This Colorado Ski Town Just Got a Lot Better for Stargazing

Frisco, Colorado, has officially achieved designation as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International. 

Defined as a “town, city, municipality, or other legally organized community that has shown exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky,” the Town of Frisco was able to receive the Community certification in recognition of its implementation and enforcement of quality outdoor lighting ordinances. 

Frisco sits just off I-70, south of Silverthorne, in the heart of Summit County, with Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Loveland all just a stone’s throw away. While each ski area and mountain town within the I-70 and Highway 9 corridor is its own little mountain oasis, there’s no doubt that the area has become a major artery for mountain travel and traffic in recent years. Frisco’s taken steps to keep nighttime views clear, though.

“Achieving International Dark Sky Community certification is an important step in protecting Frisco’s natural environment and preserving the magic of a night sky in the mountains. We look forward to continuing our work with community members and businesses to further reduce light pollution and ensure future generations can experience the beauty of a darker sky and stargazing,” said Frisco Mayor Rick Ihnken in a release. 

Frisco began working towards achieving International Dark Sky Community certification in 2024. At the direction of the Frisco Town Council, the Town took inventory of all Town-owned fixtures in order to update and adopt outdoor lighting regulations such as fully shielded fixtures, warm color temperatures, lighting curfews, and limits on excess light. 

The Town also established continuous sky-brightness monitoring on Main Street, following the update of all Main Street fixtures, and conducted quarterly town-wide measurements. 

Community events such as a STEM day at Frisco Elementary, presentations on bird migration and light pollution, solar viewings, stargazing, and constellation programs were held to further educate the community. Frisco is also working with private property owners to bring all privately-owned lighting into regulation by March of 2036.

Other Dark Sky International Designated Communities in the US include Crestone, Old Snowmass, Norwood, Breckenridge, Paonia, and Ridgway, Colorado; Ketchum, Idaho; Teton County, Wyoming; and Sisters, Oregon. There are 43 total DarkSky International Communities in the US.

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