The easiest way to the top of Mt. Umunhum is to the parking lot just below and walk the 157 stairs up. But if you feel the need to earn your peaks ( and have a really lovely hike ) then park at the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve Bald Mountain parking lot and hike the 3.7-mile trail to the top. It’s not a challenging hike and has a well-maintained path with shade and views and a resting spot or two. One of the first things you see at the trailhead is a warning about poison oak and that you should stay on the trail. There is tons of poison oak but luckily it’s easily avoided… if you stay on the trail, which you should anyway in such a popular spot.
I saw plenty of small creatures on the hike, particularly lizards, actually, they're big lizards, as far as lizards go and there are plenty of them. You can also see squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and poison oak, don't forget. The trail is pretty consistently uphill but rarely steep. It spends most of its time in and amongst the trees, which is a good thing because it can get hot up here. About halfway up there's a scenic overlook built on the edge of a steep hill with big views of the valley below and the climb to come. The final 3/10s of a mile zigzag up the steeper part of the climb and include some actual stairs.
Some shade early in the route.
Half-way looking back down into the valley.
Lovely little tree lined path.
Almost there....
Bald Mountain
The hike to Bald Mountain (really? mountain?) is gentle and short. The trail is an old dirt road, about .7 miles long, with very little elevation gain, that snakes around the side of the hill and loops around the 'peak' itself. Once there you have an observation area with views of San Jose and the Calero Reservoir.
It's an easy path.
Thistle (I think).
The view from the top.
