When you think of America’s most stunning remote spots for an epic stargazing experience , Nevada’s Great Basin National Park might come to mind. But Colorado has a dark-sky secret of its own—and it’s hiding in plain sight in one particular charming small town.

Tucked in a remote stretch of south-central Colorado, the tiny town of Westcliffe sits in the Wet Mountain Valley, nestled between the Wet Mountains to the east and the rugged Sangre de Cristo Range to the west. On a clear day, you might spot the Spanish Peaks to the south and even catch a glimpse of Pikes Peak in the distance. Quite literally the epitome of a hidden gem, Westcliffe is a charming Western town surrounded by natural beauty on all sides.

While Colorado is full of underrated mountain towns , if you’re into dark

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