You come to think of a large observatory as a place to study the sky and observe stars and constellations at night. At the Mount Wilson Observatory, you get the chance to do all of these in addition to enjoying the outstanding views of the entire Los Angeles Basin all the way to Catalina Island.
Last updated: February 13, 2026
MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY: MORE THAN JUST A NIGHT SKY LOOKOUT STATION
Roughly one hour northeast of downtown Los Angeles up in the San Gabriel Mountains atop a 5,710-foot peak, several dome-shaped, white structures take their permanent residence. Smaller buildings, a one-room museum, and an open-walled pavilion stand nearby to provide secondary services and for convenience of both staff and visitors of the center.
The place is known as the Mount Wilson Observatory, originally named the Mount Wilson Solar Observatory.
REASONS TO VISIT MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY
The Mount Wilson Observatory raises the attention of astronomers and scholars and piques the curiosity of other visitors who are less obsessed with the sky for apparent and not so conventional reasons.
1. Night Sky
The clear sky miles away from the light pollution of the City of Angeles offers excellent opportunities to observe stars, planets, and other celestial objects. The sky is never the limit or a black veil that it turns into in LA when the sun hides behind the horizon.
Surrounded by the deserted mountain peaks, the Mount Wilson Observatory is a place to detach from the chaos of the bustling city’s streets and direct your gaze to the unfathomable space above you.
2. Panoramic Views of Los Angeles
But change your vantage point and look down in the southwestern direction where Los Angeles stretches out as far as the eye can see. From this elevation, a few-story buildings look no taller than matchboxes. But the towering office buildings of downtown Los Angeles are unmistakable, making their statement even from such a great distance.
These splendid views of Los Angeles are the main reason why the majority of non-scholastic visitors endure the narrow and extremely winding road, the only way up to the Mount Wilson Observatory.
3. Astounding Views of the Mountains
For those of us that find the views of nature unspoiled by human intervention the epitome of every adventure, the vistas on the opposite side of the Mount Wilson Observatory grounds feel even closer to home. With the endless layers of ragged mountains unfolding like exquisite paintings, it’s a place of beauty, contemplation, and meditation on nature.
VISITING THE MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY
It was our second attempt to visit the Mount Wilson Observatory. A few years ago, having the site in our minds, we had driven 2 hours 30 minutes south and ended up at the Palomar Observatory. How this happened is still a great mystery to me.
This time, we made sure to do everything right from the beginning: triple-checking the direction and entering the correct location into a GPS before reaching the out-of-service zone. No surprises to our trip!
Telescopes
The Mounts Wilson Observatory houses two massive telescopes (60-inch and 100-inch). Each of these historic equipment occupies a separate dome structure. During the first half of the 20th century, they were the largest telescopes in the world.
Visits and Tours
The telescopes are still fully functional and are available for public use in the spring, summer, and early fall. The spots to see the sky from the Mount Wilson Observatory are highly demanding, extremely limited, and normally sell out fast.
The tours range in duration, the time of the day or night, and price. Two docent-led walking excursions that are available on weekends during the spring and summer seasons are the most affordable.
Small-group night sky observation tours come with hefty price tags and the most incredible, life-lasting memories.
Self-guided tours are free. You can wander through the Observatory grounds and learn about the domes and historic buildings at your own pace year round. The site is normally open from 10 am to 4 pm during the winter months and 10 am to 5 pm the rest of the year.
Occasionally, the Mount Wilson Observatory hosts free public star parties where you can observe the stars and planets through many smaller telescopes provided by the members of the Los Angeles Astronomers Society.
READ MORE: Free Star Party at Griffith Observatory: Planet & Stargazing
DIRECTION AND ROAD CONDITIONS
The two-lane road to the Mount Wilson Observatory (CA-2) is not for motion-affected, headache-prone visitors. It winds around the mountain in endless switches. The next turn starts right when you come out from the previous one.
Rock slides from the steep mountain walls that adjoin the road force you to slow down even more. The substantial residues they leave can stretch to the middle, dividing line.
