Directions to Northern California's most active
Public Observatory

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Directions
From Highway 12 east of Santa Rosa, turn on Adobe Canyon Road and follow it up to the end of the canyon. From the Park's entrance kiosk, proceed straight up the road, following the signs to the observatory. Please drive slowly—hikers and animals abound!

Just past the horse corrals, you will come to a green gate. You cannot drive past the green gate, even if it’s open—park in the gravel area between the corrals and the green gate, then walk past the gate up the road a very short distance to the observatory.

What's Up with the Park Closure?
Although Sugarloaf Ridge State Park was closed for the season, RFO remains open and will conduct its normal operations. Visitors to the observatory will have access for public star parties and rented private events, and the observatory will still offer its regular slate of astronomy classes.

The only change visitors may notice (depending on the latest developments) is at the access point to the park. On Adobe Canyon Road, shortly before one begins the climb up the hill into the park proper, there is a parking area for the Goodspeed Trailhead. This is where volunteers will control vehicle access to the park when it is "closed"...Only observatory visitors will be allowed entry to the park during its "closed" status.

Visitors may be required to stop at this point to collect information about that evening's event, and then be directed to drive up into the park. Fees ($8.00 per car and $3.00 per adult) will be collected at the barn parking area as usual. Obviously, the Park situation is in flux, but rest assured that Observatory events will continue.

What to expect
A typical Public Observing Night is staffed by volunteers who run the observatory's three main telescopes, operate smaller scopes in front of the observatory, provide education talks on astronomical topics in the classroom, help to park cars, and assist visitors move about the observatory in the dark. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions about astronomy, cosmology, telescopes, and the observatory itself.

Night Viewing Times
Our start times are listed on the Public Astronomy page. We keep the observatory open as long as there are visitors, but you must arrive before 11 PM in Summer, 10 PM in Winter, to insure that we remain open for you.

Telephone
Our phone number is not a direct line to an individual. It has current recorded Observatory information and an option to leave messages for reservations, questions, etc. Note that callbacks may take a few days to occur.

Browse our Store
The Observatory has a retail counter inside the building's main entrance that offers tools for observing such as planispheres, red flashlights, foot and hand warmers, binoculars, guides and more.

PlanetWalk
PlanetWalk is a scale model of the solar system designed to fit within the boundaries of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. It's a 4-1/2 mile round trip hike to Pluto and back, and gives you a physical appreciation of the distances between planets. Details

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
For more information about hiking trails and Park amenities, visit the Sugarloaf Ridge State Park website.