What families say

This is a bucket-list stargazing trip, but it takes real planning: you need a 4WD vehicle with low range, a half tank of gas, and a mandatory 30-minute acclimation stop at the visitor center before the final 8-mile summit drive (plan on arriving at least an hour before sunset or sunrise). Because of the altitude, oxygen levels are actually monitored, so it's worth thinking through whether younger kids or anyone sensitive to elevation will handle it well. Families who make the trek describe the views, guided tours, and stargazing as unforgettable, with sunrise noted as less crowded than sunset.

Ages 10–18