The Bay Area doesn't really have "mountains", however, our hills are not for the faint of heart! Mission Peak is one such ginormous hill, and to get to the top, you have to be ready to ascend nearly > 2100 feet in under 3 miles. This altitude gain per mile is sure to give you the chills in the rockies. But since the summit of mission peak is only 2516 feet in elevation, its far more doable than any similar hike in the rockies or sierras. Another huge awesome fact about Mission Peak Regional Preserve is that its dog friendly! So bring your stronger 4 legged friends for this great adventure. We went chose this hike on a warm June day, well into the afternoon. The temperatures were sort of on their way down and the afternoon fog was lifting, making the visibility pretty good. We also took our dog, although its important to know your dog’s limits before taking them on the mountain. Snow hikes and runs with us quite often, so we knew she would be fine. But we took strong measures to make sure we rest often and give the dog plenty of water to keep her from getting too tired or dehydrated. Even then, she was exhausted after we got down from the hike. The hike starts with a nice even trail for the first ~2.5 miles and then becomes quite steep towards the stop. It is during this section that shoes with traction are a huge help. I have several friends who have slipped and fell during this part of the hike. Here’s what I recommend you bring for the hike:
We went later in the afternoon, so we had no problem finding a place to park. I have heard that earlier in the day, the parking lots are all full and people are scrambling to find a parking spot on the street. If you choose to go later in the afternoon, be mindful of the weather. I have attempted to hike this several times, but was stopped by the wind and the clouds. Mission Peak is at an elevation of 2500 feet, sitting much higher than the sea level bay area. So this creates its specific weather conditions. Overall, this was an excellent hike. I will repeat it a few times while training for imminent races as it gives your legs a great warm up for climbs and gets your heart stronger to handle elevation changes. And the best part? The views! You can see all around the bay area region from Marin to the Peninsula and through Walnut Creek to Castro Valley! Pretty neat! Here are some pics from our hike! Gorgeous view of the bay from the top of the Mission Peak
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MahimaNuclear Engineer, Product and Strategy expert, Vegetarian, Adventurer. Categories
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December 2019
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