SAN JUAN NATIONAL FOREST, Colo. — Chimney Rock National Monument has been certified as an International Dark Sky Park today by Dark Sky International. This is an important achievement as this designation will further help preserve the natural, historical, and cultural significance of the monument – all of which are features that have drawn people to the area for thousands of years.
“So many people who appreciate cultural heritage and astronomy are drawn to Chimney Rock National Monument to observe lunar standstills and other phenomena that take place at night,” said Michael Rymer, DarkSky International’s Community Program Manager. “This certification further demonstrates the national monument’s mission to conserve not just the natural environment, but also the spiritual significance it has held for centuries. We are ecstatic to have Chimney Rock as a certified International Dark Sky Park, bringing further dark sky protections and awareness to southwest Colorado.”
Chimney Rock National Monument encompasses approximately 4,726 acres of federal land on the San Juan National Forest in Colorado. The monument offers non-motorized trails for hiking and tours, as well as astronomy-focused activities and events through night sky programming. Chimney Rock National Monument comprises several physiographic areas, each characterized by distinctive geological, geomorphological, and archaeological resources. The monument is also home to abundant and diverse flora and fauna. This range of natural resources has attracted human inhabitants to the area for thousands of years, extending back as early as the Pueblo II Period (AD 900-1125).
The flora and fauna of the area are represented by a wide range of species. The natural plant communities include pinyon-juniper forest growing at the top of the mesa. The mesa is surrounded by ponderosa pine forest. Many other species are present, including the Forest Service designated sensitive species, Missouri milkvetch (Astragalus missouriensis var. humistratus). The dominant vegetation types include ponderosa pine with Gambel oak in the understory, pinyon-juniper, mountain and desert grasslands, and mixed conifer (Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine) on north-facing slopes within and outside drainages.
Like the flora of the monument, the fauna is also varied. Six species of mammals have been documented in the monument, including elk and bobcat. Four species of snakes and two species of lizards have been observed. Over 30 species of birds have been reported in the monument. 16 bird species of conservation concern have habitat in the area including the American peregrine falcon, band-tailed pigeon, black-throated gray warbler, Brewer’s sparrow, flammulated owl, and golden eagle. Steep canyons within the monument provide marginally suitable habitat for the Mexican spotted owl, a federally listed species. Evidence from archeological sites on the state property indicates that deer, rabbit, rodents, turtles, lizards, and snakes were utilized by past inhabitants of the area.
The Ancestral Puebloans were a community that inhabited the Chimney Rock Area about 1,000 years ago. The sites and histories of this ancestral culture are still valued today in song and prayer by the Pueblo peoples now residing in New Mexico and Arizona. The ancestral Puebloans were not the first people to live in the Upper San Juan/Piedra River area; most archeologists agree that people have inhabited this region as early as 12,000 BC, although there is no evidence of occupation this early at Chimney Rock National Monument. Housing approximately 2,000 ancient Pueblo Indians between AD 925 and 1125, the settlement included a Great House Pueblo with round ceremonial rooms, called kivas, and 36 ground-floor rooms. A grizzly bear jaw found in one of the rooms suggested a reverence for the animal, and modern Chaco oral history suggest that the Bear clan originated in the Chimney Rock area. The construction of the Great House Pueblo at the top of the ridge, close to Chimney Rock and its neighbor, Companion Rock, had a large ceremonial role in the later years of Chacoan presence. As the moon makes its lunar cycle across the sky over a period of 18.6 years, it appears in a lunar standstill between the two rocks for approximately 16 months.
Long-standing partnerships between the United States Forest Service (USFS), the Chimney Rock Interpretive Association (CRIA) and local advocates for dark skies have made the effort for designation possible. Volunteers collected and compiled all necessary dark sky data, gathered lighting inventory, and collaborated on new dark sky education kiosks and resources for the monument. These efforts lead to the successful development of the Dark Sky Park certification, and will continue to educate the public on the importance of dark sky preservation for years to come.
Chimney Rock Interpretive Association’s Tony Aldwell applauds the group effort. “Joining the International Dark Sky Place community aligns with the CRIA’s mission to educate our visitors about the essential importance the Ancestral Puebloans placed on the world above them and enhances our multiple efforts to provide nighttime programs which highlight the beauty of the heavens above Chimney Rock National Monument
Pagosa Ranger District Ranger Joshua Peck added “We are thrilled to receive the dark sky designation as it further recognizes Chimney Rock National Monument as a special place in Southwest Colorado.”
The U.S. Forest Service and CRIA plan to continue their efforts to preserve and enhance the monument’s night sky through nighttime tours, expanding educational programs, and promoting responsible outdoor lighting practices. These efforts will educate the public on the importance of dark sky preservation for years to come by protecting the region’s natural nocturnal environment
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