I used to come here regularly, but today was my first visit this summer. During hot summer months, exposed to the heat, sometimes. During the winter months, slogging through the mud on the fire roads sections. This is the highest point in the bay area, and yes, I have seen the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra from here. The views are nice. Even if you have to put up with lots of cars at the summit because there's a road all the way up. Reminds me of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, where you climb through very different weather from the base to the top, and you can get a hot chocolate in the warming hut. One time, I took a California visitor hiking there (I was living in MA) and it was t-shirt sunny weather at the base, and hailing cold wind at the summit.
My usual route is from the Regency Drive entrance. As far as I can tell, the other entrances have a lot of hiking on fire roads. Exposed. Hot or muddy. Just not my idea of a walk in the woods.
Donner Canyon Rd. Herrington Loop Tr. Bruce Lee Tr. Lower Donner Cyn. Wasserman Tr. Cardinet Oaks Rd. Olympia Tr. Olympia Rd. North Peak Tr. North Peak Rd. Summit Tr. Bald Ridge Tr. Back Creek Tr.
Other nice options to make it longer or shorter... Falls Tr and Middle Tr on the ascent. Eagle Peak Tr on the descent.
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