Crestone, Colorado

Crestone is a statutory town in southern Colorado, U.S., with a population of about 150 inhabitants. The small village sits at the foot of the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in the northern part of the adjacent San Luis Valley. Settled as a mining town at the turn of the 20th century, Crestone is now mainly known as a regional spiritual center represented by groups of several major world religions. In addition to spiritual explorations, popular area activities include camping, fishing, hiking, and rock climbing in the nearby Sangre de Cristo foothills.

The town is also recognized among the first U.S. municipalities to incorporate into its local laws the “rights of nature” legal doctrine, officially recognizing that ”nature, natural ecosystems, communities, and all species possess intrinsic and inalienable rights which must be effectuated to protect life on Earth.” Alongside its concern for the terrestrial environment, defense of dark skies has been a feature of local life since the mid-1990s.