Up Umunhum

Rising from the Santa Cruz Mountains, Mount Umunhum is one of the Bay Area’s highest points, reaching an impressive 3,486 feet. For decades, this mountain was closed to the public, but with the new 7.4-mile (round-trip) addition to the Bay Area Ridge Trail, locals can finally step up to its peak.

Early birds are in for a treat, as sunrise over Bald Mountain (a quick half-mile hike away) can be a breathtaking kaleidoscope of color. Signs for the Bay Area Ridge Trail lead you up a gradual ascent, with much of the route shaded by trees, including groves of red-barked manzanita. Midway up the trail, a marker notes the ruins of an old cabin where the mysterious “Lady of the Mountain” lived in the early 1900s.

As the tree cover begins to thin, the trail intersects with the upper parking lot. From here, the final push to the peak is over slightly steep, rocky terrain; one final challenge before earning your summit. {NOTE: Currently, construction on the upper mountain has closed this section of trail, so hikers should use the stairs by the restrooms. There is no ADA access above this point through 2021.}

Once atop the summit, take in that view! From the lookout platforms, there’s a gorgeous panorama in every direction, with visibility from the Pacific Ocean all the way to the Sierra. Visitors can also get an up-close view of “The Cube,” the massive radar tower that has become an iconic landmark on the Silicon Valley skyline.

The final stop is the Ceremonial Circle, a reminder of the mountain’s history as a sacred place for local Native American tribes, and a site for ceremony, prayer, and education. Standing among all this beauty, it’s easy to see why Umunhum has been cherished for millennia.

BONUS: Early birds or late-day finishers may want to add the 1-mile (round-trip) hike from the parking lot to Bald Mountain, which starts from the same area. Sunrise here is particularly spectacular.

To reach the trailhead, take Hicks Rd. to Mount Umunhum Rd. in the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. Two miles down Mount Umunhum Rd., turn left into the Bald Mountain parking lot. The trail begins across the street. There's no water here, bring your own. No dogs.

Story and photos by Poe Casavant