Taken on an exceptionally clear day, this picture shows the Santa Clara Valley in the background, Halls Valley in the middleground, and the final few of the Mount Hamilton Road's many turns in the foreground.
In San Jose, from either highway 101 or highway 680, exit at the Alum Rock Avenue interchange. Go east on Alum Rock Avenue (which is also state highway 130) for 3.6 miles from route 101 or 2.2 miles from route 680. Turn right on Mount Hamilton Road (which continues state highway 130). Continue on Mount Hamilton Road for approximately 19 miles.
Mount Hamilton Road is occasionally closed for short periods during the coldest winter months due to snowfall on the mountain. It is not possible for the public to reach the observatory at such times. Traffic is turned back at Halls Valley, 11 miles from the mountaintop, at the entrance to Grant Park.
