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

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:

Feb 26, 2021Lighting the way to new beginnings
Sep 18, 2018A red knot on the Shetland Islands, Scotland
Apr 27, 2024National Go Birding Day
Jan 8, 2025National Take the Stairs Day
Sep 4, 2018What the hay?
Apr 4, 2018Mexican giant cardon cactus
Jan 15, 2021It s truffle season here in the Dordogne Valley
Apr 22, 2018Have a ‘beary’ good Earth Day
Sep 4, 2025Grizzly bears in Alaska for National Wildlife Day
May 4, 2021Happy Star Wars Day!
Aug 1, 2022Hawai i Volcanoes National Park at 106
Sep 11, 2023Patriot Day
Dec 3, 2018Computer science on the page
Apr 30, 2020What kind of bird laid these eggs?
Feb 27, 2018A polar bear near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Nov 6, 2019Saffron in bloom
Jul 16, 2020Summertime in Alaska
Feb 2, 2024Groundhog Day
Sep 23, 2021Last stop before leaving the solar system
Dec 29, 2020Where the glow of the holidays lingers
Oct 6, 2023Taughannock Falls State Park
Feb 17, 2018Infant Sumatran orangutan, Indonesia
Aug 10, 2021Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch on the institution s 175th anniversary
Jul 4, 2022Independence Day
Jun 11, 2018A Great view from above
Jan 26, 2025European beech forest, Belgium
Jun 30, 2021An impactful day
Oct 5, 2019A fair that s star-studded
Nov 26, 2024Celebrating World Olive Tree Day
Apr 26, 2021Cheese! We ll go somewhere where there s cheese!