Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California May 19, 2025

Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California

Drive up Mount Hamilton just east of San Jose, California, and immerse yourself in stunning views and rich history. The 19-mile Mount Hamilton Road is loved by cyclists and motorcyclists for its long climbs and sparse traffic. Built in 1875-76, the road was designed to transport materials to the Lick Observatory, the world"s first permanently occupied mountaintop observatory. On a clear day, you can see as far as Yosemite National Park or the Sierra Nevada from the 4,265-foot summit.

© Jeffrey Lewis/TANDEM Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

May 19, 2018At ease, it’s Armed Forces Day
May 19, 2019High trekking season in Upper Mustang
May 19, 2020Loud waters
May 19, 2021A path lain with petals
May 19, 2022Glass footbridge in Zhangjiajie, China
May 19, 2023Endangered Species Day
May 19, 2024Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 8, 2023The Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland
Aug 31, 2019Walk the line
Jul 30, 2020International Day of Friendship
Jun 6, 2022Indigo bunting
Dec 17, 2022Mountain goats at Glacier National Park in Montana
Nov 1, 2022Día de los Muertos celebrations in Mexico
Nov 20, 2025World Childrens Day
Jun 11, 2020A midsummer twilight s dream
Jul 12, 2019The ‘Night of Nights’
Jan 5, 2026A herd of impalas, Londolozi Game Reserve, South Africa
Aug 26, 2020Spotted Lake emerges
Jul 10, 2020Italy s submerged village
Apr 17, 2025Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
Apr 5, 2020The frog prince?
Jan 25, 2020Happy New Year! (Again!)
Jun 9, 2025Old City of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia, Croatia
May 29, 2023Memorial Day
Sep 2, 2025Camel thorn trees, Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia
Mar 29, 2019A place called ‘Peace’ in India
Apr 20, 2018No, it s not a leaf. Happy Look-alike Day
Apr 24, 2023Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
Mar 2, 2023Negratín Reservoir, Granada, Spain
Dec 11, 2018‘The mountains are calling’
Feb 23, 2019A view from the top
Feb 10, 2018Bonifacio on the island of Corsica, France
Sep 26, 2024Blue-throated toucanet, Los Quetzales National Park, Costa Rica
Mar 7, 2019March of the flowers
Oct 3, 2025Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Sep 2, 2021A cliffside harbor in Sardinia
Jul 31, 2021Fashion models of the avian world