Incredible place near to Los Angeles. Wonderful views to LA district. Every time with different weather this place is always changing what gives magical feeling to this fabulous place. If you have chance try to visit observatory - it's opened when sky is clear. Definitely recomend this fantastic place 🌠🔭👌

Okay we have been here many times and it's always a pleasure to come back. This time we brought my best friend who was visiting in town and he really enjoyed the adventure! It is really easy to get to the observatory area. Windy Mountain Roads and good signs to get there! If you can try to come on a weekend when there are guides to take you on the tour otherwise it is a self-guided tour. There are also special events that go on in Mount Wilson so just check their website and you can find out more about that! There is a parking pass that you need to buy during the weekend visits but other than that during the week it is free parking. Also there is a small Cafe known as a Cosmic Cafe but it is only open on the weekends.

A great trip to see where astronomy history was made. Went on a guided tour and had a lot of fun visiting each telescope up close. As someone with a background in astronomy, I was aware of most of the science done at the observatory but learned many new things about the history and development of the observatory itself. Also a gorgeous drive up to the top especially when you pass the marine cloud layer. Worth the trip if you like seeing giant telescopes or are interested in astronomy/science history.

Arguably one of L.A’s biggest, best kept secret...the Observatory located in the Los Angeles National Forest. Enjoy various viewpoint locations on the drive up to the Observatory. Once you enter past the gates, you are free to walk around the grounds (except private property). Soak in the silence, the big trees in your surrounding, and the telescopes in the middle of it all. Guided tours are held weekends (get your pass early at the Café). This lovely café, “Cosmic Café”, also serves hot and cold meals, drinks, and souvenirs.

Absolutely incredible. Great views and so much great history. A fun activity for people of all ages. If you're into astronomy you'll get a real kick out of this place.

At night, looking down from above, I can see the whole city is quite beautiful, with a telescope that can look up at the beautiful starry sky that I have not had the opportunity to experience. This is a place worth experiencing, especially for couples who have been and are in love!

A little out of the way but interesting observatory tucked away in the Angeles national forest. Great views and a fun way to explore the mountains. Like most national parks though, you’re really just there for the nature so if you plan to spend a long day there I’d recommend packing a lunch.

Fun place to visit and totally free (parking is $5 but that's pretty cheap, really). It's fun seeing the telescopes and hiking around the area. Many of the trails are closed from the previous fires but walking around the general area is fun still

Take the guided tour if you are interested in the historically significant telescopes on Mt. Wilson. It takes about 2 and a half hours but we found it totally worth it! Our guide (Van) was very knowledgeable. The refracting telescopes are more than a hundred years old but were amazing technological marvels for their time. Most of the site is being maintained by volunteers.

A lot of walking be ready for it. Everything was beautiful, well worth the walk.

Wow, taking a guided tour on weekends was an incredible experience, ended up nearly 3 hours long and going inside several telescope buildings. If you tour yourself you'll only see building exteriors and the museum building, missing a lot. With the tour guide you'll hear the legacy of discoveries made here that changed astrology forever and how telescopes work. Learning about the women and men who made these discoveries was fascinating. You can bring a dog on a leash. Not good for young noisy children who will interupt the lectures and have to leave the room. A few tips: arrive 20 minutes before tour time to insure you will be one of the 15 folks to buy tickets on site for that day's tour ( in July 2023 on a Sunday both the 11:30 and 1pm tours had 15 in each ). When you arrive don't park at the base of the Cosmic Cafe, instead drive up the drive to the left of the cafe and park in the lot atop that hill -- that parking is FREE, whereas the parking lot below the cafe requires a U.S. Forest service pass costing $5 (which you can buy on site with your $15 admission to the tour.) The volunteers selling tour tickets are at a table behind the Cosmic Cafe. If you come for the 11:30 tour and arrive late so it's sold out, you can then get the 1pm tour tickets.

Cannot believe that after all the time we have spent in southern California, we have not been up here before. Great views, great trails, great picnic areas and a very educational tour (11:30 or 1pm - $15 p/person and a $5 parking pass)

Driving up there is fun by itself, lots of places to stop by and view LA from, and a few nice cars driving up and down. The first time we attempted visiting last year, the main road (Mt Wilson Red Box Rd) was closed due to ice/snow etc. We tried again late Nov on a weekday and there weren’t that many people around the parking lot. The views were spectacular, walking around and exploring the place was really nice. The thing that really impressed me was the silence while walking around the area. Make sure to check their website for closures/tour info etc.

The Mount Wilson Observatory, has a unique place in history, and provides an opportunity to get up and out of LA to see how really pretty the area is. While you could just drive up, it’s absolutely better, to book the tour, and take the time to go into the observatories and learn a bit about the history made here. Prepare to take the drive carefully (because not everyone does) and enjoy the views.

Amazing, the cosmic cafe was close, today was a beautiful, day we can see the ocean, clear sky, snow, you can feel all the positive energy there, love it❤❤❤

It is a great day hike experience. Make sure to stop at Cosmic Cafe for a snack.

Nice place! A lot of people don't know that they can go up there. There's a telescope show on the weekend I think. Where people set an solar telescope and one can watch the sun live. I need more info on that, but I thought I read it there but I have actually done it many many years ago but don't remember the details

Incredible drive to the high skylines! Nice little Museum. There is a cafe, but wasn't open when we arrived. Quite a little camp they have up there!

Must visit if you are into astronomy. Perched up 5,700+ high into the sky, overlooking the city of Angeles is the Mt Wilson Observatory. They is a cafe here called Cosmic cafe, This is also the place you need to come to buy tickets for the tour. The tour is a must do. It is well worth it. The guide are knowledgeable and have great sense of humor, our guide Ben was hilarious. Tour let's you peek into the past and explains how humanity came to prove that nothing revolves around our planet except the sun and how humanity figured out how insignificant we are compared to our universe. The coolest part is the one where you get to see the sun, up close and personal.

We really liked this experience. Entrance is free but you do need a national forest parking permit. The guided tours ($15 per person) are worth it if you enjoy learning about astronomy and history. The docent will educate you on the discoveries that were made on the telescopes at this site, as well as the scientists who made it happen and how. All of this while completing a very doable, family-friendly hike. The café is pricey for some items, but we found the food to be fresh and tasty (raspberry cupcake 10/10). All around, a cool way to spend a morning. In the summer, I’d suggest doing the 11:30am tour instead of the 1:00pm since it gets hotter as the day goes on!

Great views, interesting history, museum open, fantastic picnic location near cafe. Check opening times. Closes over winter.

The group tour far exceeded my expectations. The views at the top are extraordinary and we've already purchased tickets to go back for a nighttime observation.

Beautiful! Parking, museum, and observatory are free. You are on top of the world. It's a jem in Los Angeles with very little people who know.

Public place, where you can see the 100 in. dome and telescope. If you want to go inside others, you need to purchase a tour. I was lucky, because I could see open the dome, but normally it's close, if they are not making a tour. You can buy the National Park pass in advance or when you arrive to the park in the Cosmic Cafe. You can save any extra shipment charge. This pass will allow you to park your car in the parking lot. There is not any gate or control access prior the parking where somebody request it. The paths allow you to access with stroller, but you need to park it out side of 100 in. dome, because there are some stairs to see the telescope.

Excellent hidden gem an hour away from DTLA. The tour is awesome and helps you appreciate the significance and history of the observatory. The drive up-to the observatory is an attraction in itself.

Nice experience! It was buggier than I expected so take big spray with you. I didn't know there were hiking trails there so I will go back to hike one day. Visiting the observatory was interesting, too. Take snacks because food at the snack bar is expensive. They charge $13 just for a hot dog, chips and a drink. Still recommend going.

Great place to visit and walk around the grounds. Lots of hiking trails (most of them closed right now though). Cafe has yummy food. Check out their website for special events during the summer and for observatory tours.

Amazing spot. Definitely get a tour of the telescopes. The 100in telescope is a vision and architectural beauty.

One of my favorite places to go! You get your fix of cool science, nature and learning. I always learn something every time I visit. Make sure you stop at the Cosmic Cafe for a snack before you leave!

Fun srive up to the observatory and enjoyed having lunch and the walk to the various exhibits. Didn't stay for the guided tour, but that's a good excuse to come back. The permit that you're REQUIRED to purchase is available at the Cosmic Cafe for a pittance of $5. Please buy it and put it in your car. We saw most cars didn't have this displayed and think it's a shame that people can't follow a simple rule and help support the area. Looking forward to going back at some point and doing the guided tour.

Its such a beautiful place to visit and explore. I definitely recommend anyone who love's nature and amazing views