Mission Peak rises steeply east of Fremont. It's the northern summit on a ridge that also includes Mount Allison and Monument Peak, and it appears on the City of Fremont's logo.

The views

From the top, the park district says you can see Mount Hamilton, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Mount Tamalpais, Mount Diablo, and on clear days the Sierra Nevada. The "Mission Peeker" marker pole at the summit is one of the most photographed spots in the East Bay.

Entrances and hours

  • Ohlone College entrance at 43600 Mission Blvd.: daily, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Stanford Avenue staging area: part of the park, marked in yellow on the park map, has shorter hours. It's open 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. from April 1 to Dec. 22 and 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Dec. 23 to March 31.

The preserve covers 3,023 acres. Stanford Avenue can draw up to 2,000 visitors a day on weekends.

Before you go

  • The district calls it a 3-plus-mile hike to the summit, about five hours up and back. The full round trip is at least six miles.
  • Shade is scarce, and dehydration and heat exhaustion are common. Common guidance is two liters of water per person, plus extra for dogs.
  • Stay on the trail. Shortcuts cause erosion and are prohibited.
  • Watch for hawks, vultures, sailplanes and a herd of feral goats on the cliffs.