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:

Mar 25, 2024Happy Holi!
Aug 11, 2019Storm rolls over the grasslands
Apr 26, 2021Cheese! We ll go somewhere where there s cheese!
Mar 20, 2020Heron lies the Salton Sea
Nov 26, 2018A little bit of Wonderland in New York City
Nov 11, 2023Veterans Day
Aug 25, 2022National Park Service Founders Day
Feb 1, 2022Black History Month
Dec 2, 2025Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act anniversary
Mar 23, 2020A peak in the clouds
Aug 28, 2022Bearded reedlings in Flevoland
Feb 29, 2020It s leap day!
Oct 25, 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
Apr 4, 2019Taking the forest to the cloud
Jun 28, 2020Keep shining
Apr 23, 2021A house of grand scale(s)
May 19, 2018At ease, it’s Armed Forces Day
Nov 14, 2020Decorating for Diwali
Aug 28, 2024Paralympic Games begin in Paris
May 3, 2020World Laughter Day—it s a hoot
Nov 27, 2018The fantastic winter fox
Sep 18, 2018A red knot on the Shetland Islands, Scotland
Sep 13, 2025Point Reyes National Seashore in California
Apr 8, 2021I m here! Take a look at me!
Jun 17, 2024Pollinator Week
Jun 11, 2021An island in the Highlands
May 23, 2020Bask in the glow—It s World Turtle Day
Jan 26, 2024Northern hawk-owl
Sep 9, 2022Belize Barrier Reef
Jun 6, 2020The long and wiggling path