A historic 226-acre cemetery designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1863, featuring winding paths, ornate mausoleums, and mature trees. The hilltop sections offer panoramic views of the Bay and San Francisco skyline. Notable figures including architects, industrialists, and civic leaders are interred here.
Photography Guide
Best Time
morning
Crowds
Quiet
Shot Types
landscapedetailportraitwide
Best Seasons
springfallwinter
Practical Tips
Open daily from dawn to dusk; drive or walk to the top for the best Bay views. Be respectful of memorial services and visitors.
Is it a good day to go?
7-day outlook
Mild, dry days with light winds are the most comfortable for a visit.
Forecast by Open-Meteo. Verdicts weigh the forecast against the conditions that suit this spot.
Gallery
Wide cemetery landscape with rows of low grave markers spread across a bright green lawn, backed by tall evergreens and a snow-capped mountain under a blue sky with scattered clouds. The scene feels open and serene, with spring-green trees framing the distant peak. Photo: The Cosmonaut / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5 caA lone person stands on a bright green hilltop in Mountain View Cemetery, looking out over dense trees toward Oakland’s downtown skyline and the Bay beyond. Soft morning light and scattered clouds brighten the wide panorama, with the cemetery’s rolling, landscaped grounds spreading below. Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0A weathered gray headstone for Della A., wife of W. S. Thomson, stands alone in sunlit grass, with the carved inscription and date of death clearly visible. A small rounded stone sits beside it, and the morning light casts a sharp shadow across the cemetery ground. Photo: Eugene Zelenko / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0Terraced hillside cemetery plots rise in neat rows, dotted with ornate family mausoleums, stone monuments, and tall evergreen trees. A winding paved road curves across the foreground under a bright, hazy morning sky. Photo: User:Hank Chapot.
Original uploader was Hank chapot at en.wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0A close-up of a granite family grave marker in a grassy cemetery, with the surname “Miller” in large raised letters on the base and engraved names and dates above. Sunlight highlights the weathered stone while other monuments and dry hillside grass blur into the background. Photo: Eugene Zelenko / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0A flat granite grave marker for Mimi Kagan sits in patchy green grass, with a small bouquet of pink and white flowers placed beside it. The marker includes a photo inset of Kagan in motion and engraved text identifying her as a choreographer, sculptor, mother, mentor, and friend. Photo: LISgirl / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0From a hillside cemetery, green lawns and scattered gravestones lead down to dense trees, low mausoleums, and nearby houses, with the Oakland skyline and port cranes silhouetted across the bay. Heavy clouds glow gold at sunrise, reflecting a bright strip of light on the water. Photo: Stephen Leonardi / PexelsA stone archway frames a gated view into a cemetery section filled with upright headstones and a tall obelisk, all under a clear blue morning sky. Sunlight hits the graves beyond while the foreground passage stays in shadow, emphasizing the arch’s carved stone blocks and strong vertical bars. Photo: Poetarojo . / PexelsA hilltop view over Mountain View Cemetery shows winding green paths, tall evergreens, and palms in the foreground, with Oakland’s downtown skyline and the Bay glowing under a soft morning sky. The cemetery’s landscaped terraces stretch below, framed by dense trees and scattered autumn-colored foliage. Photo: Stephen Leonardi / Pexels
