Public Treasure serving SoCal and the World

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For 45 years, Palomar Observatory was the home of largest telescope in the world.   Since 1950, Palomar observatory has welcomed well over 100,000 researchers from all over the world  to use the Eye to the Sky. Each year, thousands of people visit this unique site.

Each year, we host many events that families from Southern California and around the World come to enjoy. The apple festival, our Hoedown, many weddings,  foot and bike races, cattle drives, car rallies, petting zoos, Holywood film crews and much much more...

Close to 100,000 people per year visit our 1,800-acre state park. With its old-growth conifer forest, and mountain meadows, families for generations have booked their favorite camping sites for traditions of  picnicking, hiking miles of trails, fishing in Doane Pond, and making lasting memories around the campfire.

Local astronomy clubs from all over SoCal flock to Palomar Mountain for stargazing events. WIth an  elevation of 6,000 feet and our dark skies, it is not uncommon to see families with their personal telescope, parked at our  many lookouts to catch a glimpse of the heavens. Come on up and join us on June 29rd 2024 for the next "Parade of the Planets".

Each year about 15,000 kids and adults come to the mountain for a week to remember. There is a variety of camp programs to choose from: outdoor education, horsemanship,  leadership skills, and survival training. For many campers, it is an annual event and as they grow older, they will often spend their summer on staff. And now their children are the one creating the same memories.

Year-round, cyclists set out to conquer South Grade, one of San Diego's toughest climbs... but it is all worth it to arrive at the summit and admire the surrounding beauty... Just for fun, fundraising, team building, or hard core racing, many from around the country are giving it a go. 

Put your hiking boots on and take in the spectacular views of SIlver Crest loop or Boucher Hill. Explore the Doane valley and Scotts cabin loop. Discover the historic Weir trail, and Thunder Spring.  Bring the whole family and pack a picnic lunch and say hello to other on the trails visiting from all over the world.

 San Diego County’s first African-American homesteader, Nathan “Nate” Harrison was born a slave in Kentucky and  brought to Northern California during the Gold Rush, migrated southward and settled in San Diego County in the 1870s.  Harrison was an integral part of the ethnically diverse rural community in and around Palomar Mountain for nearly half a century before passing away in 1920.

 Have you seen the NASA  video that was sent from outer space of a cat playing with a laser pointer? Taters, the playful cat, has been viewed by over half a million people. Did you know that this much loved video beamed directly from outer space to our own Palomar Mountain observatory...?

There are so many flowers, trees, animals, and insects on Palomar Mountain that it is hard to name them all. Good news, you don't have to, as you can still enjoy them without knowing their species... but in case you are curious, here is below a great resource to satisfy the naturalist in you!

As a visitor of Palomar Mountain, share your great stories and adventures here to let everyone that this is a place worth saving.