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Attended the Music of the Spheres event this past Saturday with the White Album Ensemble Chamber Orchestra performing an hour long show for a medium-sized audience. The setup and sound system for the musical performance was less than ideal, but the musicians were decent, lovely sounds of the keyboard, bass, and violin being played on a makeshift stage. Among the various tunes, a medley of music by the Beatles, including In my Life, Across the Universe, and Something. Our paid tickets also included telescope passes for two different telescopes, the 36" Refractor and 40" Reflector. But the system they used for visitor viewing was inconvenient and inefficient. Let's just say if you're #150 or above, you'll be waiting a while. Because of this ridiculous system, we opted to just visit one of the telescopes (the one with less people and a shorter "line"), and I'm glad we chose the Refractor. Inside the dark space, they shared interesting information about the science and history of the piece and about this unique setting, the first mountaintop observatory, with James Lick's tomb buried underneath this particular dome. After guests' questions were answered, visitors could then climb up a platform ladder, one-by-one, to peek through the giant telescope, on this day viewing M5, a cluster of stars 20,000 light years away. While waiting for our turn for telescope viewing, we were able to explore the other rooms, listen to a lecture by an astronomy speaker on site, check out views from the smaller telescopes outside, and visit the gift shop. They also had a few snacks and coffee for sale, as well as drinks from a vending machine available. For special events here, I felt there were a lot of negatives. They don't have enough parking to accommodate the number of tickets they sell and don't inform visitors that there will be at least a quarter mile walk uphill if not more, the seating for concerts and system for telescope viewing is flawed and unnecessarily complicated, and the drive up here caused some of the worst motion sickness I've ever gotten. I still gave 4 stars because the volunteers and staff were helpful for the most part, the views from Mount Hamilton are magnificent, and the experience is quite unique. Also admission to the visitor center is typically free. Can't complain about that.
It's incredible the the things that are here in our backyard of the greater Bay area. Gazing down at us from is this incredible observatory. As someone from San Jose I would see this building all the way from my corner of Los Gatos/Campbell/San Jose. I took a drive up here yesterday to clear my head, I went up Quimby which I don't recommend unless you are a very skilled driver and enjoy twisty roads which I actually do. It was a clear day so the driving conditions was perfect. Anyway look Observatory was incredible well they do have limited hours I recommend you get here before 5:00. I was able to check out the visitor center learn more about the telescope and how the building was built I even got to chat with some of the researchers who were wandering the grounds. There are many signs that actually say quiet day sleepers which indicate that the researchers and the scientists sleep during the day and then do their work at night. So try to be respectful when you visit. Anyhow the views are stunning and breathtaking. There are some binoculars attached to a stand that you can check out some of the other mountain peaks too. You can see Joseph D Grant Park and the lake down below, and some of the greater Bay Area in the distance. My favorite experience was seeing the Marine layer.
Fun place but lost track of time. the observatory area closed and I was kicked out by a man around his 40s I left the observatory without a hassle as I make it down to mt ham rd the worker then tells me I have to start making my way down the rd or he'll call sheriff. I simply wanted to rest and catch my breath from climbing all the way up but the worker refused.yes I get you are trying to do your job but you don't have to abuse it.do better.
My husband and I attended a photography night event at Lick Observatory and it was no less than amazing. It was our first time at Lick Observatory and the drive was quite harrowing. For someone who gets carsick, I was very paranoid about making the trip up, so I stocked up on ginger chews. It took what felt like an eternity to get up there and about 1-2 miles from our destination, I had a bit of a panic attack, but with some steady breathing and once we arrived, I mellowed out and was fine to enjoy the rest of the evening on top of the world. They allowed up to 20 cars up for the evening and had things lined up specifically for photographers to take advantage of the location and evening. There were people with a wide variety of experience and gear up there with us. We found a great spot to each set up our tripods and cameras to enjoy and capture the sunset. I packed some hot ginger tea and layers and am SO glad I did. It got mighty cold and breezy up there. We caught a beautiful sunset of pinks, purples, and oranges that transitioned into a beautiful evening sky with a few streaks of clouds. They turned off the building lights, interior and exterior, so that we could get some cool shots of the 36" telescope dome. They had an infrared light inside the dome and opened it up, so people could shoot inside or outside the dome. We couldn't look or shoot through the scope, unfortunately, but it was still a neat experience. Once we were in the 10-11PM hour, they turned on the light in the dome and did a planned long exposure setup with us to create what they called a "Ghost Dome" image which was meant to be at a 2 minute shutter speed and F4 aperture. I unfortunately didn't have a remote trigger to set the shutter for that long, so I was just taking 30 second shots at a time, but it was still a neat experience. They gave us 2 (but really, 3 because one was a bit messed up) shots at it and it was great. The staff there were all super-knowledgeable and informative. It was really lovely being welcomed to the observatory for such a special experience. The car ride home was much better than the ride up, but it is a looong way from town. I would love to go back someday, but I don't know if I could stomach the ride. It was truly a night to remember, though.
It's hard to imagine anyone giving Lick Observatory anything less than a 5-star review! Set high up on one of the peaks of Mount Hamilton, this destination is a must-visit. The drive up to the observatory is an adventure in itself, with twisty roads that really test your driving skills. The narrow roads climb steadily, offering stunning views that prepare you for the spectacle ahead. At the summit, Lick Observatory stands as a landmark of historical significance and a hub of cutting-edge astronomical research, dating back to the late 18th century. Among its collection of telescopes is the Great Lick Refractor, once the largest refracting telescope in the world, and still a marvel of historical and scientific importance. Nighttime visits are especially magical. The observatory's summer stargazing programs allow guests to peer through telescopes at distant galaxies and stars, with expert explanations from the observatory's knowledgeable staff. It's an educational and intimate experience that connects visitors with the vast cosmos. Whether you're a stargazing enthusiast or simply looking for a unique experience, Lick Observatory is an excellent choice. It's a perfect spot for families, dates, friends, or even solo adventurers. You won't be disappointed. A few tips for your visit: 1. Drive carefully. The roads up the mountain attract fast drivers who can make the narrow, two-lane road tricky, especially at parts where it's impossible for wide cars to pass without crossing into the oncoming lane. 2. Watch for unprotected turns along cliffs with 1,000+ foot drops. If you're heading to the observatory, stay alert and cautious. 3. Share the road respectfully with cyclists, who are vulnerable and move slowly. The road includes several blind turns, so when in doubt, slow down. There's no need to rush--with so much beauty and excitement ahead, the drive is part of the adventure.
If California were a nation (it kind of is) Lick Observatory would be a national treasure--an engineering marvel, truly stunning setting, and fascinating history all rolled into one. So why is it then that they are so cash strapped that they can't show a more updated video in their makeshift museum then one from the 90s, chairs in 'theatre' are shreaded and held together with duck tape, and per the docent-- they are still trying to raise the $2 million required to fix the elevated walkway in historic dome. With all the $$$ in this region why and how is fundraising even an issue?
Looking at the mountains, I've always wondered what those bulb-y looking things were. Little did I know it was Lick Observatory! Unfortunately the observatory was closed when we arrived so this review is based on the outside only haha. It was a nice day for a motorcycle ride and well, my bf decided to come all the way up here! The turns and twisties make the ride even more fun haha. There's some cyclists that travel up these hills so be careful! One thing we noticed was that when we were getting closer to the summit, the air was nicer and we got so far up that the trees started looking like broccolis to me haha. There was plenty of parking when we went and we were free to walk around the area. Those bulb-y buildings were HUGE. I mean, they looked huge from afar but damn when you get there you'll literally just ooooh and ahhhh at it. Overall, it's a great escape from the city but not too far. Highly recommend to everyone!
It's a bit of a drive from Milpitas up to the observatory, but very much worth it. The road is narrow and winding, so when your navi tells you that it's going to be an hour to get there, it's correct. On the bright side if you drive an electric vehicle up there, on the way down your battery will likely be at a higher percentage after the trip down than it is when you leave the observatory. The old telescope is the gem here. It's absolutely beautiful. If you can, catch the tour that the gift shop puts on. It's more of a talk than a tour, but worth it nonetheless. Make sure to look at the floor! It's almost as marvelous as the scope. There's a newer and still-in-operation telescope a short walk from the old observatory. It's very industrial but some of the posted material is really interesting to read if you're even remotely into astronomy.
We went to Lick Observatory on Sat 8/25/12 for their annual Music of the Sphere for Great Guitars w/ Daniel Roest & Alex de Grassi & lecture given by Dr. Mariska Kriek. From Fremont it took 1hr20min with A. driving crazy fast up that very windy road. If you get motion sickness take ginger beforehand! We got there by 7pm and I do recommend getting there earlier because the parking is tight, not sure how they fit all the cars. They do check if you have tickets or on the list for Will Call so don't go up there without reserved tickets (tickets were $40pp for non-reserved seats, reserved just means you sit up closer) - they are Sold Out really fast on them! Sign up on their website for the email if you missed it this yr & get tickets early next yr! FREE Mug or Wine Glass per ticket. Get it before the show starts & put it in your car. Found the guitar players just ok, 2nd one was more interesting to me. Lecture with Dr. Mariska Kriek was ok for the first 10 min, then I fell asleep, woke up & didn't learn anything, something about blue is young, red is old galaxies. B. loved it & said he learned something. After that we checked out the 4 telescopes set up outside by volunteers. Saw a bunch of things - don't remember any names anymore. Some had rings, blobs in the sky, saw the moon craters. Highlight is seeing the 36-inch Great Lick Refactor. They give you numbers to see it so it take a long time. We saw Albireo, a colorful binary star & also the 2nd brightest star in the constellation Cygnus (from program). 40-in Nickel Reflector They give u number to see it, so it takes long time - saw NGC 6826-the Blinking Planetary Nebula, a dying sun-like star in the constellation Cygnus (from program). Driving down the crazy, windy hill is scary & slow. We got home after 1AM to Fremont. Gift shop they kept open until 11:30pm. They have moon/planet/stars shirts, socks, hats, posters. Sale for their older mugs 2011. read more
Ambiance: * Parking | When hitting the hill from Quimby Rd, it's about a 45 minute drive and it can be quite curvy. In regards to parking, we got here on a Winter Break afternoon Monday where it wasn't too pack bt parking can be limited. * Feels | A very family friendly place with lots of information to learn about the history of the mountain and the observatory. There are events seasonal that I recommend looking into. Overall | 4 stars. The drive was time-consuming but enjoyable. The view itself is quite unique as you're basically leveled with the clouds. A hidden gem in San Jose for those that are into sight seeing. If you have the time, I recommend checking this place out. Advice: * Check-in before you lose signal at the hills. * Road becomes more narrow a quarter of the way for about a mile so be careful when driving. * First quarter of the drive is when you can see the city, afterwards is parts of the city and San Jose greenery. read more
5 years ago
I had the pleasure to schedule the private event to throw a surprising Engagement Party to propose to my girlfriend. Credit to Leah to start the reservation and Ellie to work closely with me and my friends on the secret plan! Works can't explain how supportive and cooperative they are, but I wish I would give more than 5 stars on my experience. Unfortunately the weather was pretty cloudy on that day so the picture may not fully describe how amazing the view is. However, we've planed to come back at least once a year to celebrate this amazing memory that will last forever! read more
18 years ago
This place is a pain to drive up to, but once you get there, it is a lot like labor, your forget about it all once you get that view off the cliff. Do the free tour of the telescope, the lady rocks. Walk over to the more advance telescope and watch the retro video. This is a place you just relax and enjoy thinking about space. I recommend staying at Grant Park for camping, then you don't have to worry about getting back into the city ASAP read more
17 years ago
In the gift shop at the James Lick Observatory, I was chatting with the very social attendant. Examining some lovely bookmarks with amazing pictures of celestial bodies, like galaxies and nebulae, I said "Isn't it amazing, what beautiful formations nature produces?" The attendant responded, "That's not nature - that's space." I was speechless and pondered whether our concept of nature should be restricted just to the terrestrial environment we really know. I don't have the answer. The Lick Observatory was built before there were trucks and cars. All of the materials were hauled up to the very top of Mt. Hamilton by draft animals, over breathtaking country. Today it's still verdant hilly pastureland dotted with pretty little ponds and oaks full of mistletoe. The main public building of the observatory looks and feels just like an academic building, because it's part of the UC System. They have many photographs and made-up depictions of technology on the walls of the hallway. Most are quite old and I think many of the pictures of the constellations and galaxies were taken with the main telescope on Mt. Hamilton. There's a short tour of the main telescope, which is becoming antiquated. Its dimension and general workings still seem very impressive though. The tour guide - also the gift shop attendant - said other than classes held at the observatory, today most astronomers access the telescopes on Mount Hamilton remotely over a computer network. They're lucky, because otherwise they'd have to travel about 15 miles from San Jose to the west, or 47 miles from Livermore to the east. Mt. Hamilton IS a mountain, and there WAS snow on it, and on a day when it was 65 in San Jose it was 45 up there. Oh, there was also a guy selling pit bulls in the main building by the vending machines. Let me emphasize: there are 360 vomit-inducing hairpin turns (unless you're a draft animal) leading up to the top of Mount Hamilton from San Jose. Even if he didn't come from that direction, he still would have had to travel 47 miles to get there from the East side of the mountain. Why in the hell would a guy be selling pit bulls up there? read more
10 years ago
Incredibly frightening drive to get here, but honestly it's worth the near death experience. (I might be exaggerating, but I recently learned I'm afraid of heights). There are sweeping views of the mountain range...some people can see the city, but my eyesight isn't that great and I couldn't find it. I promise coming up here is not a waste of time. The Lick itself is educational and full of history and science. There are rooms with videos playing, with telescope parts from the 1800s, and research. Just a short distance from the observatory deck is the telescope. *Please be mindful of the hardcore mountain bikers who you might be sharing the road with! Mt. Hamilton is extremely popular among bicyclists and motorcyclists* read more
9 years ago
Free and open to the public, this observatory has been around for decades and is packed with history. There is another smaller observatory you can walk to down the road. Our drive up was beautiful; there were clear views at the beginning and wonderfully foggy toward the end. Definitely worth checking out with friends and family! read more
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Lick O.
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13 years ago
Ride your two wheels to get the best experience. It is a bit long to get up there so don't rush driving up. I usually come up here every summer either just drive around the twisty road or watch the awesome scenery of the nature. During the cold season is not that fun because of the slippery road but nature is at its best. At the top you will enjoy the view of mountain tops and the observatory. After you finish checking out the observatory and you are feeling more adventurous take CA-130. It's another long fun twisty road that will take you to Livermore and I5. For the motorcycle enthusiast I prefer the road headed towards Livermore. The road and view is a lot nicer. Don't forget to stop, take an awesome photo of them cows, rest, and drink water. If you are new to the road you know what that means, follow all road rules for maximum safety. read more
An underestimated/unknown place a little ways away from San Jose. Born and raised in San Jose for 23 years and even being a UC grad, I have not heard of this place until recently. I regret not having visited before since I heard that the UC system has cut future funding for this place and that it can very well be closed by 2018. SAVE LICK OBSERVATORY! We didn't come in time before they closed at 5pm (last free tour at 4:30pm) but we still walked around and enjoyed the summit and view. I need this place to still be available so I can come back and visit the inside! All I want to do is touch the resting place of James Lick and walk into the 120 inch telescope pretending I'm Dr. X in Cerebro. This place is GREAT for visitors, San Jose residents, and aspiring astronomers of all ages. It's at the highest summit of Mt Hamilton at 4000 ft elevation and it houses 7 telescopes, including the original Lick telescope which has been there since 1888 (that's 126 years!!) and it is still in use! This place has been here before San Jose was even a city. Aside from the amazing scientific discoveries and research being done here, the history of it is a great story. Do not underestimate the drive there! We took the Alum Rock way to avoid the steepness of Quimby (as per the suggestion of yelpers). Roads can get narrow at parts, just drive carefully and share the road with cyclists and other drivers. The drive in my opinion is more nauseating than difficult, but then again I wasn't the one driving. 25ish miles, 360 small/sharp turns, and 50 minutes of driving. Don't worry there's many occasional turnouts for yakking while the rest of your car can enjoy the valley view while also holding your hair back. read more
12 years ago
A Bay Area monument. WE MUST SAVE THIS ICON! Lick Observatory is the first observatory built on top of a mountain! Home of the worlds largest refractor telescope. We can't thank Mr. James Lick enough who had the hobby interest in astronomy and the vision to build an observatory. Even the original Native Americans who lived here saw this mountain as sacred and also used this area to view and track the night skies. So this mountain legacy is in the stars! Always an interesting visit. Been here about 15x and we are Lick supported members. Nighttime public visits are by limited ticket access. Nighttime access is policed so you won't get past a checkpoint without a ticket and your name on a special list. Rarely do you get internet access but I had enough for a Yelp CheckIn and my Skywalk app. Through telescopes we saw the great Ra with all it's glory, M3 and Saturn and a variety if other nebulas. Outstanding lecture by local research Astronomers from Bay Area university. The conversations that the kids have with the staff are always fascinating and it stimulates their interest in science and astronomy. The astronomers and the amateur astronomers who volunteer here focus on awakening the public mind in layman terms. The amateur astronomers are so supportive in the Lick Observatory community and their passion that they volunteer to drive up to the mountain and set up their equipment for the public to view. Small snacks and gift shop open for souvenirs and bites and drinks such as lemonade, coffee, hot cider and tea. We had a wonderful chat on the drive up and always drive via Quimby. Never get tired of the valley void of any people so close to Silicon Valley. It's a County Park full of wildlife like deer and boar. It is amazing that roughly 150 years ago when mountain lions and grizzly bears owned this steep mountain that this road was chipped away mostly by hand and sweat to be able to build these beautiful structures. The building inside is quite gorgeous! Beautiful craftsmanship. James Lick is buried underneath the large refractor, so thanks again Mr. Lick for your vision! We enjoyed our wonderful late late night. read more
Plan Ahead to See a Tomb and the Stars The Summer Visitors Program at Lick is outstanding and another must see attraction of the area. To attend you will need to plan ahead and enter a lottery on the website in the Spring to purchase ticket from UCSC for one of the summer viewing nights. The tickets are a bargain at only $5 each. The drive up the mountain is a great adventure in itself, and something I really enjoyed a lot (but I don't get carsick easily). There are some 360 twists and turns to the narrow road as it gently slopes up the mountain. Why in the heck is this road so squirley you ask? Well it was originally built so animals and the very first cars could actually survive the trip up the hill, and the road is pretty much the same today. Arrive early and bring a tailgate lunch and a windbreaker since when the sun sets in a glorious painting of a view, the winds can really whip up a chill. Make sure to check out Laurie Hatch's (so cool I share her initials) photograph exhibit of Mt. Hamilton as the image of 30 inches of snow and the amazing lightning storm one is super cool. The History and Science lectures can be great (staff changes every time) and lets the crowd thin out before you take your turn looking through the two telescopes. After you view the 36 inch telescope don't forget to peak under the hand crafted wooden moving floor (which I swear is the world's coolest elevator ) and give Mr. James Lick a shout out for his generous gifts to San Jose as his tomb is in the base of the telescope itself. I recommend buying (with a donation) a couple homemade chocolate chip brownies from the refreshment fund raising table, so bring some cash. Head out back (again with a warm jacket) and visit with the volunteers and their "amature" telescopes, some of which cost way more than my car. I got a chance to see a couple really cool objects and learn about their age and location. As your eyes have fully adjusted to the dark, at this point take a moment to look up and enjoy the summer night sky in all it's beauty, the best view of the stars in San Jose. read more
TOO AWESOME Okay, so it takes a while to get here. The road zig zags so much that you feel nauseous at some point. But you get up here and it is a sight to be seen. Even if you're not a space nerd, you become one instantly. The highlight of the observatory is the massive telescope (to say the least). It's owned by the UC and used seemingly 24/7 to explore supernovae, galaxies, moons many many many light years away. The fascinating part is how the the floor of the observatory moves up to get you up to look at the telescope. The dome rotates to allow for pin point views of the sky. This is a landmark that everyone should check out. Tip is to bring a lunch picnic basket and enjoy it during break time outside and admire the views. read more
Perched high above Silicon Valley, the Lick Observatory is an awesome day adventure! Sure the drive up Mt. Hamilton Rd is a windy curvy one. And yes, I did get motion sickness for the first time in my life also. But don't let that deter you! For me the highlight was the 36" Refracting Telescope. I could have spent hours inside looking around and soaking it all in. Sadly, the short tour only lasted 10 min and I felt awkward hanging around whilst the kind docent wanted me to exit. A short walk from the main building is the Shane 3-meter Reflector. It was less impressive since it was dark inside the dome and it's all behind glass, but still cool. Unfortunately once we arrived at the observatory the clouds socked us in and I couldn't marvel at the "I'm sure fabulous view." That was the only disappointment to an otherwise awesome trip. read more
6 years ago
9 years ago
This astronomical observatory is owned by the the University of California and located at the summit of Mount Hamilton east of San Jose. At 4,200 feet, Mount Hamilton offers the best views of the Bay Area. It's very interesting to wander around the grounds and take in the spectacular views. From the visitor center you can walk to a second observatory. We have walked in snow there a few times. The visitor center and gift shop are open year-round Thursday-Sunday 12-5. Before visiting be aware that there are no food services at the observatory. Also, it takes almost an hour to get there from San Jose, and there are no gas stations or other services on Mount Hamilton road. read more
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Lick O.
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Took the kids on a journey yesterday made it to the top of the mountain good education place for kids and adults if you ever have nothing to do com check it out very nice place after all these years great pit stop after that 19 mile winding rd they have snacks and drinks and nice people the view is awesome. Go by if your ever close by read more
8 years ago
20 years ago
The drive up to Mount Hamilton takes a good hour. Sitting in the passenger seat can definitely make a person nauseated because of all the hairpin turns. It can be a nice drive, though; I've seen deer, squirrels, and even a wild pig on my drive to and from work on the mountaintop. Given the amount of traffic going both to and from, I actually prefer to drive at night, so I don't have to worry about pulling over to let people pass, but I think it's actually closed to visitors after sunset, unfortunately. Remember to bring your camera when you go, because the view is just breathtaking. Just check out the Ham cam on their webpage! The visitor's center has a small gift shop, telescope, and photographs displayed through the hallways. There's a seismograph and a video you can watch on the research they do at Lick. I think it's neat to be able to visit an actual research center, rather than just an astronomy museum. While I haven't gone on any of the tours to comment on them, the people who work there are all friendly, and it's very interesting to hear what it's like living on the mountaintop for the long term. They're great about explaining what equipment does, so if you're interested, feel free to ask questions. The place is filled with interesting history , and some of the buildings show their age. Make sure to plan ahead in terms of weather..they do get snow up there, but it can be quite hot during the day. read more
9 years ago
Scary drive. I do not like heights and narrow roads. Also, I get car sick. Once you make it up the hill and to the observatory, it is cool. Beautiful views. The history of the world's biggest telescope (back in the day) is fun to hear. The guide is very enthusiastic. I had no idea Lick was buried at the bottom of the telescope. read more
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Lick O.
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Jewel of San Jose. The drive alone is awesome but not for the fainted heart. It is quite a drive and you have to be very careful. As soon you get to the top, you can see the entire Silicon Valley and beyond. Great view 360 degree on a bright sunny day. The observatory has become a museum. There is a free tour that meet at the gift shop and the staff will take you to the main dome. Its very informative and staff are very well informed and friendly. Its best to drive there during spring time to enjoy the wildflowers along side of the road. Must have a full tank of gas and few snacks and drinks when planning a trip. read more
7 years ago
14 years ago
We found ourselves needing to make the long drive to San Jose to pick up one of SC's latest and greatest firearms from LC Action. Being the enthusiastic multi-tasker that I am, I made the executive decision that we would make a day out of it and play tourist in San Jose. Mount Hamilton and Lick Observatory were on the short list of must sees. The location and views can't be beat. We walked throughout Lick Observatory and along the top of Mt Hamilton taking pictures and breathing in the fresh air. Crowds are manageable. When we went, there were maybe 10-15 other people. I highly recommend. This place is amazing and definitely worth the drive up the mountain. Go. Take your time and enjoy. read more
In A Nutshell: -If you are a South Bay resident and have always wondered what that white-domed shaped building is up in those beautiful rolling golden hills is, well take a short drive up and see. -The trek isn't bad at all, it's actually very short and very, very relaxing. -Once you get up to Lick Observatory, you can soak up the scenery around you by snapping selfies and the view of the Silicon Valley and South Bay below you. -Inside the old building, you can find a small museum selling souvenirs, some NASA space educational information on several HDTV's and some public restrooms - there's even a small Post Office inside. Overall, you can take your car, scooter/motorcycle or road bike up to Lick Observatory. It's very safe, but just practice smart-sense road awareness and respect your fellow human :) read more
18 years ago
Definitely a fun ride on two wheels, probably very tiring on a bicycle. Both times I've gone, I've gone on my Vespa in a group. The ride up is pretty fun and technical. Lots of twists and great view. You have to be careful though- there are some steep hairpin turns, loose gravel around blind corners, and bicyclists to avoid. They've repaved some of the parts of the road. The top has a nice view of SJ. The Observatory has some historical displays and the telescope as well. Coming down the backside down into Livermore is quite fun as well. read more
19 years ago
15 years ago
I am a stargazer. Flat and simple. You start talking stars, light years, nebulae, black holes, and planets and I am all ears, and some mouth. I probably know enough to be dangerous in space, but I enjoy myself. The Lick Observatory is simply heaven for us 'space nuts' Nice big (antique) telescope, it was brought here before the roads were even built for cars. I like everything here. The pastoral grasses and oaks, with plenty of hawks, squirrels and the occasional fox spotted along the way. If you get carsick, take the wheel and drive or take some drammamine, because this is one long and winding road. Haven't coordinated my schedule with the talks and tours yet, but I intend to. This just in: They have a Hamcam for camera on Mount Hamilton, I captured a shot during writing this review, and here it is. read more
4 years ago
17 years ago
It is definitely worth the trip there! Especially in spring, with the green hills really green!!!! Interesting and educational! read more
17 years ago
Absolutely wonderful place. Fantastic view of the Bay Area and of the stars. Great for everyone. The Summer Visitors tickets for Friday nights are only $10 and there's a lottery so they're almost impossible to get, but the Music of the Spheres are a bit more but you can still get them. There's 200 tickets and you get one when you show up and then you get two tickets one for each telescope. So everyone gets a chance to see through two different telescopes. They also have talks going in the rooms so you can listen to a talk while you wait for your number to come around. There are a number of amateur astronomers outside with their telescopes setup on different things as well like the Moon, Saturn, and Jupiter. All were very cool to see and they also take requests. Be forewarned though they love their globular clusters. It's a hellofa lot further than it looks. It's not on the mountain range near the Bay it's actually set back on a different one. Plan the trip to take an hour or so from 680. Some serious hairpin, switchback, horseshoe shaped turns on this road so be careful if you're in a hurry. You can sit outside and watch the sunset. read more
8 years ago
The route to the observatory is breathtaking and the narration of the story about the development of the observatory and set up of the telescope was awesome. We will be back during summer hoping to get the best experience with the open dome. read more
7 years ago
14 years ago
More info about Lick Observatory
7281 Mt Hamilton Rd
Mount Hamilton, CA 95140
Directions
(408) 274-5061
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http://www.ucolick.org/main/index.html
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Ask the Community - Lick Observatory
My wife is concerned about making the trip up the road in an older car. Any thoughts from those who have made the journey?
Though there aren't any extremely steep areas, I would caution as in the event of a breakdown, there aren't any service stations and the reception may be choppy.
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Lick Observatory - observatories - Updated May 2026
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