Mt. Umunhum Trail

/

2023 Photo Contest Winner: Innovative Facilities. Photo by Erin Ashford

Mt_Umunhum Trail_Approaching _the_Summit

Shade Structure on Trail

Trail Manzanita

Bay Area Ridge Trail Sign

Trail

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

See all 17 photos >>

 Upload a Photo

The Mt. Umunhum Trail offers moderate terrain to hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians as it passes through chaparral, under pine and oak woodlands, over the headwaters of Guadalupe Creek, and climbs to one of the few publicly accessible peaks in the Bay Area. Incredible views reveal the valley below, ridgelines, and nearby peaks. The trail emerges near the rocky summit where rare plants, lizards, birds, butterflies, and 360-degree vistas can be seen.

The Mt. Umunhum Trail ascends to one of the highest peaks in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was closed to the public until recently. The mountain is sacred to local Native American people and is central to their creation story."Umunhum" is an Ohlone word meaning, "resting place of the hummingbird". The new 3.7-mile trail opened in September 2017 as part of the highly anticipated public grand opening of Mount Umunhum. Over one thousand people participated in guided tours of the trail and summit during the opening celebration.

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, or Midpen, manages the mountaintop as part of the 18,000-acre Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. In 2009, the federal government funded the cleanup of contaminants and approximately 80 deteriorating buildings that were once part of the Almaden Air Force Station, which operated between 1958 and 1980. During the Cold War, service members and their families lived atop the mountain keeping watch over the Pacific Ocean for Soviet attacks. A concrete radar tower from this period remains and is visible throughout the region as a reminder of the mountain's history.

Thanks to voters, who passed a local bond measure, Midpen recently restored the mountaintop and built the Mt. Umunhum Trail, turning it into a world-class nature destination. The California Coastal Conservancy and the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council contributed $1 million in funding to the project. Over one million people live within view and a short drive of Mount Umunhum and the unique perspectives and connections to the rich natural and cultural history it offers.

At the summit area, accessible pathways highlight views and feature a shade shelter, a cantilevered deck extending over the hillside, and a stone ceremonial circle to honor the site's Native American history. The Summit parking area provides accessible restrooms and a trailhead shelter with accessible picnic tables. Interpretive panels connect visitors with history, rare plants, and resident wildlife. These include hummingbirds, golden eagles, butterflies, lizards, mountain lions, and rare purple martins. Visitors can download a free audio tour and hear open space preserve staff, a tribal band leader, and an air force veteran share their Summit stories.

The trail is open to hikers, bikers, and equestrians and maximizes visitors' experience of views to the valley below and ridgelines above while staying under the canopy of mixed evergreen woodlands most of the time. Midpen built it with a gentle grade to make it enjoyable for all visitors. One-third of the way up is the Guadalupe Creek Overlook, which provides a natural place to pause, take in the sweeping views, read interpretive signage about humans' dependence on clean sources of drinking water, and connect with rare, endemic plants that thrive in the mountain's serpentine soils. Further along, visitors see the ruins of a trailside cabin belonging to the mysterious Lady of Mount Umunhum who lived there nearly a century ago. An interpretive sign tells her story. The last 0.2 miles cross a steep rock face that required steps and is limited to hikers. While not strenuous, it gives the feeling of summiting a mountain. Bicyclists have an easy climb up to the summit on a paved service road and equestrians have a hitching post and watering trough.

There are no fees for the trail or parking areas, and the facilities are open every day from 7:00 a.m. to one-half hour after sunset. Rangers report a diversity of visitors enjoying the trail, on their own and through free, docent-led activities centered on health, fitness, and education. Dogs are not allowed. Midpen embraces a wilderness ethic and there are no trashcans, water, or food at the summit except for a non-potable water for the horse trough. Visitors must bring their own water, and pack out whatever they pack in.

Midpen prides itself on the craftsmanship and quality of its trails and Mount Umunhum's steep terrain provided many challenges. Three bridges cross the headwaters of Guadalupe Creek. The bridge materials were flown in by helicopter and assembled on-site. Using a helicopter both increased efficiency and reduced impact. At the rocky summit, reinforced concrete stairs were installed with a natural rock. In several sections, old road cuts were converted to beautiful, sustainable narrow trails. The trail was designed to limit erosion through easy grades and with regular drainage that will minimize maintenance.

The Mt. Umunhum Trail is the highest point in the Bay Area Ridge Trail, which circumnavigates the nine-county region. It also connects to nearby regional trails such as Almaden Quicksilver County Park's trail system, and the Los Gatos Creek Trail, which connects to Los Gatos, Campbell, and San Jose. More regional trail connections are planned, including to the coastal redwoods of Nisene Marks State Park and future connections to the bay.

Allowed Uses:

Other Activities

• Heritage and history
• Wildlife viewing / observation

• Certified as an NRT
  May 16, 2018