The 2022 eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano cut off road access to the Mauna Loa Baseline Observatory. Construction on the temporary Mauna Loa Access road was completed on 26 March, 2026.
At this time, there is no site access for the general public to the Mauna Loa Observatory and NOAA has not yet established a public opening date. GML and scientific partners are working together to bring mission critical scientific projects back online. It is still unclear when utility infrastructure will be replaced and power re-established to the site.
We will provide another update as more information becomes available.
Media contact: Theo Stein at (303) 819-7409 or theo.stein@noaa.gov.
Visiting Scientists
* All downloadable documents are in Adobe Reader (.pdf) format
Work Visitation
- If you need to schedule a visit to MLO for project maintenance or other work-related reasons, please contact Aidan Colton by email or phone (808-933-6965 x233).
Request A New Project
- If you are setting up a new MLO research project, please download and complete the Baseline Observatory Cooperative Agreement Form. This form is required by the NOAA ESRL GML.
General Information and Logistics
- "Information for Visiting Cooperative Investigators and ESRL Staff" [ download ]
This document describes how to apply for a new program, and also lists details for scheduling a visit to MLO (such as contact information, lodging, car rental, food, utilities, medical attention, internet service, power availability, and work environment). It also covers transporting work materials and equipment to and from the observatory. - "Important Things to Remember When Visiting MLO" [ download ] [ online ]
This information serves as a general preparation checklist for anyone visiting the observatory. Special attention is given to what you can expect while at our high altitude site, and what you will need to do beforehand to prepare.