Driving Directions to Starry Starry Nights Locations, 2003

Friday, August 15: Colfax, at the end of Whitcomb Rd: Take Interstate 80 to the Colfax/Grass Valley exit.  At the end of the offramp continue around to the right and over the overpass.  Turn left at the stop sign.  Go through the next stop sign and continue past McDonald’s and Bunch Creek Shopping Center.  You will then be at Whitcomb Rd.  Turn right.  Proceed for 0.4 miles.  Guests will be directed to park in the GKM parking lot.  Telescope operators may proceed another 0.2 miles to the end of the court to set up their telescope.
Long: 120.9 deg. W, Lat: 39.1 deg. N.  Elev. 2400' 

Saturday, August 16: Big Bend (Loch Leven Trailhead): Take Interstate 80.  Exit at the Big Bend Exit, which is just past Cisco Grove.  (This is 30 miles from Colfax, 45 miles past Auburn, and 75 miles above Sacramento. )  Go left at the end of the offramp.  Go one-half mile (you'll go past the Big Bend Visitor Center) to the Loch Leven Trailhead Parking Lot.  This is it.  The telescopes will set up in the parking lot.  Guests should park along this road, off the pavement.
Long: 120.5 deg. W, Lat: 39.3 deg. N.  Elev. 5800'.

Sunday, August 17: Sugar Pine Reservoir Boat Launch Parking Lot, east of Foresthill, CA.: Take Interstate 80 to the Foresthill Road Exit in Auburn.  (This is ~30 miles from Sacramento.)  Go right (east) at the end of the offramp.  Go east 18 miles (about 25 minutes) on Foresthill Road to the town of Foresthill.  Continue 9.0 miles to the Sugar Pine Reservoir exit on your left.  It is also known as road #10.  Follow that for 5.7 miles (10 minutes) to the Boat Launch parking lot, which will be on your right.  Enter the area and go right into the large (lower) parking lot.  This is it.  There are two adjacent parking lots.  The telescopes will set up on the upper lot, near the far (north) end.  Guests park in lower lot.
Long: 120.7 deg. W, Lat: 39.2 deg. N.  Elev. 3650'.

Friday, August 22: The Old Nevada County Airport: This is the abandoned airport north of Nevada City, not the one on Loma Rica Road.  To get there take Hwy 49/20 north past Grass Valley and Nevada City.  At this point Hwy 49 splits off to the left.  Take it.  Go 0.35 miles to North Bloomfield Rd.  Go right here.  Go uphill on this winding road for 0.8 miles to the “T” in the road.  Go left here onto Lake Vera/Purdon Rd.  Go 100 yards then take another left onto Airport Rd.  Go up this road for 0.5 miles to a small dirt road on your left taking you to the airstrip.  Park toward the left.  The telescopes will be set up to the right.
Long: 121.0 deg. W, Lat: 39.3 deg. N.  Elev. 2600'.

Saturday, August 23: Sugar Bowl Mt Judah Parking Lot: Take Interstate 80.  Exit at Soda Springs Road.  (This is 40 miles from Colfax, 55 miles past Auburn, and 80 miles above Sacramento.)  Go right (east) at the end of the offramp. Go 3.0 miles (10 minutes) to just past the regular Sugar Bowl parking lot.  (We will not be setting up at this location.) Continue another 0.7 miles.  You'll see a big sign for Sugar Bowl, Mt. Judah.  Turn right here.  Go 0.7 miles to the Sugar Bowl Mt. Judah Parking Lot.  As you enter the parking lot area, veer to the left and go another quarter mile.  You will pass the end of this parking area and proceed to the lodge at the top. This is it.  The telescopes will be setting up in front of the lodge, near the patio area.  Guests should park in the parking lots to the right of the lodge.
Long: 120.2 deg. W, Lat: 39.3 deg. N.  Elev. 6930'.

Sunday, August 24: Dutch Flat, Diggins Hill Rd.: Take Interstate 80 for 12 miles past Colfax to the Dutch Flat exit.  At the end of the offramp, go left.  Go about 0.5 miles until you see a sign indicating Dutch Flat.  Go left there.  Travel across the railroad tracks and continue through the town of Dutch Flat.  As you near the end of this block-long town, you will get to a point where you will see the Post Office on your left and a small bell tower on your right.  Just past the Post Office, turn left onto a narrow street (Diggins Hill Rd).  Go 0.2 miles.  This is it.  We will set up telescopes on a small plateau on your right.  Guests please park in the clearing along the road, or park off the side of the road.
Long: 120.8 deg. W, Lat: 39.2 deg. N.  Elev. 3200'.

Bring a heavy jacket and warm clothes.  No alcohol and no pets, please.
Don Machholz, July 2003
http://www .geocities.com/ donmachholz/StarryStarry NightsLocations2003.html