Watch for Aurora Borealis in ColoradoCOLORADO, United States
Move aside Finland and Norway, Colorado’s selling tickets to Mother Nature’s best show and securing tickets is easier than ever before. A recent peak in the solar cycle’s sunspot activity means the mile-high state has been promoted to the Northern Lights big leagues.
And Colorado already boasts massive bragging rights. The mountainous Rockies, dark star-studded skies and picturesque national parks all combine to make the state a premier destination for nature lovers. That’s not new information. But adding in frequent and consistent sightings of those legendary green and pink swirls just feels a little like showing off.
The state has also been blessed with 11 DarkSky International Parks free from light pollution including Black Canyon of the Gunnisen National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area, and if you want to catch some serious natural phenomena those are the places to start. Although, some reports have even suggested the auroras will show their shiny faces as far south as Boulder and Fort Collins.
But searching for iconic twinkling lights isn’t the only nighttime adventure you can have in Colorado. From looking for UFOs in Hoover (a supposed hotspot for alien activity) and discovering DarkSky communities to watching a northern lights laser show for when the universe doesn’t deliver on the real thing, you’ll never be bored in this state when the sun goes down.
Or you could always settle in at Telluride Ski Resort for some serious ski and snowboard action and of course, a lot of Aurora Borealis watching.
*Images supplied by Telluride Ski Resort.
The Northern Lights are at their most potent during winter, from late September to late March between 10pm and 2am (wear your thermals!)