UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA OBSERVATORIES / LICK OBSERVATORY
DIRECTIONS TO MOUNT HAMILTON
1. From Highway 101 south:
Take the Alum Rock Avenue exit east (note that west of 101 Alum Rock is called Santa Clara Avenue).
Skip to #5, below.
2. From Highway 101 north:
At the 101/280 interchange, take Highway 280 South (it is actually going northeast at this point).
Skip to #3, below.
(Alternatively, you can stay on 101 north to the Alum Rock Avenue exit east and skip to #5, below.)
3. From Highway 280:
Follow Highway 280 South until it becomes Highway 680. (Note that through San Jose, 280 South is actually heading east or even northeast.)
Skip to #4, below.
4. From Highway 680 north or south:
Take the Alum Rock Avenue exit east.
Skip to #5, below.
5. From Alum Rock Avenue east
Follow Alum Rock Avenue east until the road narrows and begins sloping gently uphill (about 1 mile from Hwy 680). Watch for Mount Hamilton Road (also called California Highway 130) on right. Turn right and follow Mount Hamilton Road 19 miles.
Mount Hamilton Road is an excellent, well maintained highway, but it is slow and winding. Allow 50-60 minutes for the 19 miles to the Observatory. Drive Carefully! Watch for oncoming traffic on blind curves. Watch for animals.
On Reaching the Observatory
After approximately 19 miles on Mount Hamilton Road, you will emerge at the top of the mountain. The road will level out and you will see buildings just ahead on your left and right.

The building ahead on your right is the Staff Dining Hall. Just before the dining hall, a road leads off the main highway (which continues east along the ridgetop) to the right, turning almost 180 degrees and continuing uphill to the high point on which stands the twin-domed Main Building.

Take the road to the Main Building. If a "road closed" sign is swung out at the bottom of the road (this is done most nights at 5pm), drive around it and continue to the top. Tours meet in the parking lot in front of the main building.