I joined a great group of Bay Area Hikers to do Rose Peak this past weekend. The day started off sunny and warm on the way up and then it was cold and windy at the summit (we didn't stay too long) and cooler on the way down. I found the hike to be more challenging than Mt Tam, but a great hike overall. Most of the trail is wide, which was great for a big group. Right now the hills are very green, so that was nice to see. The trail does not have much shade, so I'd recommend not doing it when it's hot out. You do need a permit for this hike (link is on AllTrails) and there's a $5 fee to park, so be ready for that. I got there close to the gates opening around 8 am and had no trouble parking.