Hiking : January, 9, 2022
Monument Peak Trail
Ed R. Levin County Park, Milpitas, CA
Another weekend, another new trail. This time the Monument Peak Trail at Milpitas, CA.
- Length: 11.08 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,684 ft
- Route Type: Loop
- Trail Details: AllTrails / 3D Map
- Trails: Tularcitos Trail, Monument Peak Trail & Agua Caliente Trail
- Media: Photos / Video
The Monument Peak Trail is in Ed R. Levin County Park, Milpitas, CA. It is a beautiful park popular for picnicking, fishing, hang gliding, hiking etc. The park opens at 8:00 AM and charges a $6 parking fee, so make sure you carry cash or credit card before getting into the park. I made a mistake and ended up going back home to get some cash :). Luckily the park was not too far from my house.
The trailhead is right next to the parking lot. You will not have any issues with finding a parking space. The park has a couple of parking lots, and they are big.
The hike starts from Tularcitos Trailhead next to the dog park. After around 800 ft or so, the trail joins the Monument Peak Trail. Take a left on the Monument Peak Trail. This trail goes all the way to the summit.
The trail passes a hang glider launch site. You will see lots of hang gliders at the start of the hike. The trail climbs steeply and goes through a wooded area for a short distance.
One thing to watch out for on the trail are cows and cow dungs. In some places, they just block the trail and don’t move at all. I got stuck a couple of times on the trail. I waited a couple of minutes to see whether they would move. Nope, they don’t move at all. Looks like they are used to us. They stare at you as though you are a villain. That look scares you and you don’t dare to pass through them. I had to take a detour a couple of times to avoid going through the herd.
Once you come out of the wooded area, you come out onto an open, grassy hillside. The views are so beautiful. You will start seeing a mix of hillside views and the South Bay. As you approach the peak, a cool breeze will start blowing. This is a very refreshing breeze after hiking the steep elevation.
Once you reach the peak, you get to see a 360 view of the Bay Area. On one side of the view you will the South Bay and on the other side, hills. The cool breeze makes you stay longer to enjoy the views. There are rocks and also triangular cement structure for you to sit and enjoy view.
Going down you can take either the same route or do a loop by taking Agua Caliente Trail. Hiking down is not bad at all. The trail does provide nice, levelled sections in some areas.
At the end, the trail runs through the park’s central basin, passing a golf course, small pond, the paraglider landing area, and the service road that takes you to the parking lot. As you walk on the service road, you can see the beautiful green section of the Monument Peak on the left. At that point, you appreciate yourself for hiking the peak.
This hike provides beautiful views of hills and the South Bay but there is no shade; the whole hike is exposed. So if you are hiking in the summer you should start early in the morning. It won’t be a pleasant hike in the hot summer. The park has a restroom and picnic area next to the parking lot for you to relax after the hike.
Happy Hiking!
