Located at 850 Spartan Avenue, Berthoud, Colorado.

Directions to the Little Thompson Observatory next to Berthoud High School

Berthoud is located between Longmont and Loveland on Highway 287.

From Denver: Take I-25 north to the Berthoud exit (exit number 250, for Highway 56), and go west into Berthoud. At the "Y" intersection, turn left onto Highway 287 or Mountain Ave where it is running east-west. Watch for 8th Street-- there is a traffic light and Centennial Bank of the West and A&W at the intersection of Mountain Ave and 8th. Turn south onto 8th St. Follow 8th St. to the south, and it meanders a bit. 8th will end in a T-intersection at Spartan Drive. Turn right (west) on Spartan Drive, and watch for Berthoud High School on your right. You'll see the observatory to the north-east of the school. It's hard to miss: a blue building with a big white dome.

From Longmont: Take Highway 287 (Main St. in Longmont) north to Berthoud, turn right towards Berthoud at the CO-56 interchange traffic lights West of Berthoud, follow CO-56 to the next lights and turn South (right) onto CR-17. Turn left on the 3rd street on your left, which is Spartan Avenue. The High School will be on your left and you can park in the parking lot just East of the school. The Observatory is visible from the parking lot.

From Loveland via Taft: Take Taft south to Berthoud, and go straight accross old 287 at the traffic lights West of Berthoud and turn left on Spartan Avenue. The High School will be on your left and you can park in the parking lot just East of the school.

From Loveland via 287: Take Highway 287 south to Berthoud. Turn left (East) onto CO-56 at the traffic lights. Follow CO-56 East to the next lights and turn South (right) onto CR-17. Turn left on the 3rd street on your left, which is Spartan Avenue. The High School will be on your left and you can park in the parking lot just East of the school. The Observatory is visible from the parking lot.

From Ft. Collins: Take I-25 south to the Berthoud exit (exit number 250, for Highway 56), and go west into Berthoud. At the "Y" intersection, turn left onto Highway 287 or Mountain Ave where it is running east-west. Watch for 8th Street-- there is a traffic light and Centennial Bank of the West and A&W at the intersection of Mountain Ave and 8th. Turn south onto 8th St. Follow 8th St. to the south, and it meanders a bit. 8th will end in a T-intersection at Spartan Drive. Turn right (west) on Spartan Drive, and watch for Berthoud High School on your right. You'll see the observatory to the north-east of the school. It's hard to miss: a blue building with a big white dome.

Please park in the large and lighted high school parking lot. People with disabilities and those having trouble walking on a gravel path can drive into the gate and follow the gravel path to the observatory. Parking is limited near the facility.

Consider bringing a small flashlight with you, since the gravel path from the parking lot to the observatory may not be lit. And bring a coat for outdoor weather temperatures, since the dome is unheated (though the rest of the observatory is heated).