Mission Peak Regional Preserve: 31 May 2004

Latitude: North 37° 30.766’

Longitude: West 121° 52.885’

Photos by Neil Mishalov

MISSION PEAK REGIONAL PRESERVE is located on the southeastern side of the San Francisco Bay. The preserve consists of 2,999 acres, located above the city of Fremont, California; the summit, Mission Peak, is at an elevation of 2,517 feet above sea level. The preserve is approximately 34 miles south from my home in Berkeley, California

In 1904, one hundred years ago, the following excerpt about Mission Peak was written in History of Washington Township, published by Stanford University Press.

"The Landmark that dominates the whole region is Mission Peak. It is a singular fact that many living in the township, even some born and reared here, have never ascended this mountain. They have gone to Tamalpais, tramped to Diablo..., ignorant of the vast and wonderful landscape to be seen from their own. Standing on the top, when the day is clear, we can see far in the east the shinning summits of the high Sierra...while nearer is the flat-topped Loma Prieta, and closer still the silver dome and clostered dwelling of Lick Observatory, with the higher top of Mount Hamilton behind. Due north rises the splendid double peaks of Mount Diablo, the giant of the Coast Range."

Some hike factoids and statistics: Time on the trail: 11:00 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Number of hikers: 2. Distance covered: 6.9 miles. Total ascent: 2,200 feet. Maximum elevation: 2,517 feet. Route: Hidden Valley Trail => Peak Trail => Horse Heaven Trail => Peak Meadows Trail

MISSION PEAK REGIONAL PRESERVE TRAIL MAP (pdf format)

All Images and Text Copyright © by Neil Mishalov

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Topographic Route Map and Elevation Profile:

Data gathered with a Garmin GPS Map 60C

Topographic mapping program for Macintosh OSX by National Geographic

Click on an image to see the full size picture


Mission Peak (2,517 feet). Photo taken from Stanford Road, Fremont, California	Climbing to the summit. A view of the southern part of the San Francisco Bay. Across the bay, those big white buildings, former dirigible hangers, mark the site of Moffett Air Field	Looking west; the glorious Santa Cruz Mountains are in the background

Blue Sage (Salvia clevelandii)		Gene F. White on Hidden Valley Trail

Pausing on the climb to the summit	Neil Mishalov on Hidden Valley Trail	Looking east from the Peak Trail

	Mount Diablo (3,849 feet) is northeast of Mission Peak	Loma Prieta (3,791 feet) is southwest of Mission Peak

The summit of Mission Peak (2,517 feet)	Looking southwest; the metropolis of San Jose stretches for miles	Heading down the Peak Trail

		The East Bay beneath us and, in the distance, Mount Tamalpais (2,537 feet) stands majestic in the upper right portion of the photo

	California Buckeye tree (Aesculus californica)	Lichen covered rock

Red leaf Poison Oak and Bladderpod (Isomeris arborea)		Looking back at the summit

		Descending Horse Heaven Trail

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