The parking lot has room for about 25 cars and if this is full you can park on Vineyard Ave, a road that you pass on your left as you go toward the parking lot.
Park entrance and parking lot
At Mission Peak Regional Preserve, all of the trails go up so you have a great view of the bay the entire trip, whether you decide to go all the way to the top or turn around somewhere in between. Most of the trails are very wide.
Common trail at the park entrance
The pictures in this review are from a hike on Peak Meadow Trail which veers off to the right near the entrance to the preserve. It is a fully exposed trail until you reach the junction with the Horse Heaven Trail. The hike up to the junction and back is 2.6 miles and is very steep. There are cows walking, sitting and grazing along the way so it is a good idea to keep your distance if you can.
Cows along the path
This is the first fork in the trail. To go on the Peak Meadow Trail, make the right and continue on the trail. You will pass Eucalyptus trees.
Fork in the trail Eucalyptus trees
There is one gate to pass through along the way. Soon after, there are views of the bay and views of the hillside.
Gate Views of the bay
Hillside view
More views of the bay
During the spring, there are purple, yellow, orange, white and pink wildflowers along the trail.
Yellow and orange wildflowers
Purple, pink and white wildflowers
The trail becomes grass just before it reaches a fork where Horse Heaven Trail goes to the right and the Peak Meadow Trail is on the left. If you decide continue on the Peak Meadow Trail, this will intersect with the Hidden Valley Ohlone Trail where you can head back down to the park entrance (a full loop) rather than going the same way up and back down.
Full Review: Mission Peak Regional Preserve
The parking lot has room for about 25 cars and if this is full you can park on Vineyard Ave, a road that you pass on your left as you go toward the parking lot.
Park entrance and parking lot
At Mission Peak Regional Preserve, all of the trails go up so you have a great view of the bay the entire trip, whether you decide to go all the way to the top or turn around somewhere in between. Most of the trails are very wide.
Common trail at the park entrance
The pictures in this review are from a hike on Peak Meadow Trail which veers off to the right near the entrance to the preserve. It is a fully exposed trail until you reach the junction with the Horse Heaven Trail. The hike up to the junction and back is 2.6 miles and is very steep. There are cows walking, sitting and grazing along the way so it is a good idea to keep your distance if you can.
Cows along the path
This is the first fork in the trail. To go on the Peak Meadow Trail, make the right and continue on the trail. You will pass Eucalyptus trees.
Fork in the trail Eucalyptus trees
There is one gate to pass through along the way. Soon after, there are views of the bay and views of the hillside.
Gate Views of the bay
Hillside view
More views of the bay
During the spring, there are purple, yellow, orange, white and pink wildflowers along the trail.
Yellow and orange wildflowers
Purple, pink and white wildflowers
The trail becomes grass just before it reaches a fork where Horse Heaven Trail goes to the right and the Peak Meadow Trail is on the left. If you decide continue on the Peak Meadow Trail, this will intersect with the Hidden Valley Ohlone Trail where you can head back down to the park entrance (a full loop) rather than going the same way up and back down.
Fork in the trail Wildflowers along the trail