Sunrise Hike: Stillness, Strength, Renewal

Ready for another sunrise hike? Join Docent Naturalists Catherine Xun, Stephen Buckhout, Mari Aldridge, and Greg Azevedo for a pre-solstice dawn at Mount Umunhum—Part II of a three-season sunrise series. In August, you welcomed summer’s soft pastels; now ease into winter’s blue hour and long shadows. From Bald Mountain you’ll watch the first light spread across the South Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains, then you’ll drive to the summit for unforgettable view. Expect a moderately-paced hike with short stops to observe the changing light, listen for quiet morning wildlife, and share in this peak’s restoration story. (Notes: The core program ends around 8:50 a.m. at the Mt. Umunhum summit. This is followed by an optional extension: one-way, 3.6-mile, descent along the Mt. Umunhum Trail down to Bald Mountain on well-graded switchbacks to return to the cars staged at Bald Mountain Parking Area. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after November 29 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close December 12 at 2:00 p.m.

Where to Meet:

Meet at the Jacques Ridge Parking Area near the intersection of Hicks Road and Mt. Umunhum Road in San Jose. Exit Highway 85 at Camden Avenue. (From northbound Hwy. 85 turn left on Branham Avenue and then turn left on Camden Ave. and from southbound Hwy. 85 turn left on Camden Ave.) Travel on Camden Ave. about 1.6 miles. Turn right on Hicks Rd. and travel for about 6.3 miles. Turn right on Mt. Umunhum Rd. The preserve parking lot will be on the right.