SJAA Viewing Sites
Here are some of the observing sites used by SJAA members and other amateur astronomers around the South Bay.
Links to SJAA Sites and directions:
The maps shown below are interactive and can be zoomed and panned.
Click on “View Large Map” below each map for a full blown Google map where you can obtain directions to the location.
- Houge Park
- OSA Properties
- Rancho Canada del Oro
- Tilton Ranch
- Laguna Seca
- Little Uvas Open Space Preserve
- Mendoza Ranch
- Grant Park
- Coyote Lake (Boat Ramp or Dam)
- Henry Coe – Hunting Hollow Lot
- Henry Coe – Main Overflow Lot
- Monte Bello Open Space Park in Palo Alto
- Fremont Peak State Park
- Lake San Antonio
- Other Sites
Houge ParkHouge Park is located near the junction of highways 17 and 85, near the border of San Jose and Los Gatos. Use the map below to find your way around once you are there.
Enter Houge Park at the yellow car icon on the map. This is the site of our city star parties and the location of our monthly general meetings. Houge (rhymes with “Yogi”) Park is in San Jose, near Campbell and Los Gatos. This location is very convenient for city residents, and a good location for introducing people to amateur astronomy. Views of the constellations, brighter deep sky objects, the moon and planets are typical observing targets. Between the parking lot and tennis courts is a sidewalk where public star parties are held. The meeting hall is directly ahead (south) of the parking lot. 1st time at Houge Park? Look for entrance next to tennis courts off of Twilight Drive. Restrooms: on the other side of the the hall. Telescope Row Coordinates: 37.2575,-121.9423 |
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority propertiesOur working relationship with the Open Space Authority for the Binocular Stargazing and Starry Nights programs allows us after-hours access to several OSA managed properties. These include the following:
While our primary observing sites are RCDO and Tilton Ranch, we may have some occasional Member observing nights scheduled at the other two OSA properties listed above. Note: Access to these properties is coordinated monthly with the OSA. SJAA Member only events are hosted by certified Astro Docents who have completed OSA training requirements which allows the Hosts to have the keys which open/close gate locks to the observing sites. A certified Astro Docent must be present to use these locations. |
Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve4289 Casa Loma Rd · Morgan Hill, CA Directions: |
Tilton Ranch640 Willow Springs Rd · Morgan Hill, CA Directions: Do not use the Tilton Ranch Reserve location on Google Maps to find it; that’s the wrong spot. Best direction is to search for 640 Willow Springs Road in Morgan Hill. Willow Springs heads SW off of Hale Road, and after a hundred yards or so, makes a sharp right-hand turn and heads further up into the hills. At that turn you’ll see a double green gate (right next to 640 Willow Springs) straight ahead of you that allows access to the property. Once inside, stay on the dirt/gravel path to the right as it winds all the way around that field. The path will continue around the outskirts of the field, leading to the observing area site. You can see the observing site from the gate on Willow Springs. The map below shows 640 Willow Springs marked with a red marker, and the observing site with a blue marker. Entrance gate off Willow Springs Road Overhead view of Tilton Ranch property |
Little Uvas Open Space Preserve16541-16905 Uvas Rd · Morgan Hill, CA Head west on Bailey off of 101. Make a left at the very end of Bailey. Stay on the road, McKean turns into Uvas Rd G8), and after 7.1 miles from the Bailey intersection, the gate will be on your right. Please re-close the gate after driving in so the horses don’t wander away.  The gate at Little Uvas. |
Laguna Seca Open Space Preserve
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Mendoza Ranch37.0706, -121.5222 The San Jose Astronomical Association has a yearly use permit with the Santa Clara County Department of Parks and Recreation. Mendoza Ranch is behind a locked gate. Access is only on announced nights. A permit holder needs to be present at all times. The permit allows for monthly use of the parking lot for members only observing on the Saturday closest to New Moon. Directions from San Jose:
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Grant Park |
Coyote Lake (Boat Ramp or Dam)7/24 open access, just pay $6 at the machine at the entrance if no ranger is present. Boat RampRestroom: 3 Porta potty toilets opened 7/24. Coyote Lake Boat Ramp GPS Coordinates: N 37 05 34.28 W 121 32 33.05 DamRestrooms: 1 Porta potty toilet opened 7/24. Coyote Lake Dam GPS Coordinates: N 37 07 03.77 W 121 33 05.14 |
Henry Coe – Hunting Hollow Lot7/24 open access, just pay $6 at the iron pole. Restrooms: 3 Porta potty toilets opened 7/24. Hunting Hollow GPS Coordinates: N 37 04 33.88 W 121 27 59.54. |
Henry Coe – Main Overflow Lot7/24 open access, just pay $8 at the iron pole. Restrooms: 1 Porta potty toilet access unknown. Main Overflow Lot GPS Coordinates: N 37 11 14.56 W 121 33 03.86 The iron ranger (iron pole pay drop-off) is up the road among the main buildings. You have to drive up to it first, pay, then drive back down to the Overflow Lot. Make sure you keep the receipt tab with you. |
Monte Bello Open Space Park in Palo AltoNeed to get permit to go. (see Permit Information) Restrooms: 1 permanent toilet access unknown. Monte Bello GPS Coordinates: N 37 19 31.84 W 122 10 43.52 |
Fremont Peak State ParkFremont Peak State Park is south of the village of San Juan Bautista, about a 1 hour drive from San Jose. There are several areas within the park used by astronomers.The areas near the ranger house (Observatory and Ranger row on the are managed under contract to the state by the Fremont Peak Observatory Association. Contact FPOA for access if you want to set up a scope. FPOA runs a summer program at this location using their 30″ telescope. For more information contact FPOA. The Coutler and SW Lot areas are managed directly by the park. |
Lake San AntonioThe annual CalStar dark sky party is at Lake San Antonio in southern Monterey County. Lake San Antonio is approximately 2.5 hours south of San Jose. Here is some information about visiting at other times. See the CalStar site for maps and directions. |
Williams HillWilliams Hill is a hilltop about ten miles north of Lake San Antonio. Most of the land is BLM-owned; there is also a large microwave tower(s) installation. The “hill” is actually a fairly long ridge running north-south, with a road along the ridge-top. The high-point and the microwave towers are at the south end. There is a BLM campground. And ‘informal’ camping is allowed. To get to Williams Hill from 101:
You can see all this at GoogleEarth. BLM webpage: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/recreation/williams_hill.html Williams Hill is about as dark as LSA. It figures to have better seeing, because it can be in the Pacific air-flow rather than being “in a hole”. Sites at the southern part of the ridge are higher-altitude than northern sites. |
Other SitesComing soon …. |
