Mount Wilson is Such a BEAUTIFUL place!! I guess you have to encounter it as many times as I have in order to be able to appreciate its beauty and and ever so roughly Charm! You REALLY REALLY Have to experience it! I Pray that our Lord protects this natural beauty from the Bobcat fire. Its extremely close and very important to protect it! God bless us all!

Its hard to pick whats better: the stunning views from the observatory, or the jaw-dropping drive to get there. With free tours and an boatload of informative displays, anyone interested in astronomy is bound to have a great time visiting this gem in the Angeles National Forest. And thats not even mentioning the myriad trails that are accessible from this point. Pick a clear day and head up the 2, you wont regret it.

It is a long drive up, but totally worth it. Youre wont be able to get up to the observatory at night unless they have a special event, but you can stop at the side of the rode in front of the towers for these shots. I recommend looking up moon phases before you go up. Brighter moon = less Stars

Love this place to bad its currently closed due to Covid-19, but at least you can refill your water bottles. The only way in or out is by foot or hoof (unless you work there). Still the views at the top are worth it.

After 4 hrs of hiking Mt. Wilson is nice to arrive to the highest elevation and find this nice observatory. You do not need to hike the mountain to get here. You can drive if you are just interested on checking this place out. These are picknic areas as well as cafeteria. Prices are acceptable.

The grounds of the Mount Wilson Observatory are open every day 10-5 April-November, including the Viewing Gallery inside the 100-Inch Telescope dome. It is a half-mile walk from the parking lot, at an elevation of 5,700 feet, with spectacular views. There is also a museum located along the paved path. All are free. Guided tours are available for a fee, and occasional public viewing events allow visitors to look through the historic 100-Inch Telescope, known as “The Most Important Scientific Instrument of the Twentieth Century.” The telescope was the worlds largest from 1917 to 1948. In 1923, Edwin Hubble proved there are other galaxies outside of the Milky Way galaxy, and in 1929 Hubble discovered that the universe is expanding.

Great place to see the valley and mountains. You can walk around among the observatories. There are plaques which explain about what is there and how it was important. Picnic tables, pine and oak trees, squirrels, lizards are there as well. Tours and facilities are closed during the pandemic.

I grew up in California and never visited the observatory - what a mistake! I was in a visit home and the marine layer with the smoke from the fires made me think about getting above it all to get a view of LA. I was not disappointed with the view at all! Additionally, the observatories are really neat to explore, and the hiking trails offered even more views of the mountains. Enjoy the drive up and down, take your time, make a day of it.

Such a cool place to drive up to. Its on a long and winding road and not too many people were on the road when we got towards the top. Also really great to drive in a convertible.

Beautiful mountain with easy access. You are able to drive up to the top (quite curvy for those who are prone to car sickness) and ample parking is available. Dont park in front of the towers or your car may be affected (not starting). There is a large restaurant with fast food and outdoor shaded seating. Unfortunately the observatories were closed when we arrived but we did enjoy the museum and views. You could still see a few burnt trees from prior years wildfires.

Sacred ground for Astronomy, evidence for the expansion of the universe was discovered here by Hubble. Excellent weather for star gazing, 6000 feet, hiking trails, convenient parking, astronomy museum, auditorium for lectures, and sun and 60 inch and 100 inch observatories open to the public.

A very interesting and cool observatory on the top of Mount Wilson. You are able to go inside the largest telescope building and see the enormous telescope inside. The views from the top of Mount Wilson are also amazing and even when the valley is covered by fog you feel that you are above the clouds. There are also a few hiking trails to adventure on also.

It’s a beautiful place to spend away from the city hustle. The only thing that you need to take care is that you will probably have no network and the possibility of getting an uber or lyft is negligible. So bring you own car if you wanna enjoy the scenery. Also don’t come here if the forecast is cloudy as you won’t be able to see anything.

If you like the stars, you should go to Mt. Wilson Observatory. Its full of history and wonder.

CHARA Interferometry display is quite a learning experience

Awesome hike or bike to. Museum, the telescopes the Observatory, history. Its all there. Great day. The views are spectacular all around. The Cosmic Cafe is awesome

Great time up in wonderful trees and cool air above LA.Nice self-tour around with lots to see and learn about astronomy for those inclined to do so.Great reward of you can make the hike, fun windy drive if not.. either way, you wont be disappointed up here.

Very educational. Great for our kids

Very nice / you will feel free over the clouds

Absolutely beautiful area! Highly worthwhile to make the drive up here. The road is a dream to drive on with a nice open top car and the views are spectacular! Be warned though you will not have any cell service up here. The Tv/radio antennas interfere so prepare accordingly.

The oldest and most used observatory in the US (maybe the world?). They say that every important astrological discovery was either made their or corrected there.Scientists including Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking and Neil Degrasse Tyson have all stayed at Mt. Wilson to peer through the magnificent telescopes and make new discoveries.The views from Mt. Wilson are astounding. You will be above the clouds!There is a snack bar and restrooms as well as a small museum.There are tours offered to the public and special events from time to time. The tours book up in advance so check their website for availability. However, it’s a spectacular drive and amazing place to visit on your own even without a tour.There is also a hiking trail here that is quite popular. It’s at altitude so it’s not a hike for beginners. It will take you several hours to get to the top.

Mount Wilson is a must visit when youre in LA area! Unbelievable views and a breathtaking view driving up and down the mountain!

Wow one of the highest hike perfect 5700 ft

One of the most important places in the history of science and our understanding of the Universe and our place in it. If this isnt enough itself, it is in such a beautiful location with a truly scenic drive all the way up to 5700 ft where the views are spectacular. You can see the 100 telescope through a side gallery inside the dome. A feat of engineering indeed.

The drive up there is better than the actual site.

I hiked the wilson loop trail up to the observatory last week as the first trail in the six pack of peaks. 12 miles and over 4000 of elevation gain. Started from Chantry Flats a little after 6 am and got back at 2 pm. Bring 2 liters of water, hiking poles, and good hiking shoes. There was a bunch of poodle bush on the trail from the fire. There is a cafe at the top but it was closed when I went. Beautiful view of the SGV and downtown. Museum is free and there is a sitting area to eat lunch.

OverviewMt. Wilson is the first of the Six Peak Challenge. Wilson is considered the easiest entry while the latter peaks are considerably more challenging. At an elevation gain of approx 5,200 feet and nearly 15 miles, this first challenge isnt a cakewalk!The 15 mile loop offers some great views of flowing water after rains, but definitely be cautious after heavy downpour. The biggest reward comes from hiking to the observatory and being able to see all of SGV, DTLA, and on clearer days, all the way to the ocean. The trail up is on a gradual and steady incline that will tire even the sturdiest of calves. Please dont come under prepared.Completing the loop leads adventurers down for at least 2 hours of down hill slopes. This is where hiking sticks provide stability and ease pressure on the knees and joints. Having them during water crossings and up hill will help make your trek much doable. Trail runners can expect a fun challenge akin to a half marathon. Once you know youve accomplished peak 1, youll definitely feel empowered and ready to take on Cucamonga Peak!Other DetailsThe cosmic cafe is only open from April to November, so dont go and expect food outside of those days. Be sure to carry your lunch and snacks just in case.Beginners or campers wanting to get a taste of the trail can definitely explore portions of the trail and turn back as it is convenient. Doing the 14 mile loop in one day isnt recommended if you havent already conditioned for longer distances.Ive hiked 26 miles across Catalina island before and I must say that the loop from Chantry Flat/Stutevart to Wilson and Chantry/Winter Creek is not for beginners. Beginner Backpackers used to long distance trails will find this challenging. Beginner hikers may not even finish at all, and thats ok because safety comes first.Proper gear is essential to completing the full loop.- Hiking sticks- Comfortable shoes and socks- Adequate water supply- Food and electrolytesThere are:-plenty of shade-running water in the creek--though I would clean or filter this before drinking regardless-water fill station at the observatory-bathrooms along the way-signage to guide travelers on the right pathFinal WordsBe sure to carry all your trash out and try getting here earlier than 8 to find parking. Valet is available for $20 dollars.Enjoying the full loop or even just parts of the trail make for an enjoyable experience if you come prepared and well researched. In case of emergency and you dont have signal, there are emergency phone booths that will call a Park ranger.Mt. Wilson has many great features that make this the perfect entry in the SoCal 6 Peak Challenge, but may provide many warnings to you if you find this too much of a struggle.Happy trails.

The place is stunning. Besides being an iconic scientific and historic site it is the very top of the gorgeous mountain with mind-boggling views of Los Angeles and San Gabriel mountains.

Excellent day for hiking.. beautiful views.

You can hike up to the top or drive up. Beautiful views on a clear day. Wish the cafe was open more often. Hiked Wilson 3 times now and never saw it open. The hike was amazing!

Great little half-day trip for great views and to learn more about space. Nice hiking trails surrounding the observatory if you have more time to explore. Windy drive up and down the mountain.

Its such amazing and beautiful place and views

Great place to visit but be aware if you go for a telescope session there’s a lot of waiting. Take your own food and water and warm clothing.

Best place to see the skies with friends!

Beautiful views and lots of cool history.

Mt. Wilson observatory awesome view to san Bernardo,los Ángeles,Ventura, kern, San Luis Obispo and San Fernando valley counties and the wonderful sea and the blue sky, hiking 13 milles over san Gabriel trail from chantry flat recreation or drive 45 minutes to mt Wilson observatory ...if you love nature hiking is the best option...

What a breathtaking view of LA...

All our years in Southern California and we were unaware of visiting hours to this observatory. Its been closed during COVID-19. So for us, its still a place to visit.

Mount Wilson is arguably the most significant observatory in the world due to the numerous discoveries made there in the early part of the twentieth century. Harlow Shapley used the 60 inch telescope to discover that we are not at the centre of the Milky Way and Edwin Hubble used the 100 inch to discover the expansion of the universe. This isnt a fossil of an observatory though; modern infra-red interferometry is being conducted using some very clever kit. Its also a beautiful place to visit for the flora/fauna and the views. Einstein spent time here, living in the monastery. Reaching the observatory is fairly straightforward, in good weather, via the Angeles Crest Highway and Mount Wilson Road from Red Box. Hiking up, via the Old Mount Wilson Toll Road, is fairly hard going and will take you all day on a return trip (20 miles/5000ft). The observatory caters well for visitors. Check the opening hours for the telescopes and Cosmic Cafe.

A great place to unplug from the day-to-day routine to enjoy some exploring and adventure! The 100 inch telescope was astounding. I hope to return for a night viewing in the near future.

Awesome location, great drive up, and a nice place to hike too!

My first time visiting and I had a wonderful time. The volunteers were knowledgeable and charming. Would love to be able to see the 100 inch next time.

Nice place a lot of trees, hiking trails and nice view of the city

Such a breathtaking place. They have a trail for hiking and an observation spot to just take in the view

Very cool! Amazing views, nice little museum, great place to spend a couple of hours. And the hikes around the area are really fun.

If you go during the week it is pretty quiet. When its clear you can see the ocean, Catalina island and pretty much everything.

Fun place.

Amazing tour covering the history, people, and instruments

Went up today to ride Mnt Wilson trail to Winter Creek to Chantry Flats was great Hero dirt, great views my girlfriend took some pictures I sure didnt see the closure sign of a Bear attack this past October OMG.... But a few down tress great Trail a few hikers near the bottom I see why we had no traffic at the top from closure...but great Trail..

What a wonderful day. Fun drive to get there and great museums

Had the privilege of spending the night looking through the 60 telescope on Mt Wilson with a small group of folks. We took turns looking at planets, nebulae, starts, clusters, and more. It was fantastic!

Long hike but def worth the effort. You hike up here and see all the towers & telescopes that are much bigger in person than from down the mountain. The restroom, cafe and water refill stations are awesome, Id come back (driving not hike) again for sure

Currently closed due to Covid -19 but water is still available at the top and the views are still fantastic!

Awesome place to visit and hike. The tour was very cool also!

Amazing experience for any history or astronomy fans -- or just sightseers and hikers.

The staff at the observatory are wonderful people.

Beautiful place to get away from it all.

Ever hear of the Hubble Telescope? Well..the Astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered our modern understanding of the Universe at Mount Wilson Observatory. This place is amazing! Take a tour on the weekend or check out their website for public viewing nights.

Absolutley worth the drive from LA. You cannot beat the history of this place.

A great place to spend the afternoon and look at the views

An amazing place. The scenery alone is stunning, the history is crazy but the observatory is incredible. If you plan it right, you can attend one of their events which allows you to look through the massive telescope. I saw a white dwarf system that was 6,500 light years away. Amateur astronomers often bring their own telescopes during events to share the view (I was able to see Saturns rings and Jupiter).

Great place to hike. The chili at the dining area is delicious.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the views from the top of Mt. Wilson. The tour has fascinating information and you get to go inside the several telescopes/ reflectors.

History is astounding. Looking through the 60 and 100 Telescopes is something you cant do anywhere else in the world !

One of the most historic astronomy sites in the world. Beautiful place to walk around, always above the smog so its good for fresh air too.

Excellent place for a walk. It’s above the smog with great views of the area. If you are into astronomy, it’s an interesting and active science installation

Beautiful drive up. More rugged and remote than griffith, but worth the extra effort.

Such a beautiful place, its place that you must visit.

I would suggest go parking at the greek theater and take the DASH bus(ticket 0.50)

There is some amazing astronomical equipment to be seen at the observatory. The only reason it didnt get 5 stars is because it takes a lot of effort to set up a real tour with a guide, which is by request only, and typically only for groups. Definitely worth it, though, as you get to see everything up close.

This is a great historical place. The Mount Wilson Institute has done a great job maintaining and refurbishing the grounds and observatories on the mountain. You can get guided tours where you can go into both the 60 and 100 telescopes. They offer viewing nights at both scopes as well. It is not far and its great to see a historic and operational observatory so close to Los Angeles.

Beautiful place to visit

Wonderful place to meet amazing pictures, and get an amazing view of LA, Pasadena, and anything else eastward. The observatory itself is a nice property, and you get to go in to see the main giant telescope. There is also a gallery up there. All this is free, although they do take donations. It is definitely a must if you are visiting LA

Beautiful view from the 100 inch telescope. I loved the place and Mike our guide was awesome, I learnt a lot about telescope and the amazing history of this wonderful place. You need to come by if you are around !

Great drive, views, not overcrowded like that other observatory

I love astronomy. One of the best places in the world to learn about the cosmos.

Due to COVID 19 all facilities are closed to the public until further notice, except for water refills for hikers. per call 7-8-2020

Observation room open to public gi es a good view into main room. A flight of stairs is necessary to access room. Bring parking pass ($5) since snack bar selling them doesnt open until 10 or so. Its beautiful with great views of city and mountains, Keep it clean!

Well worth a visit if you are out exploring the mountain roads on the Angeles crest

Amazing views ! Got to go back type of vibe

This place is cool! Its not open late, but i bet at night it boasts the best views. Would recommend.

Dope telescope. More fun getting to the place than the actual dome. Im trying to figure out why all these roads on this mountain exist. Why are people going up there. Those are millions of dollars of roads. So old guys can drive fast?

The people who work here are extremely helpful, they helped me up to the top when I got heat exhaustion, shout out to them for being so kind!!!

Great views

We came for the star gazing party. It was pretty amazing. Lots of telescopes and knowledgable people.We saw the shadow of one of the moons on Jupiter. We saw Saturn too. It is pretty unreal.The sunset and city light views up there are worth the trip anyday, even without an event.

Wonderful place to take a look around and the views are stunning. Take one of the tours on the weekend if you can to learn and see more.

Great views of the islands in the sky today!

Beautiful place, easy access. Highly recommended!

What a beautiful place worth the climb

Beautiful views of the los angeles basin . When you need to escape the city crowds go up to the mountain

Super cool nice hiking places

Nice drive up with great views... make sure to check at rangers station if you need a wilderness pass for the day.. snack shop there sells them but only open during the weekend.. i went during the week without one and nobody hassled me..

Interesting place with awesome views of all LA, Santa Monica, and Pasadena

The drive there is awful but the site is wonderful. Beyond wonderful, it is excellent!

Love this trails streams and shade thru out the trails. Beautiful sceneries !

Cool place for science history. Take the tail hike to get there! ;)

This was my first time visiting any observatory and I must confess that the experience was tremendous. The beautiful scenery above the mountains are breathtaking. The museum is another name of enlightenment of the works done in Space Technology. Parking is free for some 45 minutes.

This place is always a fun hike. Some friends and I hiked up here from Chantry Flats. I just wish the cafe was open on Monday.

Beautiful scenery, the air smells incredible

Such an awesome piece of history and an Astronomical Gem!