekers.

Westcliffe and Silver Cliff: These sparsely populated towns in southern Colorado are protected from light pollution by two mountain ranges and are among the highest-elevation International Dark Sky Communities in the world — and the first to be named in Colorado. Head to Bluff and Summit Park, on the west end of Westcliffe’s Main Street, or the Alvarado or Hermit trailheads about 30 minutes from town for the best cosmic views.

Ridgway: Stargazing and hot springs? Yes, please. Both the town of Ridgway and nearby Top of the Pines recreation area are designated Dark Sky destinations, so there are plenty of opportunities to take in the stars. Our recommendation: Do so while soaking in one of the pools at Orvis Hot Springs (note that the property is clothing-optional).