Mission Peak

Near: Freemont
Trip Type: Hike
Distance: 5 miles
Elevation: 400 - 2500 ft
Vegetation: Pasture
Surface: Dirt
Last Visit: Sometime in 2014

Mission Peak Regional Preserve is no pristine wilderness.  It's yet-another-East-Bay-dirt-road-grass-and-cows experience.  Still, its proximity to Bay Area population centers and its satisfying prominence make it worth a visit when you're in the mood for a substantial climb, but not a substantial drive.   It's also the far western terminus of the Ohlone Wilderness Trail, so this is the place to start if you want to go on a 28-mile trek into the East Bay hills with several thousand feet of climbing.  Personally, if I'm going to do that much work, the Sierras or Trinity Alps better be involved, but if you live in the SF Bay and want to go backpacking with a dog on a strict carbon-footprint budget, then the Ohlone is the trail for you.

Rules and Permits.

No permits required in the Mission Peak Preserve, but if you continue east on the Ohlone Wilderness Trail over the ridge and down to the Sunol Wilderness on the other side, you'll need a permit.  Voice control OK.

Trailhead

The end of Stanford Ave, driving east from Mission Blvd.

Route

Caltopo Map: http://caltopo.com/m/1GR7


We took the Ohlone Wilderness trail up to the ridge line north of the peak, crossed southwards over the peak on the Peak Trail, then returned on the Horse Heaven and Peak Meadow Trails.  A straightforward loop, with a steady climb and no appreciable back-climbing.  The biggest obstacles you'll face on this loop are obstinate cows and, if hiking after winter rains, mud that sticks to your shoes by the pound.