I've gone up this mountain four times now and I have enjoyed every single trip. On one of my summit bids of Mission Peak, my friend and I filmed a movie up there. My most recent time I went, my friend and I took a side trip to the Mount Allison and Monument Peak summits, to the south. which was cool.
Route Climbed: Trailhead at end Stanford Ave off Mission Date Climbed: February 14 & 28, 2005
A beautiful day, blue sky with puffy clouds, the big rain last night cut some 1 foot deep cracks in the road, but the track was mostly dry. I'm trying to get in shape for doing Wainwright's North England Coast to Coast in July. This should do it. The second time up I borrowed some Traverse poles, which gave my upper arms a workout and kept me from slipping on the gravel coming down..highly recommended.
Route Climbed: Stanford Avenue Date Climbed: January 1st, 2005
I've hiked up Mission Peak many times over the years, as the trailheads are only a few minutes from home. This can be a strenuous training hike. From Stanford Ave it climbs 2,127 vertical feet in about 3 miles. Lots of people on the trail today, despite the sometimes threatening New Years Day weather. From the summit of Mission Peak, I continued on over to Monument Peak, which is another 3 miles or so to the south. Everyone else must have run out of steam once they'd reached the Mission Peak summit, because I didn't pass a single person from there all the way out to Monument Peak and back. Lots of rain in the last few days, so the hillsides were nice and green, but the trails were muddy in places. One of my favorite features up here is the Great Wall of Milpitas, an old rock wall that meanders across the countryside for a few miles on an apparently random route. You really have to go on out to Monument Peak to get a good view of it.
Route Climbed: Class Five Fire Trail Date Climbed: 15th Feb. 2004
Roped up (i.e. took the dogs) and started up the Class 5 fire trail. You think I joke but I witnessed about four people - including my wife - tumble down the steep sections with the loose gravel. As we acended the sky clouded up and the visibility grew dim until Mt. Diablo was barely visible. Summited, had a bite to eat, and a slight rain started. Got down in about 40 minutes. In hindsight I should have read the postings here first. Parked on the dirt and ended up with a $60 parking ticket! Come on Fremont, get real! Parking tickets in NYC are only $55! Don't punish people for getting outside! I think it's a media conspiracy to keep people parked in front of the TV to buy potato chips or SUVs.
Route Climbed: Ohlone College trail Date Climbed: 25 June 2002
My first of many ascents of this local mountain - not as pretty as in spring, but a fun hike, with nice bay area views nonetheless. Hike report and pics are here
Route Climbed: Horse Heaven Trail Date Climbed: 9 August 2003
Nice climb up, though I got off course and ended up crossing a bunch of fenced off areas. I thought I was probably in some area-51 wanna-be and military guys would jump me at any second, but I managed to intersect with a road on the far side and find the summit. Went down the big road like normal people.
Route Climbed: Mission Peak, Monument Peak, & Mount Allison Date Climbed: May 10, 2003
Gorgeous afternoon with much more than I ever expected from this peak. I parked my car by the Leland Stanford Winery. Here's the rough itinerary:
(1) Mission Peak via Ohlone Wilderness Road
(2) Monument Peak via Bay Area Ridge Trail
(3) Mount Allison via off trail hiking
The mislabeled Ohlone Wilderness Trail from Stanford Ave. is really a road and possibly the aesthetically worst (though most popular) method of reaching the summit. I descended via the Horse Heaven Trail which is probably the nicest trail I've used for Mission Peak. The Ohlone College Peak Trail is nicer than the Ohlone Wilderness Road but not as nice as the Horse Heaven Trail.
California Poppies were in full bloom everywhere! I also saw 2 coyotes, 2 deer, 4 lizards, numerous cows, 3 hanggliders, and 3 paragliders. The best wildlife viewing is by Monument Peak where I got to see the coyotes and deer. Watching the coyotes and cows was like watching a nature documentary. There were 20+ cows around a watering hole when the two coyotes entered the fray. One of them got away with something in it's mouth but I couldn't tell what. Then a big bull (cow) came over the rise and literally galloped down to the group snorting and with dirt coming up from it's hooves. Pretty impressive sight!
Route Climbed: Alpine assault from Stanford. Ave Date Climbed: April 18, 2003
Bob and I had arranged a car swap to dayhike the Ohlone Wilderness trail in opposite directions; this was the first stop on my way to Del Valle. I'd felt like I was moving sluggishly heading up to the peak, but was surprised to find myself on the summit 50 mins after starting. Not much in the way of views this morning due to fog, but that didn't seem to deter any number of other people out for a morning walk.
Route Climbed: From Stanford Ave. parking lot Date Climbed: April 5, 2003
It is a good local hike if you don't mind crowds on the 'trail' (feels more like a highway) and cows (cowpie) practically everywhere. It is still very green up there with wild flowers blooming, and, of course, beautiful California poppies. Basically, if you have a couple of hours and want to substitute your regular gym with outdoors, this is one place to go!
Route Climbed: Trails from North, descended Ohlone Trail Date Climbed: March 28, 2003
My friend and I started from Mill Creek Road (no Parking allowed, but we did anyway) at about 3:30. We went up the fireroad on our bikes to where it meets up with the Ohlone Trail and went up. We took the trail from the North to the Summit. It was very windy on top, but we managed to avoid the wind on the West side of the summit. It was a clear day with smog that kept the Sierras hidden. We went back down to the North, then began the long, winding descent on the Ohlone Trail. Unfortunately my friend popped his tube and attempts to fix it failed. We enjoyed a slow descent to Stanford Ave, where we got in my friend's car at 6:00 and drove back to pick up mine. A good Bay Area climb if you don't like to find cars at the top.
Diggler - Mar 26, 2003 9:28 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2015
Route Climbed: trail from community college Date Climbed: winter 2001/2
Decided to do a night hike with Rachel. It was a surreal journey, going through patches of woods and meadows at night, with no-one else around. About halfway, we rested to check out the stars, which were much brighter than I would have guessed. Finally getting to the top, we had a stupendous view of the Bay Area, enhanced even more by the contrast between darkness and the lights. It was surprisingly cold on top, though, and really windy, so we didn't stay that long. At the bottom, some overweight parking nazi was tripping because I'd parked my motorcycle on the sidewalk.
6.26.'15: from Horse Heaven trail. A night to relax, reflect, & try to find peace. Beautiful night. Perfect temps. Thinking of you, Van.
Route Climbed: (Ohlone College) Peak Trail Date Climbed: Many times
The nice thing about this trailhead is that you never have to fight for parking, unlike Stanford Ave.
Shawn introduced me to this peak which he uses for trail runs. The first time I came here, I had planned to run up and down with him and Julie but I arrived late so they took off without me. I ran up the hill and met them as they started down from the summit. I spent some time hanging out up there before running down and catching up to them just before entering the woods again. I got home early and had enough time to hit the gym and swim a few laps in the pool before lunch. I was also treated to gorgeous views of California poppies on this trip. I might be able to dig out some photos of the poppies...I think I have some but can't be sure.
The second time was a training hike before my Mexico trip (yes I know the altitude training on this peak really helped ;-). I think I carried two ropes and a trad rack in my pack while wearing my ice climbing boots. I passed a large number of Boy Scouts and their parents on this trip so I guess some scout troops are still getting out :-)
The most recent time, I went up to learn how to use my GPS. I descended some grassy slopes to a little rocky area to practice navigating back to waypoints. While I was sitting down, about 5 cows as the trotted by. It was cool watching them scratch their heads against some of the rocks and rolling their heads in the mud. This was also coincidentally the 100th anniversary of the naming of the California Poppy as California's state flower on March 2, 1903
Route Climbed: From southwest (Stanford Avenue?) Date Climbed: May 28, 2001
Hiked this with Kim and Robert. The mountain is hulky and therefore deceptively high. Great views of Mount Diablo from the summit, but you've got to avoid the smog if you want to see anything!
Mission Peak is a fun hike when you may only have a few hours and want to get out for a hike. Have hiked several routes from the Stanford Avenue trailhead and have made the hike over the top finishing in Sunol Regional Park. Have also started in Sunol, saw nobody on this route until the ridge to the summit. There are more trees along this route and you are in shade a great deal. Have also taken a side trip to Monument Peak to the south.
McCannster - Apr 28, 2005 3:05 pm
Route Climbed: Date Climbed: ManyI've gone up this mountain four times now and I have enjoyed every single trip. On one of my summit bids of Mission Peak, my friend and I filmed a movie up there. My most recent time I went, my friend and I took a side trip to the Mount Allison and Monument Peak summits, to the south. which was cool.
mlthorn - Mar 1, 2005 12:11 am
Route Climbed: Trailhead at end Stanford Ave off Mission Date Climbed: February 14 & 28, 2005A beautiful day, blue sky with puffy clouds, the big rain last night cut some 1 foot deep cracks in the road, but the track was mostly dry. I'm trying to get in shape for doing Wainwright's North England Coast to Coast in July. This should do it. The second time up I borrowed some Traverse poles, which gave my upper arms a workout and kept me from slipping on the gravel coming down..highly recommended.
brianhughes - Jan 2, 2005 12:50 am
Route Climbed: Stanford Avenue Date Climbed: January 1st, 2005I've hiked up Mission Peak many times over the years, as the trailheads are only a few minutes from home. This can be a strenuous training hike. From Stanford Ave it climbs 2,127 vertical feet in about 3 miles. Lots of people on the trail today, despite the sometimes threatening New Years Day weather. From the summit of Mission Peak, I continued on over to Monument Peak, which is another 3 miles or so to the south. Everyone else must have run out of steam once they'd reached the Mission Peak summit, because I didn't pass a single person from there all the way out to Monument Peak and back. Lots of rain in the last few days, so the hillsides were nice and green, but the trails were muddy in places. One of my favorite features up here is the Great Wall of Milpitas, an old rock wall that meanders across the countryside for a few miles on an apparently random route. You really have to go on out to Monument Peak to get a good view of it.
bridgetvern - Sep 19, 2004 10:49 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: 11 Sept 04Great training hike. Took less than 2 hours roundtrip, but got a great workout!
orandall - Sep 2, 2004 2:01 pm
Route Climbed: stanford ave Date Climbed: many many timesthis is my hometown "peak" - must have climbed it a hundred times - half of those on dates in high school
atc - Aug 31, 2004 3:49 am
Route Climbed: Many routes Date Climbed: Numerous timesThis is a convenient mountain for training, being steep and short. Both mountain biking and hiking training can be done here.
Scott Fulton - Aug 30, 2004 1:37 am
Route Climbed: Front side from Stanford Ave. Date Climbed: many timesManaged to run up to top from Stanford Avenue in about 49 minutes to train for a nasty 50K run.
mposner - Feb 23, 2004 11:41 am
Route Climbed: Both routes up Date Climbed: Numerous TimesThis is a fun training hike. I've hiked it dozens of times while training to do a one day hike to Half Dome in Yosemite. It can be hot in the summer.
blmcclain - Feb 16, 2004 3:09 pm
Route Climbed: Class Five Fire Trail Date Climbed: 15th Feb. 2004Roped up (i.e. took the dogs) and started up the Class 5 fire trail. You think I joke but I witnessed about four people - including my wife - tumble down the steep sections with the loose gravel. As we acended the sky clouded up and the visibility grew dim until Mt. Diablo was barely visible. Summited, had a bite to eat, and a slight rain started. Got down in about 40 minutes. In hindsight I should have read the postings here first. Parked on the dirt and ended up with a $60 parking ticket! Come on Fremont, get real! Parking tickets in NYC are only $55! Don't punish people for getting outside! I think it's a media conspiracy to keep people parked in front of the TV to buy potato chips or SUVs.
adampaul - Jan 7, 2004 11:25 am
Route Climbed: Ohlone College trail Date Climbed: 25 June 2002My first of many ascents of this local mountain - not as pretty as in spring, but a fun hike, with nice bay area views nonetheless. Hike report and pics are here
rgreene - Oct 9, 2003 1:17 am
Route Climbed: Horse Heaven Trail Date Climbed: 9 August 2003Nice climb up, though I got off course and ended up crossing a bunch of fenced off areas. I thought I was probably in some area-51 wanna-be and military guys would jump me at any second, but I managed to intersect with a road on the far side and find the summit. Went down the big road like normal people.
winzeler - Jul 8, 2003 11:51 am
Route Climbed: Stanford Ave Trailhead Date Climbed: June 14, 2003Hot day. Bring plenty of water. You can give it to the unprepared at the top if you don't drink it all.
John - May 10, 2003 5:55 pm
Route Climbed: Mission Peak, Monument Peak, & Mount Allison Date Climbed: May 10, 2003Gorgeous afternoon with much more than I ever expected from this peak. I parked my car by the Leland Stanford Winery. Here's the rough itinerary:
(1) Mission Peak via Ohlone Wilderness Road
(2) Monument Peak via Bay Area Ridge Trail
(3) Mount Allison via off trail hiking
The mislabeled Ohlone Wilderness Trail from Stanford Ave. is really a road and possibly the aesthetically worst (though most popular) method of reaching the summit. I descended via the Horse Heaven Trail which is probably the nicest trail I've used for Mission Peak. The Ohlone College Peak Trail is nicer than the Ohlone Wilderness Road but not as nice as the Horse Heaven Trail.
California Poppies were in full bloom everywhere! I also saw 2 coyotes, 2 deer, 4 lizards, numerous cows, 3 hanggliders, and 3 paragliders. The best wildlife viewing is by Monument Peak where I got to see the coyotes and deer. Watching the coyotes and cows was like watching a nature documentary. There were 20+ cows around a watering hole when the two coyotes entered the fray. One of them got away with something in it's mouth but I couldn't tell what. Then a big bull (cow) came over the rise and literally galloped down to the group snorting and with dirt coming up from it's hooves. Pretty impressive sight!
Matthew Holliman - Apr 20, 2003 12:48 pm
Route Climbed: Alpine assault from Stanford. Ave Date Climbed: April 18, 2003Bob and I had arranged a car swap to dayhike the Ohlone Wilderness trail in opposite directions; this was the first stop on my way to Del Valle. I'd felt like I was moving sluggishly heading up to the peak, but was surprised to find myself on the summit 50 mins after starting. Not much in the way of views this morning due to fog, but that didn't seem to deter any number of other people out for a morning walk.
Misha - Apr 5, 2003 4:40 pm
Route Climbed: From Stanford Ave. parking lot Date Climbed: April 5, 2003It is a good local hike if you don't mind crowds on the 'trail' (feels more like a highway) and cows (cowpie) practically everywhere. It is still very green up there with wild flowers blooming, and, of course, beautiful California poppies. Basically, if you have a couple of hours and want to substitute your regular gym with outdoors, this is one place to go!
Brett A - Mar 28, 2003 8:07 pm
Route Climbed: Trails from North, descended Ohlone Trail Date Climbed: March 28, 2003My friend and I started from Mill Creek Road (no Parking allowed, but we did anyway) at about 3:30. We went up the fireroad on our bikes to where it meets up with the Ohlone Trail and went up. We took the trail from the North to the Summit. It was very windy on top, but we managed to avoid the wind on the West side of the summit. It was a clear day with smog that kept the Sierras hidden. We went back down to the North, then began the long, winding descent on the Ohlone Trail. Unfortunately my friend popped his tube and attempts to fix it failed. We enjoyed a slow descent to Stanford Ave, where we got in my friend's car at 6:00 and drove back to pick up mine. A good Bay Area climb if you don't like to find cars at the top.
Diggler - Mar 26, 2003 9:28 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2015
Route Climbed: trail from community college Date Climbed: winter 2001/2Decided to do a night hike with Rachel. It was a surreal journey, going through patches of woods and meadows at night, with no-one else around. About halfway, we rested to check out the stars, which were much brighter than I would have guessed. Finally getting to the top, we had a stupendous view of the Bay Area, enhanced even more by the contrast between darkness and the lights. It was surprisingly cold on top, though, and really windy, so we didn't stay that long. At the bottom, some overweight parking nazi was tripping because I'd parked my motorcycle on the sidewalk.
6.26.'15: from Horse Heaven trail. A night to relax, reflect, & try to find peace. Beautiful night. Perfect temps. Thinking of you, Van.
John - Mar 10, 2003 3:30 pm
Route Climbed: (Ohlone College) Peak Trail Date Climbed: Many timesThe nice thing about this trailhead is that you never have to fight for parking, unlike Stanford Ave.
Shawn introduced me to this peak which he uses for trail runs. The first time I came here, I had planned to run up and down with him and Julie but I arrived late so they took off without me. I ran up the hill and met them as they started down from the summit. I spent some time hanging out up there before running down and catching up to them just before entering the woods again. I got home early and had enough time to hit the gym and swim a few laps in the pool before lunch. I was also treated to gorgeous views of California poppies on this trip. I might be able to dig out some photos of the poppies...I think I have some but can't be sure.
The second time was a training hike before my Mexico trip (yes I know the altitude training on this peak really helped ;-). I think I carried two ropes and a trad rack in my pack while wearing my ice climbing boots. I passed a large number of Boy Scouts and their parents on this trip so I guess some scout troops are still getting out :-)
The most recent time, I went up to learn how to use my GPS. I descended some grassy slopes to a little rocky area to practice navigating back to waypoints. While I was sitting down, about 5 cows as the trotted by. It was cool watching them scratch their heads against some of the rocks and rolling their heads in the mud. This was also coincidentally the 100th anniversary of the naming of the California Poppy as California's state flower on March 2, 1903
mpbro - Mar 9, 2003 10:36 am
Route Climbed: From southwest (Stanford Avenue?) Date Climbed: May 28, 2001Hiked this with Kim and Robert. The mountain is hulky and therefore deceptively high. Great views of Mount Diablo from the summit, but you've got to avoid the smog if you want to see anything!
keema - Mar 9, 2003 8:58 am
Route Climbed: Various Date Climbed: Many TimesMission Peak is a fun hike when you may only have a few hours and want to get out for a hike. Have hiked several routes from the Stanford Avenue trailhead and have made the hike over the top finishing in Sunol Regional Park. Have also started in Sunol, saw nobody on this route until the ridge to the summit. There are more trees along this route and you are in shade a great deal. Have also taken a side trip to Monument Peak to the south.