Browns Canyon National Monument, located in Colorado’s Chaffee County, has been designated as an International Dark Sky Place, making it the state’s 18th such site and 12th Dark Sky Park. This recognition, announced by the Bureau of Land Management on December 16, is credited to the local advocacy group Friends of Browns Canyon, which organized various events and conducted light meter readings to meet certification standards. The certification process, which began in 2022, involved considerable volunteer effort to retrofit lighting and promote responsible outdoor lighting practices. With nearly 22,000 acres of public land and rich opportunities for night sky viewing, the designation not only enhances tourism but also aims to increase awareness of the environmental impacts of artificial lighting on wildlife and the ecosystem. Local and federal partners, including the Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Parks and wildlife, are now focusing on delivering educational programs related to the night sky, further solidifying Browns Canyon’s status as a unique natural resource in Colorado.