SLV GO! and dark sky partners including the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Complex and Great Sand Dunes National Park invites community members to a Star Party at the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge. The Star Party will be held from 8:00 to approximately 10:30 pm on the night of Friday, September 8^th. We are also offering a guided sunset hike, limited to 20 participants (registration is now full!) prior to the star party, starting at 7:00 pm. This entire event is free and open to the public!

At 7:00, staff with the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge will guide a sunset hike and talk about the refuge complex, nocturnal wildlife, and the importance of naturally dark skies to our ecological systems. On the way back, staff will tell cultural stories around wildlife in the stars! The guided sunset hike is limited to 20 people, so pre-register below! This hike will be held on the Rio Grande Nature Trail located near the old visitor center at the end of El Rancho Ln. This trail meanders along riparian habitat and the Rio Grande. We recommend wearing walking shoes such as tennis shoes or boots.

The community star party will feature a presentation from our partners at 8:00 pm on the importance of dark skies and SLV GO’s and DarkSky Colorado’s efforts to protect this vanishing resource.  A guided constellation tour from our partners at Great Sand Dunes National Park will begin at 8:30, followed by stargazing and telescope viewing at approximately 8:45 pm. There will be plenty of telescopes and operators for everyone to be able to get a good view of the night sky!

The Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge is located at 9383 El Rancho Ln, Alamosa, CO 81101. To get there, drive east of Alamosa for approximately 3.5 miles, and turn right on El Rancho Ln and drive 2 miles across the cattle guard and follow the road all the way to the old visitors center parking lot.

Please:
• Dress warmly
• Leave your pets at home
• Bring a headlamp or flashlight. Please use only red lights after dark (red cellophane covers will be available).
• Bring binoculars if you have them.