Santa Clara County High Point Trip Report
Copernicus Peak
Date: January 24, 2004
Author: Robert Greene
Drove directly from Mt. Davidson to the Mt. Hamilton observatory. I knew where
the observatory was from previous visits, so no maps needed for this one.
I figured I'd be able to find the fire tower once I was on top.
Well, the incredible overcast weather continued, and I couldn't see anything from on top.
So I had to ask for directions at the observatory. The helpful person there
wanted to know why I wanted to go to Copernicus since it's officially
"not open to the public", but when I told her I wanted to visit the
county high point, she thought that was ok!
It turns out the way there is to continue straight on route 130 past the turnoff
for Hamilton, about 0.5 mile later, you'll pass a large white house on the left
and a green building directly across from it. The next turnout on the left
connects with a road (also on the left) that climbs up to Copernicus.
The fire tower was closed (no fires in January, eh?),
and the hike up was short and uneventful -- no snow in the Hamilton area this year.