mount graham international observatory

My family and I drove up Mount Graham last weekend, not to view the telescope, but just to see what it had to offer. It was a winding road from the bottom to the top and took about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to Riggs Lake, but it was well worth it. Beautiful scenery with waterfalls along the way and drastic changes in foliage. There are also much cooler temps at the top which is a plus for when it's hot in Arizona in general. Riggs Lake is about 30 minutes on the dirt road (I think it's only 12 miles, but its slow) and is a pretty little lake with camping spots, bathrooms, and fishing. There was a lot more to do up there that we didn't get to, but we would be happy to go back!

Mt graham is a hidden gem. A five hour drive from Phoenix but well worth it. In the 1.5 hours it take to get from the base to the top the temperature dropped 30 degrees. Beautiful views great campgrounds and great price sites. Our family has five dogs so we try to stay out of the campgrounds. One location on the mountain for drinking water. So many stars at night you'll think your in heaven.

I had the privilege of visiting the telescope during an employee family day. The sheer size and functionality of the Large Binocular Telescope is incredibly impressive. This is not a telescope you get to look through to view the stars. The data collected by the telescope is sent to computers for the researchers to do their thing with it. The facility has living quarters for researchers as they come from across the globe.We got to stand in the telescope chamber as the operator opened the top/sides of the building for that night's work. The entire chamber spins 360 degrees so we got a spectacular view of the valley and mountains. The operator also maneuvered the very large mirrors so we could see how they work. The whole thing was quite impressive.While I took my 7 year old son along, I would not recommend a trip up the mountain solely to visit the observatory for young children. My son enjoys learning about the "technical" aspects of things so he thought it was great. But it is a very long drive for kids who need a place to run and interactive activities. If you are on the mountain for hiking, camping, etc, I would recommend a tour of the observatory even with children. As another reviewer mentioned, you must schedule a tour ahead of time.Remember that you will be at close to 10,000 ft in elevation. The air is thinner and it can be quite chilly, even when it is in the 90s in the valley. A good portion of the drive to the observatory is a dirt road. It is easily driven with any vehicle, but be aware that is will be slow going. Also, if you are driving on the mountain at night, keep an eye out for deer. We had 3 dart in front of us as we were driving down after our tour.While the tour itself is not very long, the drive up and back will take up a good portion of the day. Overall, I would highly recommend visiting the observatory if you have an interest in science and technology. Have a picnic, take a hike and enjoy the area.

Mt. Graham is a very special mountain. Sky Island. Lots of different environments changing as you go up the paved road.... the observatory is very interesting. Huge. Would of liked to see more actual pictures...the ones I saw were amazing.

So, this is going to be an all day deal and I advise you arrive in Safford, Arizona, the day before you are scheduled to take your tour. To get the 411 on taking the tour (just 15 people can tour per day of tour) call: Jackie Madsen at: 1-928-428-6260. You may have to wait for a tour date as they usually tour only one time per week. If you are not good with altidudes you may want to pass on this tour as the telescope is above 10,000 feet. Anyway, you are taken in vans (about an hour and a half (1-1/2) ride up switch back roads. I say roads as you will eventually end up on a dirt road (very bumpy) near the summit. Views are spectacular, if a clear day. This is an "E" ticket ride. You do remember "E" tickets don't you? You will then tour all three telescopes. Believe this or not the Vatican is a heavy investor in this project. If you've been to Kitt Peak and the Mirror Lab in the Tucson area, you'll be better prepared for this tour and I therefore recommend that you do so. The Binocular Telescope will blow you away. The size of this project is beyond imagination. It is the strongest telescope (at this time) in the world by ten (10) times. It can see into space better than Hubble (the telescope that orbits the earth in space). The Volunteers who make this tour possible are GREAT and you couldn't be in better hands. If you are a science nut, then you should read up on this telescope before the trip as the guides are limited in the actual operations of the systems involved. Hell, it's beyond "rocket science" so give them a break. The cost was $40.00 per person (cash) which included a Sub-Way sandwich for lunch. I would have paid $500.00 to see this. Just trying to picture how all this huge stuff got way up this mountain is enough for most. It is a must do before you pass on from this earth. Ron.

Take the drive up to Mt. Graham and experience the beauty of mountains, lakes and berries! Seriously, take a hike through the mountains and you can pick fresh wild raspberries that will make your mouth water all year when you think about them. Go to the observatory and truly experience what a small planet we live on and why we should use good conservation methods to keep it healthy.Enjoy a picnic at one of the spots designed for you or maybe you want to camp out for a little while, up at 9000 feet it is truly cool....even when the heat of the desert hits 100, the mountain is cool and refreshing!When you are done on the mountain then visit the communities of Safford and Thatcher to see the unique shops that wait for your visit. Enjoy lunch at the Main Street Cafe, the staff is all from the mentally challenged community under the direction of an outstanding manager (patience is her middle name I think!!) and enjoy being served by those that are truly delighted you have come to join them. The meals are home cooked and really good!Stop in at some of the shops that line the "square" and find that perfect something while being waited on by friendly, gracious staff. Great area to visit, truly someplace to put on your travel itinerary for the year!

Never made it to the top after several attempts. Someday maybe I'll make it

There are three telescopes on mount graham, which is near Safford AZ, about one hundred and twenty miles north east of tucson. Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope The Large Binocular Telescope [world's largest until a bigger one in chile is built; this one is truly spectacular].Eastern Arizona College's Discovery Park Campus - Gov Aker Observatory - conducts weekend tours of the Mount Graham International Observatory. Weather permitting, the tours begin in mid-May and go through mid-November. Because permits are required to enter the endangered red squirrel refugium, advance reservations are required. At $40 per person [includes lunch consisting of one sandwich, one drink and a cookie] this is rather pricy but well worth a visit once. You park in Discovery Center and the Discovery Center van will drive you up. Drive is about 75 minutes to a forest visitor center for lunch [has rest rooms] and then a couple more miles of unpaved road to the telescopes. You can go up part of the way to the telescope on US forest land; about 11 miles of the road from Safford, AZ is paved and the rest is not. The tour features a trip up scenic Mount Graham, focusing on the mountain's rich geology, history, and diversity of life; a lunch near the summit of the mountain; and a guided tour of the observatory facility. And, yes, Billy the Kid also walked the mountain paths back in the 1870s... Back at Gov Aker Observatory, the 20" Tinsley Cassegrain reflector is open to the public for viewing the heavens after sunset.The idea for a visitor’s center for the Mt. Graham International Observatory (MGIO) in Safford began in the mid-1980s. Plans for the center quickly expanded and eventually became known as Discovery Park, an education and entertainment retreat, emphasizing the science and culture of the Gila Valley, from mining and agriculture to space explorationThe University of Arizona donated a research-grade 20” Cassegrain reflector telescope and dome for the Gov Aker Observatory. The Vatican Observatory donated a radio telescope and loans several exhibits to the park, including an astrolabe made in 1608 and the Mertz Telescope, constructed in 1870 in Morocco. A full-motion simulator takes guests on a ride past Mt. Graham to tour the solar system. As the park grew, Nature’s Hideaway was added as a riparian habitat just east of the Gov Aker Observatory. And a replica of an 1860s steam locomotive delivered guests to the Circle D ranch past the wildlife habitat. In the summer of 2006, the park came under the control of Eastern Arizona College’s Governing Board. The park now has a much better foundation upon which it can thrive as an educational campus, emphasizing science and technology for the leaders of tomorrow.” The park, which is now known as Eastern Arizona College’s Discovery Park Campus, will continue as a multi-purpose educational facility. Discovery Park is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturday, 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. General admission fees to the park have been discontinued by EAC but there is $40 per person fee for the tour to the telescopes. Tours of the telescope are only by advance reservation on saturdays only from mid may to mid october

Tours of the observatory are offered by Eastern Arizona College - Discovery Park Campus. The daytrip tours are typically on Saturdays -- open to the public between May 15 and November 15 each year depending on weather conditions. Reservations are required -- see website or call the Discovery Park Campus office. The observatory is located near the top of Mount Graham at 10,500 feet elevation.The Large Binocular Telescope is currently the world's most powerful telescope. You will be amazed at your visit to the observatory.