2015 Map of Lick Observatory

About this map

Mt Hamilton serves as the focal point for this survey, dominated by the scientific complex at Lick Observatory near Copernicus Peak. The map documents a rugged landscape where modern development on the eastern fringes of San Jose meets the steep terrain of the Diablo Range. To the west, residential expansion is visible along Villages Pky and near Montgomery Hill, while the central and eastern portions remain largely defined by ranching and conservation lands. The network of winding roads and trails, including Mt Hamilton Rd and the Lower San Felipe Trl, illustrates the difficult access to high-elevation features like Mount Hamilton Springs and Panochita Hill. This survey provides a record of land use where the pastoral Halls Valley and San Felipe Valley are preserved amidst a backdrop of peaks and canyons drained by Isabel Cr and Smith Cr.