The big day. You start at the Visitor’s Center at 9,000 feet. It’s nice, with a tidy little museum and gift shop. But then, it’s up the mountain (only with a tour guide!) on a treacherous road. Once at the top, we toured the Gemini and Keck telescopes. You can hike to the summit, too—but be mindful that it’s a sacred area to the locals.

Telephone:
Cost: 0 USD per person
Hours:

Tips:

It gets STINKING COLD up there. Like with snow and everything. You need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to ascend the mountain, too. Drink LOTS of water (and don’t eat a lot or smoke) on your way up to allay altitude sickness.

Type: Sights & Activities
Tags: Hawaii observatory keck mauna kea gemini