Mount Hamilton Guide Details
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Overview:
Mount Hamilton is a perfect escape from the sprawl of Silicon Valley. The view on the way up is out of this world, which is fitting, because the scientists at the summit spend lifetimes gleaning knowledge from tiny specks of light in the far reaches of space.
Lick Observatory at the summit (the world's first mountaintop observatory) is a logical goal, but the journey outshines the destination. Though short walks are available at the summit, this is one adventure best experienced on wheels. Whether you drive or ride, it'll be unforgettable.
Tips:
What to bring:
Sunscreen if you plan to hang around at the summit for long.
Layers -- warm days in the valley can be shivering at the summit.
All the energy you can muster if you're thinking of riding your road bike to the top.
State Route 130
One of the top scenic drives in the region, this one is known for its harrowing hairpins and seemingly endless switchbacks to reach the Mount Hamilton summit (passengers get to enjoy awesome views; drivers had best keep their eyes on the road). The country gets wilder the farther you travel: It's not unusual to see a deer, wild pig, coyote or bobcat; with any luck you might catch a glimpse of a mountain lion (roving tarantulas are a treat during their autumn mating season).Ask your passengers about their tendency to get car-sick before you set out; all those turns are bound to turn a few stomachs.
Lick Observatory
The white domes of Lick Observatory, visible from throughout the South Bay, are a tribute to James Lick, a wealthy 19th century San Franciscan who funded a project to mount a telescope atop Mount Hamilton. Building SR 130 was a prerequisite for the project.Lick died 11 years before the first telescope -- a 36-inch refractor -- was installed. The huge scope still points skyward from within the main observatory dome. Astronomers from the University of California and around the world study the cosmos via more modern telescopes nearby.
Quick, informal tours
Music of the Spheres
Tickets for these summer concerts at Lick Observatory -- followed by talks by top astronomers -- are highly prized and sell out quickly (only 160 seats are available). After that, folks get to peer into the telescopes and see the stars for themselves. Note you have to drive back down Mount Hamilton Road in the dark afterwards. More on the concert series at http://www.ucolick.org/public/music.htmlMount Hamilton Challenge
Pro and amateur road bikers alike come to Silicon Valley to pedal 63 miles from San Jose to Livermore on Memorial Day Weekend (see http://www.teamsanjose.org/memorialwknd/2009/mthamilton.php for 2009 results). While the race itself is a big deal, just about every day will find at least a few cyclists with legs of steel mounting their own personal challenges: riding between 100 and 120 miles in a route that climbs Mount Hamilton, descends into the desolate but beautiful San Antonio Valley, continues to Livermore and returns to their starting point.Riders can thank James Lick for one thing: the road to the observatory had to be built at a fairly gentle grade so horses and mules could haul that telescope and other equipment to the top. The ride is long, but not terribly steep compared to many mountain routes.
