It was my first time on Mission Peak and it was packed! I am always glad to see others out enjoying the Bay Area trails, but this was just a bit too busy for me. Granted, it was a holiday when I went and I slept in a bit so I didn’t get to the trail until 9:30am which is later than I would normally start but it still felt pretty cramped even with a wide trail.

For the ascent I took Hidden Valley Trail per the challenge recommendation but rather than going out and back, I made a loop and took Horses Heaven down to peak meadow simply because it looked less crowded and was not a gravel path. That was the most enjoyable part of the hike for me and my dog. There was a bit more shade for him, the wind was less intense, and we got to say hello to a number of cows grazing on the hillside.

Overall though, this would be a great training hike if you can get out on a weekday and/or early enough to beat the traffic! The length is kind of perfect if you have other things you want to do with your day and I loved the steady incline.