So many POPPIES and other wildflowers!! I strongly recommend this route from Ohlone College up to Mission Peak over the ‘normal’ more popular one. The $4 to park is well worth it for convenience, fewer crowds and you will only add a little over 1 mile with the same elevation, so it’s not as steep. We tried to do the other one and gave up because there was absolutely no parking that wouldn’t add significantly to the hike already at 8:20am. Even with this alternate route, I had to take one star off for the crowds. This is such an otherwise beautiful hike, but there are so many inexperienced ppl and ppl with poor hiking etiquette that it gets discouraging. Literally a huge line at the summit to take a picture with the marker, hard pass. You will go through a lovely wooded part in the beginning and that is pretty much the only shade, so come prepared. Also some rocky sections and a steep one at the top so bring good shoes. There is a porta potty at the trailhead, but if you venture on campus a little bit, I found a lovely real bathroom inside the science building (second one you’ll see, take the elevator to the second floor). Also another pit toilet on the way up. Lovely views of the South Bay, surrounding hills and could even see some of the sierras at the top.