Mission Peak: 6 Loops in One Day
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I finished a Mission Peak workout — 6 loops in a single day — yesterday. There are already plenty of reviews and guides about hiking Mission Peak available online. AllTrails offers detailed route variations, elevation data, and up-to-date user feedback. wheresjanice shares familiar tips and impressions, while Carrie Green Zinn provides practical insights from a local’s perspective. Mohan Parthasarathy also shares a raw and honest review of the trail. Huge thanks to all of you!
Still, the reason I’m writing this is that doing 6 loops in a day might not be common. Even more, I did 5 loops last weekend, and the same 5 loops the weekend before. Basically, I’ve done 16 loops across 3 separate days over the past 3 weeks.
So I’m putting some notes and a log here. I hope it helps someone, maybe another ultra runner like me, or even future me, if I ever decide to do it again.
Why 6 Loops?
I'm hoping to run the Western States Endurance Run, the oldest 100-mile race held in California. My closest experience so far was last year. I participated as a pacer for my friend, running the final 20 miles. But I definitely want to run the full race myself. |
| Western Sttes Endurance Run 2024 : participated as a pacer |
To enter the lottery for a chance to run it, you need to qualify with a certified race result. I’ll be running the Miwok 100K in one month. It's not just for fun, but to qualify. I found the Mission Peak loop to be a suitable workout to prepare.
About Mission Peak
Mission Peak is one of the most popular hiking spots in the San Francisco Bay Area, especially for people in Silicon Valley. It's known for its:
- Fascinating summit views
- Challenging, steep trails
- Convenient location close to the Valley
According to the AllTrails Mission Peak page:
- Length: 6 miles (9.65 km)
- Elevation gain: 2,152 ft (656 m)
- Estimated time: 3 hrs 59 mins
- It’s a loop course, so you can repeat laps as much as you like. Each lap is around 10 km.
There are always many hikers on the trail, and you might encounter rangers. Since it’s a popular place, it also feels safe. If it’s a moderately clear day, you might also see paragliders flying above. You don’t have to be too afraid of mountain lions, getting lost, or collapsing in the woods without anyone noticing.
You should be aware of rattlesnakes, as they say. In the meantime, given the trail's popularity, any rattlesnakes are likely to have their paparazzi moments before you arrive, with fellow hikers serving as the advance warning system.😏
Parking Lot
Speaking of the parking lot, it’s always full. Even if you get there by 6:30 a.m., it might already be packed. But don’t worry. You can usually find street parking within a mile. You’ll be running all day anyway, so what’s an extra mile?
Cell Service
There’s cell reception along the trail, so you can use online maps like AllTrails, Strava, or Google Maps without needing to download them in advance. You can also listen to podcasts while running. I usually had Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast on during my runs. It kept me learning out there. And if you come across any words you don’t know, you can always ask ChatGPT and dive into a quick discussion!
Loop Options
There are two main trails that form the loop:
- North Route (Hidden Trail)
- South Route (Horse Heaven Trail)
These connect the trailhead and summit. I alternated between clockwise and counterclockwise each loop to keep it feeling fresh.
The north route is more popular, with a wider trail and great views of the Bay Area. It also has some benches, trash cans, and even a bathroom near the top section. You may encounter many cows and sometimes wild turkeys.
The south route feels a bit more wild. It’s narrower, some parts are single track, which can make it feel steeper and shorter, even though the length (and elevation) are almost the same as the north side.
The trail has several gates, and the signs say it’s open from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. But once, when I summited going clockwise and started descending on the south route around 6:00 p.m., a passerby advised me that the gate ahead was locked and I should turn back. I’m not sure how the gate schedule actually works, but I decided to follow their advice.
Actual Loops
After doing 5 loops twice, I found that one loop takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours for trail runners, depending on:
- Weather
- Trail condition
- Temperature
- You
First attempt (5 loops):
- First 2 loops: under 2 hours each
- Middle 2 loops: about 2.5 hours each
- Final loop: completely unsteady walking
- Total: 11 hours
- Weather: cool and muddy → mud drained my energy and I was exhausted
Second attempt (5 loops):
- Weather: cloudy and not muddy
- Each loop: about 2 hours consistently
- Total: 10 hours
- Started at 9 AM, finished at 7 PM → I gave up on doing a 6th loop before sunset
Third attempt (6 loops – success!):
- Started at 6:30 AM
- I aimed for 2 hours per loop = 12 hours total
- But it got too hot. The sun was strong, and I overheated
- Around noon, it was hell. I got dizzy, and almost gave up.
- Then I thought, “I’m like a meditation monk.” I let go of my body—just a conversation between my soul and the Earth.
- When I came back to myself, I had finished 5 loops. It was 5 PM. One more loop left.
- I knew if it took 2.5 hours, I’d finish by 7:30 PM—just like in my first try.
- I decided to go for it. One more loop—and done.
Hydration & Nutrition
Water
You won’t find any water and food stations along the way. You need to carry everything yourself for the whole journey.
- First attempt: 2-liter hydration pack. It barely lasted for 5 loops—ran out right before the end.
- Second attempt: Same hydration pack + 500ml bottled water (but didn’t need it).
- Third attempt: Used the extra 500ml, but still got thirsty. The last loop was a struggle with water shortage.
Nutrition
My favorite trail fuel is protein. I brought 3 packs of the protein drink.
I also brought regular energy bars, and Hi-Chew, Japanese fruity chewy soft candy. You can find them at Safeway and other stores. I saw a YouTube interview with Courtney Dauwalter where she said she liked them when she won FUJI 2024 f.k.a. UTMF (Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji) , Japan’s most famous 100-mile race. (Yes, I’ve finished it too!)
My routine:
- Eat Hi-Chew whenever I felt like it
- Eat an energy bar at the start of each loop
- Drink protein: beginning of loop 3, during loop 4, and during loop 5
After run
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| The steamed crab, kegani, on Hokkai-don was incredible. I honestly didn’t expect to find that kind of flavor outside of Japan. |
My Gear
My policy is “Don’t be too attached to gear.” If you get obsessed with specific items, you’ll get upset if you lose them.
Running is a session between your soul and the earth, not about gear. Any decent gear is good enough. You don’t need the most popular, fancy, or expensive stuff.
That said—I love REI! It reminds me of mont-bell (a Japanese outdoor brand). They offer good-quality, moderate gear at reasonable prices.
Backpack
REI Swiftland TT Hydration Vest (Men’s)
Shoes
Swiftland MT Trail-Running Shoes - Men's
I’m sorry, I found that they stopped making my favorite trail shoes. Hope they bring them back someday.
Final Thoughts
If you’re training for an ultra and live in the Bay Area, Mission Peak is an underrated gem for serious climbing volume, trail skills, and mental endurance.
Would I do 6 loops again?
- maybe
Would I recommend it?
- Absolutely—but bring enough water, plan your timing, and respect the heat.
Good luck, and see you on the trail!
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