Been planning to do this from Grant Park since 1980! Better late than never, eh? Absolutely perfect day for a hike!
davidsanger - Feb 12, 2015 12:32 am Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2015
From near the observatory
From high on Mt. Hamilton Road, past Copernicus Peak, following the mule trail to Pyramid Rock, then back along ranch roads to the east face of Mt. Isabel, then cross country up the grassy slope to the summit. Back via shortcut along grassy ridge, down across creek, and up to mule trail for return.
trexkerry - Dec 19, 2014 9:24 pm Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2014
4 Peak Day
Mt. Isabel first, then drove up to Mt. Hamilton, then short hop over to Copernicus Peak followed by Pyramid Rock.
Abraxas - Aug 26, 2012 12:37 am Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2012
Cake Walk
Needed a quick alternate hike for the weekend, and noticed this peak while zooming around Google Earth for ideas. I'd considered it before, so completed my Google-Earth reconning and plotted out a course. Never occurred to me to check here for information--would have made me feel more certain of success--but that just proves how easy this hike is to navigate. Actually, it's not *that* easy, but if you lay down some waypoints based on the fire roads you can see on the maps (which are not on the Topo maps for some reason), you'll be fine.
There is a little section well into the hike where you go along a ridge to pick up a different fire road (and climb over a fence). That was the only significantly overgrown area, and it wasn't too long. Was disappointed by the lack of USGS marker--thought there would be one for sure.
Will definitely come back here again--it's a great hike. Maybe have a picnic at that astro-turfed picnic table.
David Naylor - Jun 17, 2012 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2012
East Slope
Evening hike began at the Mule Trail 5:45PM to avoid the heat. Bagged Pyramid Rocks then Mount Isabel via East Slope. It was about 8:20 when I reached the summit. Climbed up summit rocks but did not find the register nor where it is shown in the photo section. Gorgeous sunset that left deep crimson layers in the sky. Was pitch black final couple miles back to San Antonio Road. Fantastic views of Isabel Valley, Mt. Stakes and of Isabel and Pyramid Rocks from the summit of each. Finished the evening at Copernicus Peak. Satisfying day in the Diablo Range.
SpiceMan - Mar 13, 2007 3:15 am Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2007
I continue to amaze myself
Biked to the top with david and then off-road part way over to Pyramid Rock. The parts that were not too steep to bike up and the downhill were good but there was a lot of really steep stuff that we couldn't bike up that sucked. Anyways, pretty fun.
Bob Burd - Mar 25, 2006 4:06 pm Date Climbed: Mar 24, 2006
West Ridge
What do you know? A second ascent inspired by David and his pals. I never knew there was a road going to the top - how convenient. And David's route description was excellent. A very enjoyable outing on an overcast and cool spring day. Very short Trip Report
the blistering burns brought on by the bagging of the peak, and the big bad boars
it was a really good hike
McCannster - Feb 26, 2006 4:59 pm Date Climbed: Feb 25, 2006
Mt. Isabel...finally!
Long anticipated hike I did with Rad and Al Pine. Had to a little bit of route finding and navigating, but nothing to the extreme. Very enjoyable hike with the second highest peak in Santa Clara County conquered. Let's see, Rad mentioned the boars...
Returned March 11, 2007 with Ben (iamthebest1122) with a mountain bike ascent of the peak. We had to walk quite a few of the steep sections of the fireroad. We saw the register we had placed a little over a year ago and there were only 7 sign ins since the last time we'd been there. From the summit of Isabel, we biked cross country down the east side, then hooked up with the ridge that led to Pyramid Rock, 2 miles southeast. Pyramid Rock wasn't really a rock at all, yet the views were very nice, not many people get to experience these views. We retraced our tracks, crested Isabel again, and tore down from the summit on our bikes in about 15 mins summit-trailhead time! That ended the fun, yet somewhat exhausting day.
Hiking Metal Maniac - Aug 15, 2022 1:48 am Date Climbed: Apr 26, 2021
Fropm Grant RanchEasy, fun hike on old fire roads all the way to the top
boyblue - Apr 14, 2018 8:23 pm Date Climbed: Apr 14, 2018
Finally!Been planning to do this from Grant Park since 1980! Better late than never, eh? Absolutely perfect day for a hike!
davidsanger - Feb 12, 2015 12:32 am Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2015
From near the observatoryFrom high on Mt. Hamilton Road, past Copernicus Peak, following the mule trail to Pyramid Rock, then back along ranch roads to the east face of Mt. Isabel, then cross country up the grassy slope to the summit. Back via shortcut along grassy ridge, down across creek, and up to mule trail for return.
trexkerry - Dec 19, 2014 9:24 pm Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2014
4 Peak DayMt. Isabel first, then drove up to Mt. Hamilton, then short hop over to Copernicus Peak followed by Pyramid Rock.
Abraxas - Aug 26, 2012 12:37 am Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2012
Cake WalkNeeded a quick alternate hike for the weekend, and noticed this peak while zooming around Google Earth for ideas. I'd considered it before, so completed my Google-Earth reconning and plotted out a course. Never occurred to me to check here for information--would have made me feel more certain of success--but that just proves how easy this hike is to navigate. Actually, it's not *that* easy, but if you lay down some waypoints based on the fire roads you can see on the maps (which are not on the Topo maps for some reason), you'll be fine.
There is a little section well into the hike where you go along a ridge to pick up a different fire road (and climb over a fence). That was the only significantly overgrown area, and it wasn't too long. Was disappointed by the lack of USGS marker--thought there would be one for sure.
Will definitely come back here again--it's a great hike. Maybe have a picnic at that astro-turfed picnic table.
David Naylor - Jun 17, 2012 7:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 16, 2012
East SlopeEvening hike began at the Mule Trail 5:45PM to avoid the heat. Bagged Pyramid Rocks then Mount Isabel via East Slope. It was about 8:20 when I reached the summit. Climbed up summit rocks but did not find the register nor where it is shown in the photo section. Gorgeous sunset that left deep crimson layers in the sky. Was pitch black final couple miles back to San Antonio Road. Fantastic views of Isabel Valley, Mt. Stakes and of Isabel and Pyramid Rocks from the summit of each. Finished the evening at Copernicus Peak. Satisfying day in the Diablo Range.
SpiceMan - Mar 13, 2007 3:15 am Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2007
I continue to amaze myselfBiked to the top with david and then off-road part way over to Pyramid Rock. The parts that were not too steep to bike up and the downhill were good but there was a lot of really steep stuff that we couldn't bike up that sucked. Anyways, pretty fun.
Bob Burd - Mar 25, 2006 4:06 pm Date Climbed: Mar 24, 2006
West RidgeWhat do you know? A second ascent inspired by David and his pals. I never knew there was a road going to the top - how convenient. And David's route description was excellent. A very enjoyable outing on an overcast and cool spring day. Very short Trip Report
Al Pine - Feb 26, 2006 8:07 pm
the blistering burns brought on by the bagging of the peak, and the big bad boarsit was a really good hike
McCannster - Feb 26, 2006 4:59 pm Date Climbed: Feb 25, 2006
Mt. Isabel...finally!Long anticipated hike I did with Rad and Al Pine. Had to a little bit of route finding and navigating, but nothing to the extreme. Very enjoyable hike with the second highest peak in Santa Clara County conquered. Let's see, Rad mentioned the boars...
Returned March 11, 2007 with Ben (iamthebest1122) with a mountain bike ascent of the peak. We had to walk quite a few of the steep sections of the fireroad. We saw the register we had placed a little over a year ago and there were only 7 sign ins since the last time we'd been there. From the summit of Isabel, we biked cross country down the east side, then hooked up with the ridge that led to Pyramid Rock, 2 miles southeast. Pyramid Rock wasn't really a rock at all, yet the views were very nice, not many people get to experience these views. We retraced our tracks, crested Isabel again, and tore down from the summit on our bikes in about 15 mins summit-trailhead time! That ended the fun, yet somewhat exhausting day.