El Toro in Morgan Hill - that Peak that beckons from 101
April 5th, 2008
Anyone from the Bay Area is familiar with that cone-shaped peak just outside of Morgan Hill. You know - that one just west of 101. As a hiker, this peak has been calling to me for years, just asking for me to stand on top of it. Unfortunately, this peak (El Toro) is on private property and the only legal way to climb it is to participate in the once-annual Morgan Hill Historical Society sponsored hike. At 1,420.3 feet, it’s a Bay Area ‘Fourteener’.
We met Tom and Russ, fellow hiking bloggers, before 8 am and joined the throng of people just itching to summit El Toro. After a brief lecture from a geologist the hike began, and hundreds of people swarmed towards the peak.
Gaining about 1000 feet in a mile, this isn’t an easy hike by most people’s standards. It’s steep, gravelly, and has poison oak just waiting for you to make a mistake. There’s no warm up stretch - it’s just straight up and then straight down, no time for breathers unless you stop. I’m glad I just got back from a good strenuous backpacking trip - made this hike seem a lot easier than it would have been if I was in my normal sluggish winter form. They even have ropes up for the last gravelly stretch to assist people on the slick gravel.
My pictures here: El Toro, Morgan Hill
Tom’s report of the harrowing El Toro Ascent here: The Fourteener of Morgan Hill
[geo_mashup_map]
I grew up in Morgan Hill and didn’t know there was a legitimate hike up to the top. I do remember there used to be another access point (don’t know if it was legal or not) up near Alkire road. This makes me want to go back and hike this fourteen’er.
Thanks for the info about the legitimate way to bag it.
My neighborhood friends and I would climb El Toro every year(late ’70s), as I lived at the base of the mountain. We used to climb the east face(facing Morgan Hill) which is fairly steep,however,this was private land and we were worried more about getting caught than enjoying it. Once at the peak, you get an unbelievable view of not only Morgan Hill, but you can see the Monterey Bay as well. It’s been thirty years since I’ve been to the top, but I wouldn’t mind going back up(This time ligit)