Breckenridge, CO, Receives Dark Sky Certification

The town of Breckenridge, Colorado, has officially been certified as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International as of August 2025. A Dark Sky certification shows a town’s commitment to light pollution reduction in order for residents and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the night sky. Breckenridge’s efforts to reduce light pollution date back to 2007, when it adopted its first exterior lighting ordinance. The town has been actively pursuing a Dark Sky certification since 2023. 

In a statement on the official Town of Breckenridge’s website from DarkSky International, Communities Program Manager Michael Rymer expressed that the Rocky Mountain towns of Colorado offer “immense natural beauty, especially when it comes to the night sky.” With Breckenridge’s work as an international Dark Sky community, the town hopes to protect and preserve the night sky for residents and visitors into the future.  “We at DarkSky International are excited to certify a significant tourist destination that will highlight the wonders of dark skies to visitors from all around the world,” Rymer went on to say. 

Breckenridge was able to acquire its dark sky designation with its new streetlight compliance beginning in 2024. The town also implemented new standards for lighting zones, shielding, and maximum color temperature (Kelvin) for outdoor lights. The town has been collaborating with local residents to update older, non-compliant lighting fixtures. With its stunning mountain location at nearly 10,000 feet of elevation on the opposite side of the continental divide from the Denver metro area, Breckenridge is already blessed with the perfect location to view the night sky. Light pollution from the major population centers of Colorado’s front range are blocked by the massive 14,000 foot mountains of the Rockies, leading to darker skies than almost anywhere else in the continental U.S.. 

While Breckenridge is naturally blessed with some of the darkest skies in North America, its recent dark sky certification will benefit the community in more ways then one. According to Breckenridge Mayor Kelly Owens, the certification honors Breckenridge’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and creates a more sustainable and resilient future for the community. She stated on the official town of Breckenridge website that “the certification not only honors our long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, but it sets the town up for a more sustainable and economically resilient future. Stargazing, education, and responsible tourism are now part of what makes Breckenridge shine—under the stars.”

Other benefits from reducing light pollution include protecting nocturnal wildlife and ecosystems that could easily be damaged by human encroachment. With the recent Dark Sky certification, the town of Breckenridge looks well poised to preserve its stunning starry nights, serve as a leader for other mountain towns in the region, and remain a protected asset for current and future generations.

A previous version of this article contained inaccuracies and was updated at 9:34 a.m. PST on September 10, 2025.