Leuschner Observatory
Phone:     925-284-9403
Address:  Russell Reservation
                 4927 Happy Valley Road,
                 Lafayette, CA, 94549-2431

Observatory Code 660
Longitude: -122 09.4 East
Latitude: 37 55.1 North
Elevation: 304 m

map to Leuschner

Directions to Leuschner Observatory
 From the Campus (use Alternate route in rush hour)

    * Take Gayley Road from the East gate of campus to Ashby Ave.
    * Take a left onto Ashby, this road turns into Tunnel Road
    * Take Highway 24 East and go through the Caldecott tunnel
    * Take the ORINDA exit
    * Turn left on Camino Pablo and go under the freeway
    * Go 2.3 miles and turn right on Bear Creek Road
    * Go 4.2 miles and turn right on Happy Valley Road (marked by a sign for Lafayette)
    * Go 0.5 mile to gate near 160 degree right hand turn saying Russell Tree Reservation .
    * Enter gate and go straight past resident managers house
    * Go 0.3 mile and turn left at tree with sign saying Research Plants

Alternate route from campus

Go through Tilden park, past Inspiration Point, down Wildcat Canyon road, go across Camino Pablo (San Pablo Dam Road) and then join Bear Creek Road (step 5 above).

Take Hwy 24 East to Acalanes exit (two past the Orinda exit) then go under the freeway, to the Upper Happy Valley Road. Follow this road until it ends and take a left on Happy valley and drive North until you get to the gate (Step 9 above).
From the East (Walnut Creek, Concord, or Livermore)

    * From westbound Hwy 24 take the Central Lafayette exit
    * Take left on Deer Hill road past BART (0.4 mi)
    * Take right on Happy Valley Road and drive 3.5 mi. North
    * You are now at the gate in step 9 above

From Concord
For those daring people who have a map and are willing to become lost.

    * 680 North
    * Highway 4 East
    * Take Alhambra Avenue exit and take a left
    * Go 0.4 mile and take right at stoplight on Alhambra Valley Road
    * Go 1.3 mi take right at T intersection on Alhambra valley road (Christmas tree farm)
    * Go 5.0 mi.Take left at on Bear Creek Road (watch out you can miss it no stop sign)
    * Go 4.4 mi. Go beyond Briones park and take left on Happy Valley Road
    * Go 0.5 mile south on Happy Valley Road
    * Enter at gate saying Russell Reservation

When entering the Russell Tree farm

    * Leave the gate in the state in which you found it.
    * If the gate is locked, please lock it
    * Please drive SLOWLY and quietly (there are residents)
    * NO SMOKING anywhere (even outside).
    * Don't park off pavement (it might start a fire)

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