Mission Peak

Ending January strong – here’s to my first hike of the year! My first time hiking Mission Peak was back in high school. At the time, it was a struggle going up but I didn’t want to give up. My perseverance paid off in the end with a beautiful view. After my first experience, I wanted to continue hiking and explore new trails. So thank you, Mission Peak. You’ve introduced a great way of staying active for the rest of my life. 🙂

Parking is crucial here. If you start late, prepare yourself for a lengthy walk to the entrance of the trail from your distant parking spot. For this hike, 10:00am is already late. My cousin and I started our hike at this time. We didn’t mind getting there a little later, since it’s cold in the morning . The best times to hike are during the winter, spring, and fall.

There’s a small parking lot by the entrance, but it’s always full. Street parking is the alternative.

Be aware of the parking signs too because there is no parking in front of the houses. The worst thing is coming back from your hike with a parking ticket on your windshield.

Porta potties are available for restroom breaks. There’s also a picnic table by the entrance.

You can either continue on Hidden Valley Trail (to the left) or Peak Meadow Trail (to the right). Most families go on the Hidden Valley Trail, especially when they have their little ones. The trail is not as steep and there are benches to rest at.

I recommend having hiking boots, as you may experience muddy trails and rocky paths.

We chose to hike the Peak Meadow Trail, on the right side. If you’re looking for a challenging hike, this trail is steeper with a one-bench rest stop. Parts of the trail will be muddy, so be careful. There are less people that take this route too, making it fairly quiet. Lots of cows though!

It was the perfect time for a hike. Refreshing views all around and the weather was great!

The distance to the top of Mission Peak is 2.9 miles, with an elevation of 2,517 feet.

If you want pictures by the famous pole, start earlier or go on a weekday. There’s a long line for pictures by noon.

Since Peak Meadow Trail is steeper, we went along the Hidden Valley Trail to get back down. The path from the pole starts off rocky but it gets easier after.

It takes about 4 hours to hike Mission Peak (round trip). Make sure you pack enough water and food to last you that long. At times you may want to turn around and give up but just remember, keep climbing and take it one step at a time. The experience and view is worth it.

If you’re looking for a cardio and strength workout, with a breathtaking view at the top- overlooking the city of Fremont, Mission Peak is the way to go.

Address to Mission Peak: 43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539

Enjoy!

-Selle