Entry No. 21 — the Monterey file — filed under: observatory
Bernard M. Oliver Observing Station (Chews Ridge Observatory)
MIRA's 36-inch research telescope sits at 5,000 feet next to a 1929 fire lookout tower, reached by nine miles of unpaved, high-clearance-only road — it was the first private professional observatory to open in the US in the 20th century, and astronomers still call it a 90-minute trek from their Marina campus.
The story
High above the fog line at 5,000 feet, the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy (MIRA) established the Bernard M. Oliver Observing Station on Chews Ridge. It broke ground as the first private professional observatory built in the United States during the 20th century. Operated by astronomers who commute 90 minutes from their campus in Marina, the site houses a 36-inch research reflector anchored in the absolute darkness of the Los Padres National Forest.
The facility sits directly alongside a 1929 U.S. Forest Service fire lookout tower on the spine of the Santa Lucia Range. Named after scientist Bernard M. Oliver, the mountaintop station functions as both an active astronomical research outpost and a weather station, monitored over the decades by resident caretakers who brave the winter isolation to keep the optical gear aligned.
What it's like
Getting here requires grinding up nine miles of unpaved dirt along Tassajara Road (Forest Route 18S02)—do not attempt it without high ground clearance and good tires. If you book ahead for a summer Sunday tour (call 831-883-1000), plan to arrive before dark so you can walk over to the 1929 fire lookout for golden hour across the Ventana Wilderness. Temperatures crash quickly at 5,000 feet once the sun drops, so bring heavy layers even in July before stepping inside the dome to view targets through the 36-inch telescope.
The move: Call ahead (831-883-1000) to book a summer Sunday observatory tour, then drive Tassajara Road together at golden hour in something with real ground clearance — walk out to the adjacent fire lookout for sunset over the Santa Lucia Range before heading in to look through the 36-inch scope.
- 📍 Los Padres National Forest, near Carmel Valley
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Chews Ridge, off Tassajara Road (Forest Route 18S02), Los Padres National Forest, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Tassajara Zen Mountain Center hot springs — Continue further down the grueling single-lane dirt stretch of Tassajara Road past Chews Ridge to soak in America's oldest Zen monastery hot springs.
- Garland Ranch Star Parties (MIRA Astronomy Club) — If you want to experience MIRA's astronomy expertise without driving nine miles of unpaved mountain road, catch their monthly public star party down at Garland Ranch.
- Refuge — Sooth your spine in silent thermal plunge pools back at the base of the mountains after taking a pounding on the dirt roads of Carmel Valley backcountry.
Good to know
Do I really need a high-clearance vehicle for the drive?
Yes. Tassajara Road (Forest Route 18S02) involves nine miles of unpaved, unmaintained mountain dirt. Low-slung sedans risk bottoming out or tearing oil pans on exposed rock.
Can I just show up to look through the telescope?
No. The observatory is a working research station. Public access is strictly tied to scheduled summer Sunday tours and special events, which must be reserved in advance by calling MIRA at 831-883-1000.
What is the historical tower standing right next to the dome?
That is the Chews Ridge Lookout, a historic U.S. Forest Service fire lookout tower constructed in 1929 that sits at the summit ridge alongside the observatory.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: mira.org · Wikipedia · thelutrinae.com · montereyherald.com
last checked: 2026-07-20