Bay Area driving guide · Long backcountry run
Mines Road to Lick Observatory
The back way to Lick. Most people drive up Mount Hamilton from San Jose; coming in from Livermore turns a hill climb into most of a day, through country that feels a long way from either city.
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Road overview, not turn-by-turn navigation. Follow the junctions below; some catalog traces extend beyond the written drive. Use two fingers to move the map.
- Mines Road south
- San Antonio Valley Road
- Mount Hamilton Road
- Start
- Livermore
- Finish
- Lick Observatory, Mount Hamilton
- Return
- Return options below ↓
Why this drive
Three roads that add up to more than their parts: Mines Road works south through ranch land, San Antonio Valley Road crosses the empty middle, and Mount Hamilton finishes with 224 counted bends and 48 switchbacks. Bring fuel and patience — the Junction is the only stop.
The route
Mines Road south from Livermore
Head south out of Livermore on Mines Road. The first section is narrow and wooded before it opens into the valleys.
Mines Road & map →San Antonio Valley Road
Mines Road becomes San Antonio Valley Road near The Junction. This is the remote middle of the drive, open and exposed.
San Antonio Valley Road & map →Mount Hamilton Road to the observatory
Turn west for the climb to Lick Observatory. Check the observatory's own visiting hours before relying on the gates being open.
Mount Hamilton Road & map →
Good places to stop
The Junction
The cafe where Mines Road meets San Antonio Valley Road, and effectively the only stop on the route.
Lick Observatory
Visitor hours and road conditions are posted by the observatory; the summit road is subject to closure in winter weather.
The way back
Continue west and down Mount Hamilton Road into San Jose, which makes the whole thing a crossing rather than an out-and-back.
Road conditions
Expect drivers, motorcycles and cyclists, especially at popular junctions and stops. Give people space, follow posted limits and check current access before setting off.
Route references
Guide updated September 10, 2026. Route descriptions cover the named sections; check current access before travelling.
Keep exploring
- Mines Road and Del Puerto CanyonRemote crossing · Livermore → Patterson, on Interstate 5
- Skaggs Springs Road: Lake Sonoma to the coastRemote mountain crossing · Lake Sonoma, north of Healdsburg → Stewarts Point on Highway 1
- Mount Tamalpais: Panoramic Highway and RidgecrestCoastal mountain · Stinson Beach → East Peak, Mount Tamalpais