3 Best Sights in Palomar Mountain, North County and Around

A living remnant of the mission era, built in 1816, this mission still ministers to the Native American community, making it the only original Spanish mission still serving its initial purpose. The old jail and cemetery are part of the original mission. The school, long operated by Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sisters of Precious Blood, is now a charter school operated by the Bonsall USD. You can take a self-guided tour of the mission and grounds.

One of the few areas in Southern California with a Sierra-like atmosphere, the park is carpeted with a forest of pines, cedars, western dogwood, native azalea, and other plants. Wildflower viewing is good in spring. Boucher Lookout, on one of several nature/hiking trails, affords a sweeping view to the west (closed in winter). There's trout fishing in Doane Pond. The Doane Valley campground offers 31 sites with tables, firepits, and flush toilets. From May to October, reservations are strongly recommended and can be made seven months in advance.

Atop 6,000-foot Palomar Mountain, the observatory is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology, whose astronomy faculty conducts research here. The observatory houses the Hale Telescope, as well as 60-inch, 48-inch, 24-inch, 18-inch, and Snoop telescopes. Some of the most important astronomical discoveries of the 20th century were made here, and already in this century scientists using the observatory's 48-inch telescope have detected a 10th planet.

The observatory closes without advance notice during inclement weather, and closes daily at 3 pm. Call in advance during winter.

The small museum contains photos of some of these discoveries, as well as photos taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and from recent NASA–European Space Agency missions to Mars and Saturn. A park with picnic areas surrounds the observatory. Guided tours are available weekends at 11 am and 1:30 pm between April and October.