Dark Sky Trips to Lake Sonoma: We organize dark-sky trips to view the sky away from the glare of city lights. Lake Sonoma is located in the beautiful coastal foothills of Northern California, about 2 hours north of Berkeley. Our preferred observing location is the Lone Rock Trailhead parking lot. Visit the Lake Sonoma Website for more information about the area. A map at the bottom of this page shows the location of Lake Sonoma. Trips are usually scheduled on the Saturday closest to the new moon. Check the Announcements section for the date and time of the next trip. Do you have a car in Berkeley? We need drivers! If you help us by taking people to Lake Sonoma in your car, we will pay you $5 per passenger. Email us at astroclub@uclink.berkeley.edu to register as a driver. What to Bring: You do not have to have your own telescope, or even your own car, to go on this trip. We will try our best to organize transportation for everyone, and telescopes and star maps will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own telescope if you have one. You must bring plenty of warm clothes, because it can get very cold, especially when you are not moving around. Bring a flashlight; we will cover the lens with red cellophane. Binoculars will enhance your experience considerably if you bring them. Remember to bring some extra money, because we will stop for dinner along the way. There is a portable restroom at the observing site. How to Sign Up: We will hold a reservation meeting at least a week before the actual trip. You must come to this meeting to reserve your space on the trip. Spots may be limited depending on the number of drivers, so arrive early. The cost of the trip is $6 per person, which must be paid in advance. On the Day of the Trip: We will meet in front of Campbell Hall on the day of the trip. We leave Berkeley in the afternoon and stop for dinner along the way. We set up the equipment and stargaze for several hours. Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate will be served during the observing session. We return to Berkeley early Sunday morning. Maps and Directions: Click here for detailed driving directions in PDF format (printable, 610 KB). Click the map below for a larger, more detailed version. Photos From Past Trips: October 5