See the Colorado Wilderness Scientists Claim Is the Quietest

What was the last place you visited in Colorado that was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat? Did you know that located right here in the Centennial State is one of the quietest places found anywhere in America?

Behind the rugged and wild Rocky Mountain landscape, a rare and natural ambience can be found so free of modern noise that science says your own body becomes the soundtrack.

The Quietest Places in Colorado

• High Alpine Lakes & Bowls: A treeline-framed rocky bowl, and still mountain air at high elevations can deaden noise in a way that makes less noticeable sounds much easier to hear. The Ice Lake Basin (near Silverton), Alta Lakes (near Telluride), and the Upper Blue Lakes (Mount Sneffels approach) are all lakes with low ambient sound, especially in the morning.
• Weminuche Wilderness (San Juan Mountains): Colorado’s largest wilderness (nearly 500k acres) features long approaches and high alpine basins, meaning long stretches with no human noise. It’s known for being one of the quietest places in the state.
• Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve: The Great Sand Dunes are one of the quietest places on earth, especially at sunrise on days with little or no wind. Quiet Parks International recognizes Great Sand Dunes as one of America's quietest places.

How To Capture Colorado's Quietest Experience

Read More: Why Gunnison, Colorado, Is the Coldest Place You’ve Never Lived

As someone who works in radio, extreme quiet is something I usually associate with trouble. As a hiker, I expect it. If you are chasing Colorado’s deepest quiet, you will want to prepare in advance and move with careful timing.

Colorado’s stillest moments usually happen at dawn and dusk. Calm days or moonless nights mean less activity. The shoulder seasons, late September or early October, mean fewer visitors. When heading into a wilderness area, remember to silence your devices, skip the music, and note that the Wilderness Act prohibits the use of noisy equipment in protected areas.

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Colorado's Quietest Place

At times, the Great Sand Dunes National Park is among the quietest places anywhere in the lower 48. 5280 magazine says ambient sound levels at Great Sand Dunes are often at or below 10 decibels, which is softer than a calm human breath. High Country News says the Great Sand Dunes are at or below 20 decibels, matching ambient noise levels in pre-Colonial America. Nothing to hear but your own heartbeat.