I love doing this hike during golden hour and watching the sunset. The views from the top of mission peak are best during this time! Seeing the city light up bit by bit is amazing.

The winter brings lush green hills, but with it comes a chilling wind. The top of the peak is quite cold, especially if you’re not moving around and just enjoying the view.

I parked about half a mile from the trailhead, so it added a mile to the hike. I’d rate this hike as difficult because there is about a 2500 ft elevation gain through the first 2.8 or so miles on the way up to the peak. For the untrained, this can be really brutal. If you’re a regular, this hike should be a breeze.