This trail is challenging. Proceed only if you can handle elevation of uphill all the way for the first appro. 1 mile. We started off at rhus ridge trailhead. Trail was steep and mostly in shade. Nice valley view along the way to look at and you can see the bay afar. Very quiet and unpopular trail. At many points, you'd feel there's only you and your companion in the whole mountain. There's a warning sign of mountain lion but we didn't see any, not that I wanted to. :) Recommend to use hiking stick. It'd take about 4 hours to complete the whole trail. If you walk slower it'd be longer. read more

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This was my 8th and last Peak in 2024 which I hiked solo in late Dec. I was ill prepared for the rain because I did not believe it would happen. I did not bring an umbrella, and I wore a fleece instead of a windbreaker. It was drizzling on and off, I had to take shelter under trees to wait out the heavier rain sections. The good part of today was that I practically had the whole mountain to myself, it's really being alone; I crossed paths with 7 other solo hikers. The bad part was that I am afraid of getting lost by myself. Here are my observations on this hike. Saw some animals up close: deer, rabbit, and a big black loud bird. Climbed over a down tree on the trail. Noticed lots of ferns and moss, so it must be shady and wet here year round. Noticed the dirt near the top is black while the dirt near the bottom is red. Started the trailhead from the Old Quarry at 10:30am, 12 miles round trip. 2.5 hrs up; 1.5 hrs down read more

Pretty nice day hike with many views. Unless you want extra challenge, I'd recommend just turning around at the top of the pg and e trail, the extra 2 miles doesn't add much. read more

Super solid hike! Did it at a slow jog and mannnnn what a workout! Amazing scenery and just very enjoyable and local to be at. Love this trail read more

Came here one weekend (Rhus Ridge trailhead) and there was no parking (small lot for 8 vehicles). Waited 10 min. & left for another trail. Went here on Sun, full lot, but there was a couple walking to their car. I would say come here real early or close to 12 pm. I recommend hiking sticks. Great views and trails are well-kept. read more

Very challenging hike in Rancho San Antonio County Park. There are two ways to access Black Mountain. The shorter of the two is to start in the Rhus Ridge parking lot off of Rhus Ridge Road. This parking is very small, so its best to come early in the morning or later in the day. The other way to access this trail is from the PG&E trail from the main parking lot. This route is a lot longer and more strenuous than accessing the trail from Rhus Ridge Road. From the Rhus Ridge trailhead, the summit is around 4.5- 5 miles each way. The first mile and the last mile of this trail is very steep and strenuous. The middle portions of the trail was either flat or very gradual incline. The hike up to the summit is gorgeous. At several points during the trail, you are able to have a beautiful view of the Bay Area below. I saw several deer crossing the trail at times. Once at the summit, the view is gorgeous, even though most of it is blocked by several trees. I would defiantly recommend this hike if you want a great workout. read more

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A fun and challenging hike with lots of elevation gain. It's nice that there's a good amount of shade. This trail seems like it would be a good trail running spot. Parking is limited so make sure to come early or wait until later in the day. read more

We had a great hike here early on a weekend. I did not where to park, so that was a challenge but we finally made it to the trail. Did not make it all the way to the top but got some great photos of the valley and the hills along with a decent workout. read more

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Arrived on a foggy, misty morning a little after 9:30. There were still a couple spots in the small lot, likely thanks to the weather. I'd been hiking in the area before, but not this trail. The trail gets steep quickly, and though I haven't been on a long hike in some time I decided to dig in and get up that hill! Along the way you cross several other paths, got me thinking about stringing together a few trials to get 15-20 miles in next time. Anyway, the trial evens out a few times allowing you to catch your breath. There are several good spots for a nice few, and if you embrace the stillness of nature and keep your senses open you'll find lots of natural treasures along the way. Not gonna lie, the electrical tower at the top was not the vista I wanted, but the rest of the trial made up for it. The most exciting part was a bobcat sighting, she crossed the trial about 12-feet in front of me and we each got a good look at one another. I wanted to keep eye contact so I didn't grab my phone to take a pic, but I got several others. Just over 10-miles out & back in just under 3.5 hrs read more

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Came on a weekday morning via Rhus Ridge, not many cars in the small parking lot. Trail was easy to follow, many signs at the intersections. Top was quite pretty, had okay views, trees were blocking some of the views but still could see plenty. Trail isn't too steep, beginning is steeper than the rest of the steady incline. Some parts shaded, some not, good in winter. Didn't see too many people. Took about 1 hr 45 mins to get up and 1 hr 35 mins to get back down, not too long of a hike! read more

Gorgeous trail with scenic views and you can catch sunset over the pacific. The trail ascends gradually and takes about 3-3.5 hours. We also saw deers prancing around which was fun! read more

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Activity Type: Hiking Nearby City: Los Altos Length: 10 total miles Elevation Gain: 2,412 feet Trail Type: Out-and-back Skill Level: Moderately strenuous Duration: 3 hours Season: Best mid-September through mid-May Trailhead Elevation: 400 Top elevation: 2,812 Having done the entire Rancho San Antonio and Black Mountain was a six hour ordeal. Total 17 miles plus or minus. One difference is we took the Quarry Trail on the way up and to me it's the prettiest trail on the way to the top of Black Mountain from Rancho San Antonio. The trail is lined by gorgeous chaparral trees. Best view of 101. This is the most difficult undertaking among the three because of the length and of course the elevation gain. Very strenuous. I went back two days after and this time started from Rhus Ridge Trail. It's a total of 10 miles and a more direct approach and will skip the Quarry Trail. One note to remember this is mildly strenuous because it is shorter but you will gain 2,412 feet! The third and easiest trail is from Montebello parking area from Page Mill Rd. You will start at 2200 feet with a total hike of 2.5 miles. You will only gain about 612 feet. Pretty easy! Once you get to the top past the gate and after you reach the intersection make a right and then a left. You will find a rock outcropping and the USGS marker is there. That's the top officially! Golden grass hugs the land at the summit. It is amazing. The fog the day we went enveloped the land and kisses you gently as you climb continuously. On the summit there are two broadcasting stations. One is a private radio station owned by Stanford University, and the other is owned by the Federal Aviation Administration. There are several wineries along Montebello Road, including Ridge Vineyards, Fellom Ranch Vineyards and Picchetti Brothers Winery. The trails on the first two trail heads are both uphill. After you pass the Quarry Trail intersection it gets even worst. It's worth the pain you will feel after. After all it is local and I love how close it is to home! read more

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Great hiking area with a decent amount of shade at peak hours. Several trails to choose from, some more strenuous than others. Even on a Wednesday at 11am the small lot at Rhus Ridge Trailhead was full so I parked at Foothill College. I got a good workout in under 2 hours, but could have gone longer if I had brought more water. The incline during most of the trail is good enough to make it a decent workout for the day. Scenery is great, even when cutting through residential areas past multimillion dollar homes (gave an extra kick to work harder when I return to the day job). This is my new workout/hiking area read more

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This is a nice hiking trail that I didn't know about until now. I went hiking on this trail on Black Friday instead of shopping. There's online shopping available so there's no need to go to the stores. We hiked early in the morning at 5:00am so it was very cold. Actually, it was freezing cold. Thank god, I came prepared. I had my hydration pack, 2 layers of jackets, thick leggings, and shoes with traction. If you plan to hike this trail, wear shoes with traction because slipping and falling will not be fun at all... On the hike up, it was quite dark so I didn't really get to enjoy the scenery but I did see stars and that was nice because I don't get to see it as often as I want to. The hike was pretty steep. Mission Peak got nothing on this hike! I could feel my butt and hamstrings working. lol. It was a total of 10.6 miles... I was told it was just 10 round trip but it was almost 11 miles! It's okay because I got a good workout out of it. Once, I got to the top, the view was beautiful. It kinda felt like I was in a movie and in a middle of a field with the sunlight shining on me. If it had flowers or daisies...I would have to run through it like in the movies. lol. The hike up was a little more challenging but the hike down wasn't too bad. I definitely wanna come back to Black Mountain but with a buddy so I don't get lost on my own. read more

Black Mountain Trail - Hiking Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Great little hike spot to get your morning started! We wanted to hike but were short on time, this place was a nice in between commuting wise. Accessing the trail is a bit confusing, we unknowingly arrived at the correct location but it wasn't clear where the trailhead began. The parking is sparse at the trailhead, so we had to be creative and park around. Not sure if more parking is planned but it is a necessity. The trail is pretty nice! It opens up to a nice meadow area about a mile from the start. The walk has some shady parts so the sun isn't beaming too much on you and there's some stellar views along the way. I recommend this spot if you're looking for great hike nearby that will give you a great work out. There are a few trails that you can choose, and they all seem to be of similar intensity. Everything looks to be well maintained as well, and it's great to meet people along the way - everyone is always so friendly :)! Bonus: Bring your doggo friend too! read more

I think I found my new favorite trail! My usual go-to when I want a good workout without having to be in the melting sun (coughmissionpeak) is the PG&E trail, just 15 minutes away. In my opinion, the Black Mountain beats the PG&E trail because there's so much more to see along the way. Enter this into Google Maps and it will take you straight to the small parking lot: Rhus Ridge Trailhead The lot is really small, fitting maybe 8 cars, which helps keep the trail from being overly crowded. We must have lucked out because we were able to grab a spot at 9:30am on a Saturday. My round trip hike was about 4 hours for ~10 miles. I'll add that I'm not in the best shape and thought about giving up multiple times along the trail. We also didn't hang out too much at the top because it was freezing. Next time I'll be sure to pack a lunch and actually chill at the top! I would give 4.5 stars if I could-- rounding down cause of the small parking lot and slightly anti-climactic view at the top. read more

Is hiking in Rancho San Antonio too easy? Challenge yourself on the Black Mountain Trail! The Black Mountain Trail stretches 4 miles from Rancho San Antonio to Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. It's a steady plow uphill, culminating in an elevation of 2800 feet on the Monte Bello side, so it's great for working those leg muscles! There are two main ways to get to the trail from Rancho San Antonio: * Northern End: The trail begins at the intersection with the Chamise Trail and the Rhus Ridge Trail. After a short flat segment, the trail picks up into a steady incline, climbing a total of 1800 feet till it reaches Monte Bello Road in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. * Last Mile: At the top of the PG&E Trail in Rancho, next to a bench, is the start of the Quarry Trail. The Quarry Trail connects to the last mile stretch of the Black Mountain Trail. This route, between the top of the PG&E Trail to Monte Bello Road, climbs a total of 1200 feet. When you reach Monte Bello Road, you're treated to wide views of rolling hills and the occasional glimpse of the city. On one side of the road is the Black Mountain summit, an area marked with white, jagged rocks, overlooking Monte Bello and other open space preserves. On the other side is a small path leading to a lookout point with a partial view of South Bay. There's less shade in Monte Bello OSP, which translates to wider, more expansive scenery. There are also fewer people here than at Rancho. In all, Monte Bello offers a totally different level of serenity compared to ever-busy Rancho, and the Black Mountain Trail is a great way to get there! read more

I love this hike because it's local enough for me (not having to drive far), for the beautiful scenery, for the moderate level of difficulty and a nice view up top, especially if the day is clear and you can oversee the bay and familiar clusters of downtowns far away. I compete with myself to make the shortest time. I wouldn't call it a walk in the park, you need to be aware of the nature around you, and especially on a hot day. Almost stepped on a large rattle snake today (not really-:), I haven't seen one this size in all my years hiking here, took some pics of it, it was an impressive creature. Though I've seen some people with strollers, I would honestly advice against hiking with infants or toddlers in tow. read more

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Of all the hikes I have checked out in the South Bay (though limited sample size), Black Mountain Trail is probably one of the best ones for many reasons. This trail is one of the many paths in the greater Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve and it's the path you would take to get to the Black Mountain Summit. First off, I would not suggest this hike for people who are just in it for the destination. The views are definitely gorgeous at the top of Black Mountain, but you aren't going to be at an extremely high altitude to see clouds or anything like that. This trail is mainly for people who have a thirst for challenge and want to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way up. That said, definitely come here VERY early in the morning. The trailhead that I used was at Rhus Ridge road and can be accessible off Moody road from the 280 on either direction. It's very close by Foothill College so if you're around there, you are in the right place. If you are going to use that trailhead, it will probably be packed by 8. I am not sure about the Cristo Rey parking area; it might be better and I'd recommend it if it is. From the Rhus Ridge parking lot, you take Rhus Ridge path up about a mile before turning right and eventually hitting Black Mountain Trail. For those who do not hike often, this can be a challenge as the Black Mountain Trail is primarily uphill for about 4.5 miles until you hit the very top. If you stick with it, it's well worth it because there's a nice blend of both shade and scenery. Almost at every hilltop you can get a glimpse of the beautiful hills along the Peninsula. Without taking a break, it took me and my housemate about 1.5-2 hours to get to the top. On average, i'd say expect to take around 2 .5hours to make it to the peak and 1-1.5 hours to get back down. There's really not much of a "peak" as there is a clearing, but definitely take your time and enjoy the view. tl;dr overall, I think Black Mountain Trail is a really nice one for people living in South Bay. It's easily accessible and it's quite a challenge for both seasoned hikers and newbies a like. The only knock about this hike is that some of the parking lots can be horrendously small. Have fun and prosper, read more

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Black mountain trail was a nice shaded hike. Me and my brother went exploring while I was on spring break (one of the perks of working in a school). I thought that it would be really crowded and we wouldn't find any parking but there was plenty. I can see how it would be busy over the weekend. We rolled in at about 3:30 PM and it was really nice outside not too hot and perfect amount of shade. It Starts out with a moderately steep incline But there are many places to stop and look out and appreciate the view. I will be coming back here again! read more

Black Mountain Trail - Looking out over San Jose. - Hiking Near Me - Los Altos, California

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Minus one star because the view is boring, even when you get up to the rocks. Minus another star because it doesn't loop around. Once you go up, you just go back down. It's a good workout though. Not many people either. Small parking area. Free parking. If you like privacy come here but it seems dead. Probably won't be coming back. Just a bucket list type of hike Rancho San Antonio is probably still nicer but the PG&E Trail gets boring too...these places are only good if you want a close local nearby South Bay hike but are too lazy to drive out further. I went on a Fri around noon so it was pretty chill. Try it out if you just wanna make it up to the top, there are also other paths that branch out to PG&E, Hidden Villa, etc Oh yeah the address to get here is: Rhus Ridge Rd Los Altos, CA 94022 https://goo.gl/maps/Xy2X8DaSfvB2 Just keep going and you'll see a lil parking area on your right read more

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I went camping here it was very fun and I think this place deserves a 5 star review. It's great for camping

Nice, medium hike with clear path! View - the view varies from the part of the other you're on and can go from totally scenic to a nice view of the Bay and San Jose. On a sunny day you can see pretty far and up into the Los Altos hills. Some parts are pretty shady and tree-lined which keep you from getting too burnt. Difficulty - some of the hills from the Rhus road entrance are pretty tough and can be slippery on the way down but I would say medium for the most part. I saw strollers and some slower folks on the trail with no issues. Parking - parking is tricky. Make sure you park in an actual lot and not on the street. I saw one street parked car get a ticket. However, since the hike isn't super popular you're bound to find a spot in the lot. read more

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Great place to go running or cycling. It is wild so be aware of your surroundings. Lots of trees to shelter you from the sun. I love to ride around the area. read more

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All you need to know: http://www.bahiker.com/southbayhikes/ranchoblack.html Loved the hike, challenging (especially the last 1.2 miles!) but fulfilling. read more

Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve Located past Foothill College the parking lot can accommodate only about 10 cars so parking is pretty tight. The parking is off of Rhus Ridge Road off of Moody. I hiked on a Monday, so there was plenty of parking. At the caretaker's residence, they had two horses..very sweet things. Next time, I'm gonna bring carrots to feed them as they greeted me at the end of the hike..another nice perk! I love to hike and this was a great hike!!! It's a total of about 9.5 miles round trip. The first mile was uphill so it does get your heart pumping and the last 1.5 REALLY gets your heart pumping as it's pretty steep. But all worth it! The view was spectacular, so amazing that we live in the city but surrounded by such beauty. It's still winter so everything is really green. There was mist all around us for awhile, but once we "summitted" it had cleared and showed us what the valley below was all about. We saw rabbits and deers and tons of birds. The plants were still pretty lush. I know nothing about the vegetation except that it's either green or brown and today, it was green :-) The trail is pretty narrow and can be muddy at times, but alot of the sections were covered by the canopy of trees. Today, when we were at the top, it was quite cold and windy but I dressed accordingly so didn't affect the hike. I plan on going back soon, unfortunately not with my dog as they don't allow them!! :-( You can check out some pics here.. http://www.openspace.org/preserves/gallery.asp read more

When my friend told me that this hike was intense, he wasn't lying. This trail kicked me in the butt and gave me a wake up call that I needed to refocus on my marathon training. The first 4 miles was a gradual climb and then the last mile to the top was pretty steep. During the hike, I was sweating up a storm and removed my light dri-fit long sleeved shirt and zipped off my pant legs to wear shorts. I was very happy that I decided to wear my REI convertible hiking pants. Heading back, I was in much better shape since it was downhill. The views were gorgeous and saw the entire peninsula and south bay even though it was a little hazy. Also lots of flowers were in bloom and butterflies were fluttering around. I was able to enjoy mother nature through my pain and suffering. Bring lots of water, pack a lunch/snacks, and wear sturdy hiking boots. I wore cross-training light hiking shoes and my toes were killing me during the downhill. Also parking can be a hassle on the weekends because of the lack of parking spots. read more

Nice part in the Northern most part of Cupertino next to hills ,dealer, turkeys and lots of interesting birds and some reptiles you can run by in a fall brush or green wet winter. Lots of cross country runners and weekend outdoor lovers as well. A very popular park, Rancho is a great variety of trails in every direction all leading back to the bathroom or two distinctly different elevations of parking . We run around here about 12 times a year usually for long distance training for the Rock n Roll half marathoner! Highly recommended if you can find a parking spot!! read more

Somehow we end up coming here for home every time our family visits the bay area. We love this park. On our last visit, we saw bunny rabbits and a deer with 2 fawns immediately! The trails are well maintained and there is plenty of parking. People are friendly on the trail and the views are spectacular. This is a very woodsy kind of park. If you walk far enough. They have a small zoo. The trails are windy. You can see a lot of wildlife as well. These trails are for everyone! Bring little toddlers, grandma's, grandpa's, mom, dad, friends, family from out of town. I love this park! read more

Fairly long and tough hike up to a hill that overlooks much of the valley. The path takes you through a fairly scenic route in a forest interspersed with large likely multimillion dollar homes hidden amongst the trees way below you. Start early in the morning to avoid the sun because there is little shade for the second half of the hike. Take a bottle of water as you will definitely need it. I did this hike in about 3 hours as a confidence builder for hiking Half Dome in Yosemite a month later, and it was very rewarding. Both the beginning and end of the trail are extremely steep and it is very easy to loose footing if it has recently rained. Tip: Beware of horse poop all along the path. It is everywhere. read more

Gorgeous trail with views from the very first two miles. It'll kick your ass once you get to the top (think significant elevation gain) but you'll feel like a champ doing it. Did this before a very large holiday dinner. Thank you Black Mountain Trail for giving me justification for eating a large piece of pie! read more

One of the best trails in the South Bay that's for sure. It packs a challenge for anyone looking to expand their horizons a bit and start venturing into the trails that are longer than 3-5 miles. One way is about 5 miles, so in total about 10. It's absolutely worth it. Challenge yourself to push beyond your limits. The views on this hike are absolutely spectacular and the top of Black Mountain is beautiful. Be sure to bring plenty of water and food as there's none along the trail. Parking is extremely limited, so be sure to get there as early as possible. It can get a bit chilly, but will warm up especially in the spring & summer months. The trail is mostly exposed, so sun block people. read more

Completed 11 miles today in about 3:20 with 3,500 ft elevation gain. Moderate/strenuous trail worth the ass jiggle burn but the view at the summit was somewhat disappointing. Sadly, I was expecting more. Still a great local hike for a workout to burn some C's. read more

Black Mountain Trail - Hiking Near Me - Los Altos, California

You can access this trail by hiking to it from the main parking lot, but WOW that would be a heck of a hike. Instead access this from the "back entrance" to this park on Rhus Ridge Rd. Once you follow this road ( google map Rhus Ridge Rd - its a tiny road) you will end up in a small parking lot. The trail head is here. There are tons of maps here too to help guide you. You will hike past the "care takers" house with his horses. Totally normal, just keep going. Now for the hike here are my tips 1.) Rating of Very Strenuous is completely accurate. Its about 6 miles UP the mountain on trails and fire roads. You will be in a dead sweat, sucking air with exhausted legs. But DONT give up! The top is worth it. Once you get the end of the trail you will be at an antenna farm. Pass it with it on your right. Turn right on the road and then you will see a field with some weird rocks. Check out all the rocks as one of the has a US geological marker in it! Its the absolute top of Black Mountain. Very cool and picture worthy. The views are good, but the best part is saying you made it. 2.) Bring good shoes or hiking boots. You WILL need them. 3.) Bring lots of water - I completely drained my 3L supply. 4.) Bring a small snack to enjoy at the top. You earned it. 5.) DONT GIVE UP. When you hit the fire road at the High voltage tower the trail mercilessly increases its slope. This will continue to the end. Its intense. Other notables - I saw a guy running up and another running down the trail. It was pretty amazing to see someone run up this trail. At dusk I got the observe a really cool black tarantula cross the trail. Super cool to watch this wildlife. Don't touch them though! They are fragile. Enjoy and conquer this beast. read more

Second time hiking this trail. We hiked in early July and started at Deer hollow farm. We took the Rogue valley/Chamise trail up to Black mountain, and Quarry/Upper high meadow on the way down. Keys - The water at the top of black mountain is NON-potable, and there are no water sources after Deer Hollow Farm. So, be sure to pack plenty of water OR have some sort of water purification to refill at the top. Some parts of the hike, Chamise trail in particular, have very little shade, so would recommend avoiding those parts during the early afternoon. View - the vista points were nice, giving a view of much of the south bay. The view at the vista points and some parts of the trail were much nicer than the view at the actual top of Black Mountain, which was kind of flat and not terribly interesting. Wildlife - saw a quite a few deer and a quail family, and tons of lizards. All in all, a nice hike with a bit of preparation. read more

A walk in the park..... Compared to half dome :). But otherwise a very serious work out. One of my favorite Valley hikes because of its accessibility and manageable length - You don't have to take an entire day out. Overall this is a great balance of serious incline, shade, flat sections, and exceptional views read more

Since my friends and I planned to hike this trail, we had a mighty breakfast for hitting the outdoors. My friends have done this trail before, but I haven't yet. First, there isn't that much parking, so either you will have to park near some residence houses or on the side of the road-even though it's not recommended. Anyways, the hike was intense. The trail is mostly uphill, yeah, it plateaus for just a little bit, but the elevation gets higher and a lot more uphill walking, hiking, and running. The reason why I say running is because I know if I walked, I wouldn't have made it uphill. Or even better, walk backwards, just don't fall, trip, or bump into bushes and trees. Almost 10 miles back and forth! It did take us couple hours to go up and down...hmm..the sun did set, so we were walking in the dark without a flashlight. Coming down in the evening was beautiful though. You could see the city lights. I wouldn't recommend it though. Either way, it was intense! I think I'm going to be sore tomorrow. read more

Pretty awesome trail, 10 miles total, epic views from the top.

Went over to Rancho San Antonio at 10:00am, the weather was already warm and the air was breezy, and we decided we were hiking to the Black Mountain Summit. The hike got a bit intense on the narrow part of the trail but getting to the very top was worth every step of the way up!! The trail is covered with trees in some parts to give you some shade for quick stops and the summit has a beautiful view of the Bay Area! The sky was very clear so we got to see SF and Oakland from the top of Black Mountain. This trail is well worth it! We got back to parking lot at 1:45pm so it almost took us 4 hours in total round trip time. Bring water and a trail bar to refuel at the top and keep your energy going. read more

Wow this trail was definitely a difficult one to hike due to altitude gained quickly in short time at beginning of hike.Other than that trail was lovely. read more