Santa Hats & Sunrise: Mission Peak Holiday Hike
Sat, Dec 20
|Fremont
Wake up before the Bay and summit a mountain in your Santa hat — b/c holiday magic hits different at 2,500 feet. This is a challenging pre-dawn climb made unforgettable with laughter, sunrise views, & a well-earned breakfast. If you’re craving a memory that pushes you and stays with you, this is it!
Time & Location
Dec 20, 2025, 5:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Fremont, 43600 Mission Blvd, Fremont, CA 94539, USA
Guests
About the event
Join us for one of our favorite holiday traditions — the Santa Hats & Sunrise Hike. We’re heading up Mission Peak in the dark (yes, really!) to catch the sunrise in our best festive gear. This isn’t your average jingle-bell stroll. It’s an 8.2-mile out-and-back trek with a 2,200+ ft climb — and we’ll be kicking things off before dawn, so bring a headlamp and your adventurous spirit.
We’ll power through the climb with laughter, sparkle (literal and metaphorical), and some serious views once we hit the top. Expect high vibes, Santa selfies, and a magical sunrise moment to cap off the year.
After the hike, we're heading to Skilletz for a well-earned breakfast — think eggs, pancakes, and all the holiday indulgence. You’ll want to plan an extra 1.5 hours if you’re joining us for breakie (there’s usually a short wait for a table, but it’s 100% worth it).
Hike Stats:
🥾 8.2 miles out-and-back
⛰️ ~2,251 ft elevation gain (it’s a climb!)
⚡ Strong pace — it’s dark at the start, but we’ll take breaks to enjoy the sunrise
🚶♀️ Not beginner-friendly (but SO worth it)
🚫 No dogs (Mission Peak is not dog-approved for this one)
🚽 Bathrooms available about .5 miles in
Meeting Spot:
📍Ohlone College Parking Lot, Fremont, CA
⏰ Meet at 5:45 AM sharp — we’re chasing the sunrise!
💡 It will be dark — bring a headlamp or flashlight
🚙 Plenty of parking in the college lot (paid)
Bring:
🎅 Your festive Santa hat (required... okay, highly encouraged)
💡 Headlamp or flashlight (it’s pitch black for the first hour)
💧 Water (you’ll need it for that climb
)🥨 Trail snacks
🧥 Layers — it gets chilly at the top
📸 Your camera (or phone) for sunrise selfies
🍳 Cash/card if you’re joining for post-hike breakfast at Skilletz
Note:This is one of our most special tradition hikes — and also one of our most challenging. Because of the timing, terrain, and pace required to catch the sunrise at the summit, this adventure is best suited for our regular hiking crew who’ve done a few climbs with us already.
We’ll need to keep a steady pace in the dark to make it to the top in time. If we slow down too much, the whole group risks missing that sunrise magic — and no one wants that!
If you’ve hiked Mission Peak or done similar elevation with us before, you’re good to go. If you’re newer to our group or still building your hiking legs, hang tight — we’ve got more beginner-friendly hikes coming your way soon!