Good viewing areas around Bakersfield, CA

Hi,

I am driving up for a meeting from L.A. to bakersfield and was wondering if there are any good viewing areas around there. Maybe a park or something I could sneak into at night or something out of the city but not too far. Off the beaten path kind of stuff...

Thanks,
-Ben

Ben,

If you take Hwy 99, about 10 miles south of Bakersfield you'll see an exit titled "Bear Mountain Road". From there you'll pass through a small town (I forget the name). Keep going straight through and you'll see it wind up the mountains east of the town.

It'll get you about 1000 ft above the valley floor and there are a few turn offs up there. Not much traffic at night, so you should get some pretty good darkness up there.

Have fun and clear skies to you.

David Eccles
Lompoc, CA