Best Places to View the Moon in Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs sits at about 6,035 feet above sea level at the foot of Pikes Peak. Its relatively dry climate can provide excellent transparency on some nights, while the city's red-rock parks and elevated overlooks give the moon dramatic foregrounds. The Colorado Springs Astronomical Society holds public star parties at some of these spots. As always, the moon's exact rise time and direction shift with the date and your observing location, so it's worth checking both against whichever park or overlook you're planning around. Here are six useful moon-viewing options in the area, each suited to a different kind of visit.
Garden of the Gods
A free 1,341-acre city park famous for its towering red sandstone formations framing views of Pikes Peak. Open May 1–Oct 31, 5 a.m.–10 p.m.; Nov 1–Apr 30, 5 a.m.–9 p.m. (Visitor & Nature Center 9 a.m.–6 p.m.). The Colorado Springs Astronomical Society holds public star parties here; after-hours access is available for certain scheduled events, so check the current Garden of the Gods event calendar before planning a late-night visit. Address: 1805 N 30th St.
RYZE Skyline Lounge
A rooftop cocktail lounge atop the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Colorado Springs, with panoramic views of Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, and the Front Range. Hours: Tue–Sat 4–10 p.m., Sun 3–9 p.m., closed Mon. Address: 125 N Cascade Ave.
America the Beautiful Park
A downtown park at the base of Pikes Peak, home to the Julie Penrose Fountain, open lawns, and paved trails connecting to the Pikes Peak Greenway. Free to visit. Check current City of Colorado Springs park hours before an evening visit. Address: 126 Cimino Dr.
Palmer Park
A rugged, more than 700-acre city park on a mesa in the middle of the city, with sandstone bluffs, panoramic overlooks, and over 25 miles of trails. Free to visit. Commonly listed with seasonal hours (longer in summer, shorter Nov–Apr) — check current City of Colorado Springs park hours before an evening visit. Address: 3650 Maizeland Rd.
Red Rock Canyon Open Space
A roughly 1,470-acre city open space on the west side, with red sandstone hogback ridges, quarry-era trails, and views toward Pikes Peak — a quieter alternative to Garden of the Gods a few miles north. Free to visit. Open May 1–Oct 31, 5 a.m.–10 p.m.; Nov 1–Apr 30, 5 a.m.–9 p.m. Address: 3550 W High St.
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
A roughly 2,700-acre state park at the base of Cheyenne Mountain, about 10 minutes from downtown, with 28+ miles of trails and a campground offering the option of an actual overnight stay under the stars. Park open daily, 5 a.m.–10 p.m., year-round. Daily entrance fees apply; current Colorado Parks and Wildlife rates vary by pass and vehicle type. Address: 410 JL Ranch Heights Rd.
Best Times for Moon Photography
Quick Photography Tips
The moon phase today in Colorado Springs is shown in detail above — complete with exact illumination percentage, moonrise/set times, and the best local spots to see it. For the moon phase today in any other city worldwide, visit our Dynamic Moon Phase Calculator on the home page.
What the Experience Actually Feels Like
Garden of the Gods draws a steady flow of visitors during the day, and the crowds thin noticeably as closing time approaches. On nights when the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society sets up in the parking lot for a public star party, that same quiet is replaced by a small gathering of telescopes and people trading views of the moon, planets, and deep-sky objects.
RYZE Skyline Lounge is a hotel rooftop bar first, with its own hours, reservation system, and dress expectations — a different kind of visit from any of the parks on this list. From 125 N Cascade Ave, Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods share the skyline with the city lights below.
Cheyenne Mountain State Park is the one location on this list where staying past closing time is actually the point: with a campsite reservation, visitors can stay through the night rather than needing to leave when day-use hours end. The park's distance from downtown's glow, combined with the region's typically clear, dry air, makes it a solid choice for a longer, unhurried session with the sky.
"Cheyenne Mountain State Park is the one location on this list where staying past closing time is actually the point — with a campsite reservation, visitors can stay through the night rather than needing to leave when day-use hours end."
Your Colorado Springs Moon Chase Checklist
Before You Go
- Check the moon's rise time and azimuth for your date and observing location — alignment with Pikes Peak, a rock formation, or a specific overlook depends on both
- Check both the moon's rise time and each site's current hours — Garden of the Gods and Red Rock Canyon Open Space each shift between two seasonal schedules, while Cheyenne Mountain State Park's day-use hours run 5 a.m.–10 p.m. year-round; check each site's current posted hours before planning a late visit
- Verify Site Access: after-hours stargazing at Garden of the Gods is available for certain scheduled star party events — check the current Garden of the Gods event calendar before planning a late visit
- Use PhotoPills or Stellarium to check whether the moon will align with a specific landmark on your date
- Check the forecast for summer afternoon thunderstorms, especially July and August, and for sudden temperature drops after sunset at this elevation
- Bring a payment method for Cheyenne Mountain State Park's entrance fee, since the city parks on this list don't charge general admission
What to Bring
- A telephoto lens — 200mm or longer can be useful when you want a relatively large moon beside a distant landmark, depending on your shooting distance
- Warm layers, even in summer — nights cool off quickly at 6,000+ feet of elevation
- A remote shutter release or a 2-second timer to avoid shake on tripod shots, where tripods are permitted
- Sturdy footwear for Palmer Park's or Red Rock Canyon's uneven, rocky trails
- A reservation and basic camping gear if you're planning to stay overnight at Cheyenne Mountain State Park
On the Night
- Arrive at least 30–45 minutes early when photographing from a rooftop or during a scheduled star party
- Focus manually on the moon's edge — city glow and rooftop lighting can confuse autofocus at dusk
- Bracket your exposures — one for the bright lunar disc, one for the darker rock formations or mesa below
- If the moon looks soft or hazy right at moonrise, consider waiting until it climbs higher above the horizon; the longer path through the atmosphere at low altitude increases scattering and distortion
- At Garden of the Gods, Palmer Park, or Red Rock Canyon Open Space, plan around each site's current posted hours rather than assuming late-night access
Colorado Springs Moon Phase — Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the moon phase today in Colorado Springs?
The moon phase today in Colorado Springs is a New Moon with 0% illumination. The next full moon is in 17 days, on Oct 25. Moonrise is at 6:08 AM and moonset at 5:58 PM.
Q. Where is the best place to view the moon in Colorado Springs?
Garden of the Gods is the standout spot, a free 1,341-acre city park famous for towering red sandstone formations framing views of Pikes Peak. RYZE Skyline Lounge offers a downtown rooftop view of Pikes Peak and the Front Range, America the Beautiful Park sits right at Pikes Peak's base downtown, and Palmer Park, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, or Cheyenne Mountain State Park add further mesa-top, quieter-alternative, or overnight-campground options.
Q. Do these viewing spots stay open after dark?
It varies — Garden of the Gods and Red Rock Canyon Open Space both shift between two seasonal schedules (5 a.m.–10 p.m. May through October, 5 a.m.–9 p.m. the rest of the year), and Palmer Park keeps similarly seasonal hours. Cheyenne Mountain State Park runs 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round for day use, but its campground lets visitors stay through the night with a reservation. RYZE Skyline Lounge is closed Monday, with hours Tuesday–Saturday 4–10 p.m. and Sunday 3–9 p.m.
Q. Does Colorado Springs observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Colorado Springs runs on Mountain Time — MST (UTC−7) in winter and MDT (UTC−6) in summer, since Colorado observes daylight saving time on the standard U.S. schedule.
Q. What's the best time of year for moon photography in Colorado Springs?
The moon's rise time and direction shift with the date and your observing location rather than following a fixed seasonal pattern, so alignment with Pikes Peak or a specific rock formation depends on the exact night. Whatever the date, it's worth checking the forecast for summer afternoon thunderstorms, especially July and August, and for sudden temperature drops after sunset at this elevation.
Q. Does this page work for cities besides Colorado Springs?
This page is set up specifically for Colorado Springs, Colorado. For the moon phase in any other city or location worldwide, use the Dynamic Moon Phase Calculator on the moonphase.today home page.
Explore Further
Moon Phase Today: Denver
Check tonight's moon phase in Denver, about 70 miles north.
📷Moon Photography Guide
Camera settings, lenses, and techniques for shooting sharp, well-exposed moon shots.
📐Looney 11 Exposure Calculator
Dial in the exact f-stop, ISO, and shutter speed for a full moon over Pikes Peak.
🌙Why Does the Moon Rise and Set?
The simple science behind why the rising time and direction shift night to night.
NASA Moon Phase & Libration Gallery
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio's daily renders of the moon's exact phase, libration, and orientation, straight from official mission data.