January 25, 2003

Central Coast Astronomical Society

Directions to Navajo Flats are also posted on the CCAS website:
http://www.fix.net/wreil/ccas/navajo_flats.htm

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Directions to (optional) Navajo Flats Telescope Viewing Area
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Note: Monthly CCAS public star parties are held at Santa Margarita Lake KOA
Campground, NOT at Navajo Flats.

The following directions are from Santa Margarita and Atascadero.

Navajo Flats is located just off of Hwy 58 on Red Hill Road, about 30 miles
(40 minute drive) southeast of Atascadero. It is a beautiful but very remote
drive. Enjoy.

It is highly recommended that you make the drive with plenty of daylight so you
can get your bearings and not feel lost when you make the long drive home.  Be 
sure to bring drinks having caffeine to keep you awake on the drive. This is
a desolate stretch of highway, so be sure to have your cell phone.

This area is not associated with the Central Coast Astronomical Society.  We are
visitors to this area, so please treat it carefully.

PLEASE:  NO FIRES or SMOKING. THIS AREA IS A HIGH FIRE DANGER AREA. Also, please
treat this area with great care as it is a protected animal and vegetation area.
That's the reason for the pipe fence.  Please, only leave tripod and foot prints.

CAUTION: There are NO RESTROOMS or vehicle services nearby.  And watch for deer
anywhere along the roads.

Directions from Santa Margarita
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 1. As you turn off the main road in Santa Margarita onto Hwy 58 toward Santa
    Margarita Lake.  Just over the RR tracks, there is a community park immediately
    on your right.

 2. From the Santa Margarita community park, follow Hwy 58 for 24 miles to RED HILL
    ROAD on your right.  Note: About 1 mile south of Santa Margarita, shortly after
    you pass the cemetary on your left, Hwy 58 makes a sharp left turn.  Be sure to
    make that turn, or else you will be on Pozo Road heading for Pozo.  From this
    sharp bend, it is 22.3 miles to Red Hill Road, about a 25 to 35 minute drive.

 3. At Red Hill Road, drive 0.2 mile.  Park on the right side of the dirt road. 
    This is Navajo Flats.

Directions from Atascadero
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 1. From the intersection of El Camino Real and Hwy 41 (Rite Aid and Vons is on
    the SE corner), drive east on Hwy 41 for 10.4 miles to just past the right turn
    to Creston.

 2. DO NOT turn on Hwy 229 to Creston.  Just past the Creston turnoff, over the
    small bridge on Hwy 41, turn RIGHT on LA PANZA ROAD.

 3. Follow La Panza for 9.8 miles to the junction with Hwy 58.  At this point, La 
    Panza Road ends.

 4. Turn LEFT on Hwy 58 south.  (turning right takes you to Santa Margarita)

 5. Drive 7.8 miles to RED HILL ROAD on the right. Just before Red Hill Road you drive
    up a rather long, somewhat winding hill.

 6. Turn RIGHT on RED HILL ROAD (dirt road) and drive slowly along the dusty
    washboard road just about 0.2 mile.  There is a pile of rocks around the base of
    a pipe railing post ... this is where you park on the road.

 7. You have arrived at Navajo Flats.  Park along the right side of the road.  The
    telescope viewing area is on the right side.  There is a 3.5 foot high pipe
    railing fence that you have to cross over or go under to reach the telescope
    setup area about 30 feet away.  Watch your step as there are many ground squirrel
    holes.