In
brief:
This 6.1 mile out and back hike is a steep trek from the edge of a residential
neighborhood to the top of the mountain. Hosts a Bay Area Ridge Trail segment.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 6.1 mile out and back hike is tough, but
manageable, particularly if you visit on a cool day and bring plenty of
water. Stanford Avenue trailhead elevation is about 380 feet (Ohlone College trailhead elevation is about 440 feet). The park's high point is about 2517 feet; total elevation change for this hike is about 2150 feet. A Bay
Area Hiker reader who preferred to remain anonymous describes the route
perfectly: "this trail is not for beginners or casual 'neighborhood'
walkers. It is somewhat steep and continually demanding."
Exposure:
Almost completely exposed.
Trail traffic:
Moderate.
Trail surfaces:
Dirt fire roads and trails.
Hiking time:
3 hours.
Season:
Muddy in winter, hot in summer, best in spring.
Getting there:
Stanford Avenue trailhead:
From Interstate 880 in Alameda County, exit Warren/Mission Boulevard
(exit 12). Drive northeast on Mission Boulevard, pass under 680, and turn
right on Stanford Avenue. Drive about 0.5 mile to the trailhead at the end
of the street. (Note: if you quake in fear at the thought of driving on
880, and are traveling from the peninsula, you can take a slower, prettier,
less stressful drive. Drive east across the bay on the Dumbarton Bridge,
which becomes Decoto. About 4 miles from the Dumbarton Bridge toll plaza,
turn right onto Paseo Padre Parkway. Drive south a few miles, to the junction
with Mission Boulevard. Turn left, and make the first right onto Stanford
Avenue.)
Ohlone College trailhead:
From Interstate 880 in Alameda County, exit Warren/Mission Boulevard
(exit 12). Drive northeast on Mission Boulevard, pass under 680, and continue on Mission Boulevard. Turn right onto Pine Street, drive uphill, and park in the large parking structure on the left (Google maps shows this as Multi story parking Ohlone College).
GPS Coordinates* for Stanford Avenue trailhead:
Latitude
37°30'15.74"N
Longitude
121°54'29.98"W
(* based on Google Earth
data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
GPS Coordinates* for Ohlone College trailhead:
Latitude
37°31'37.91"N
Longitude
121°54'45.11"W
(* based on Google Earth
data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, stores, pay phone, and restaurants back to the southwest on Mission
Boulevard. No camping in the park, but Mission Peak is the gateway to the
Ohlone Wilderness Trail, a backpacking trek requiring advance reservations.
Trailhead details:
Stanford Avenue: Parking in a lot at the edge of a residential neighborhood. Respect
all no parking signs on the surrounding surface streets, or you may get
a ticket. No parking or admission fees. There are designated handicapped parking spots,
but preserve trails are not well-suited to wheelchairs. Vault toilet and water at the edge
of the parking lot. Maps available at the information signboard.
AC Transit runs several routes along Mission Boulevard, and from there it's
a quick and fairly flat walk to the trailhead: visit the Transit
Info website for details.
Ohlone College: Pay $4 parking fee at parking structure (electronic kiosks on every floor near the elevator). Portable toilets, maps, and water at trailhead. Trail is not wheelchair-accessible from this trailhead. AC Transit stops just steps from the trailhead.
Rules:
Most trails are multi-use. A few are open to hikers and horses only (and of course, cows). Dogs must be leashed 200 feet from any trail or park
entrance, in parking lots, picnic areas, developed areas such as lawns and play fields, and on some trails. They must be
under voice control at all times. Pick up dog waste and deposit bags in trash cans. Never leave bags on trails. The Stanford Avenue area of the park is open from 6:30 a.m.
to 8 p.m., unless otherwise posted. The area of the park accessed by Ohlone College (all the way to the summit) is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Official Story:
EBRPD's Mission Peak page.
EBRPD headquarters 510-562-PARK
Map/book choices:
This hike is described and mapped in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Francisco,
by Jane Huber (yup, that's me, the creator of this website). Order
this book from Amazon.com
• Map from EBRPD
Mission Peak in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured hike.
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page