The property is a rectangular five acres, with a small house and large garage in a fenced area on the northern acre of the property. Utility lines with a few standard telephone poles run north-south on the western side. The ground is smooth, with no rocks, holes, hills, or washes, and little, if any, slope. Joshua trees and numerous large scrub bushes are the only significant foliage. To the north, but largely shielded by the house, are three occupied homes and outbuildings. Other homes are located several hundred yards away. Lights from these sources are annoying, but probably do not truly affect night vision.

The site is at  34° 17' 28" N,   116° 23' 01" W, at an elevation of 2950 feet. GMARS is north of Botkin Road, south of a street with various names, including Knox-Niman Road, and a hundred yards east of Gibraltar Road. Gibraltar runs south about 1.8 miles to Reche Road. Reche is paved, but the other roads mentioned are unpaved hard packed sand. 

It should be noted that the site has been graded and somewhat packed. However, the sand is not uniformly compacted, and drivers should be careful to stay on the compacted area, and drive carefully to avoid becoming stuck in soft sand.

North Entrance to Property

Property viewed from top of Goat Mountain

• Current Site Map •    (pdf Format for printing)

GMARS Location:  34° 17' 26.33" N,   116° 23' 01.77" W,  Elevation:  2937' (center of telescope field)

GMARS Phone Number: 760-364-1952

Panoramas and Aerial Images of GMARS

GMARS Site Development

GMARS Road Map & Directions for Printing

The RAS-Landers Connection

Star Party Etiquette at GMARS

What Should I Bring to GMARS?

GMARS Pad Use Rules