Mission Peak Regional Preserve

From the Dumbarton Bridge, Mission Peak is the sharp brown summit standing above Fremont, with Mount Allison and Monument Peak running south along the same ridge. It is about 2,520 feet high and its summit pole, the "Mission Peeker," is one of the most photographed objects in the East Bay. The climb is steep, exposed and popular. On a clear winter morning the view stretches from Mount Hamilton to Mount Tamalpais and, on the best days, to the Sierra Nevada.

The East Bay Regional Park District manages the 3,023-acre Mission Peak Regional Preserve. It is close enough to Palo Alto for an early start and a late breakfast, but it rewards some planning. The district enforces its hours, the parking near the steep trailhead is limited and the heat can be dangerous for people and dogs. This guide covers each of those points.

Getting there from Palo Alto

The drive takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes outside rush hour. There are two common routes:

• Over the Dumbarton Bridge. Take Highway 84 east across the bay, then head south toward Mission Boulevard in Fremont. The bridge toll is collected only westbound, so you pay on the way home: $8.50 in 2026 and $9.00 with FasTrak from January 1, 2027. Our bridges and tolls guide explains the payment options.
• Around the south end of the bay. Take Highway 237 east through Milpitas, then Interstate 680 north to Mission Boulevard. There is no toll, though 680 backs up at commute hours.

The district's transit advice is to take BART to Warm Springs and ride share about 15 minutes to the trailhead. There is no public access to Mission Peak from Mill Creek Road, which some map apps suggest.

Trailheads: Ohlone College or Stanford Avenue

Ohlone College (recommended)

The park district strongly encourages hikers to start at Ohlone College, 43600 Mission Blvd. Walk-in access is from Pine Street or Witherly Lane off Mission Boulevard. The district calls this route slightly longer but more gradual, with plenty of parking on weekends. The Peak Trail from here passes a horse corral and runs through shaded woodland before opening onto grassland. It is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. The Panorama Trail also leads to the summit.

The college charges $4 to park. Its machines take cash or credit cards. A permit must be displayed from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, including weekends, except on college holidays and semester breaks. Use Lots E, G and H or the parking structure. Overnight parking is not allowed. Check the college's parking page before you go, since the district notes that fees are set by the college.

Stanford Avenue

The other entrance is a small staging area at the east end of Stanford Avenue off Mission Boulevard. The district warns that the lot is extremely congested on weekends and that the climb from here is steep. Wikipedia describes it as a free lot of about 40 spaces that draws up to two thousand visitors a day on weekends. The main route from here is the Hidden Valley Trail.

Since 2016 the City of Fremont has run a parking permit program in the surrounding neighborhood. Resident permits are required from Saturday at 12:01 a.m. through Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and on national holidays. Parking is allowed on non-holiday weekdays. On a weekend, use Ohlone College.

Hours and fees

The district says hours are strictly enforced. People found inside the park, the entrance area or the parking lot after posted hours can be cited or arrested. Citations cost at least $300. Sunrise hikers from Stanford Avenue should plan around the 6:30 a.m. opening.

The park district charges no entry fee here. The only parking fee is the college's $4. Check the official park page and the district's alerts page before you go. On November 1, 2026, the alerts page listed no closure at Mission Peak.

The summit hike and other trails

The district describes the summit as a 3-plus-mile hike from the trailhead and says about five hours are required to reach the top and return. Fit hikers move faster, but the estimate is a fair warning for anyone who has not done it. Wikipedia gives two to five hours for hikers and one to one and a half hours for runners and cyclists.

Every route to the top joins the Peak Trail for its final stretch. Near the summit the trail crosses a slope the district calls "the Scarface," where years of shortcuts eroded the hillside. Fences and signs now mark the official path. Stay on it. Volunteers and staff restored more than half a mile of trail here in 2012 and 2013.

At the top, the "Mission Peeker" is a steel post with sight tubes pointing at Bay Area landmarks. Wikipedia says park ranger and sculptor Leonard Page installed it on December 27, 1990. Vandals sawed it off in September 2023 and park district crews welded it back in place that October. Expect a line to photograph it on weekend mornings.

Beyond the summit, the Stanford Avenue staging area is the western start of the Ohlone Wilderness Trail. The district calls it a 29-mile hiking and riding trail through some of southern Alameda County's wildest country. Trails also continue south along the ridge toward Monument Peak and Ed R. Levin County Park in Milpitas.

Eagle Spring Backpack Camp

Eagle Spring Backpack Camp, just east of the summit, takes reservations only. Book 2 or more business days ahead through the district's reservations line, (888) 327-2757, option 2. All water must be treated or boiled. Overnight parking at Stanford Avenue needs a permit issued with the camping reservation. See our camping guide for other backpack camps near Palo Alto.

Dogs, bikes, horses and other uses

• Dogs: district rules require a leash of 6 feet or less in parking lots, picnic areas and developed areas, within 200 feet of any trailhead and in all areas where grazing animals are present. Owners must carry a leash at all times. In undeveloped open space, dogs may be off leash only if they stay in view and under voice control. Pick up waste and carry the bag out. People walking more than three personal dogs need a district permit.
• Bikes: district-wide, bikes are allowed on most wide multi-use trails and banned on most narrow ones. Check the park map for which Mission Peak trails are open. Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes may go wherever regular bikes can; Class 3 e-bikes and e-scooters are banned. The speed limit is 15 mph, 5 mph when passing. Our mountain biking guide covers rides closer to home.
• Horses: horseback riding is listed among the park's activities. The Ohlone Wilderness Trail is open to riders.
• Model aircraft: radio-controlled gliders may launch only from R/C Hill. Pilots must be members of the South Bay Soaring Society. No motorized or gas-powered aircraft are allowed.
• Hang gliding and paragliding: the Wings of Rogallo club has a launch site in the preserve.

Heat, footing and wildlife

The district says several dogs die of heat stroke and dehydration at Mission Peak every year and many hikers are injured. Its advice is specific:

1. Carry at least 2 liters of water for you and your dog. Offer the dog water every time you drink.
2. Wear a hat and reapply sunscreen. Avoid hiking in the middle of the day in summer.
3. Hike with a dog only in cool weather. Signs of heat stroke include heavy panting, dry gums, weakness and inattention.
4. Wear hiking boots or athletic shoes with ankle support and thick socks. No flip-flops, sandals or heels.

Fremont runs hotter than Palo Alto in summer. Start at dawn from May to October, or come in winter and spring when the hills are green. Our heat waves guide lists the warning signs of heat illness in people.

When to go

Winter and early spring give the clearest air, green hills and the best chance of seeing the Sierra. The district's wildflower guides cover the spring bloom; our wildflowers guide lists other spots. Summer and early fall bring heat and haze. On Spare the Air days or when wildfire smoke drifts in, a strenuous climb is a poor idea. Weekend mornings are the busiest time, so a weekday start avoids most of the crowd.

Hawks and vultures ride the thermals over the summit. The district mentions sailplanes too. Interpretive staff from Coyote Hills Regional Park lead occasional hikes on the peak; call (510) 544-3220 for dates.

What pairs nearby

• Fremont: lunch in the Mission San José district after the hike, a few minutes from Ohlone College.
• Sunol Regional Wilderness: the gentler park on the other side of the ridge, with creekside trails and a visitor center.
• Coyote Hills: a flat bayside loop on the way home across the Dumbarton Bridge.

Frequently asked questions