San Diego’s Black Mountain Magic: Miles of Uncrowded Trails for Running or Hiking
Over the past few months my dual goals of a hike a week during the last quarter of last year and completing a trail half-marathon (eek, it’s this week) have led me to spend a lot of time on trails in the San Diego, California area. I’ve done multiple laps at Annie’s Canyon Trail/The Mushroom Caves because of its proximity to my house, spent some time running around the San Diego zoo (oh, no, that’s just Iron Mountain on Sundays), and brought dogs, friends, and dates to Elfin Forest.
Every trail has its pros and cons so it’s hard to pick favorites buuuuut in my current mood, I’ll say that Black Mountain Open Space Park has some magic. A few Fridays back, I got in 8 glorious miles without seeing another person on the trails there! In a city like San Diego where hiking as a hobby is so common it’s considered “basic” and made fun of, it can be hard to come by alone time on the trails without putting in a long drive.
A loop to the peak and back via Nighthawk and Miner’s Ridge Trail (AllTrails Map) is the “go-to” hike from the Hilltop Community Park entrance, but there’s so much more to explore. On my first trip, I chatted with an obstacle racer who was at mile 10 without having done the same trail twice. Personally, I really enjoyed the quiet and a few soon-to-be flowers on the Manzanita Loop Trail. It’s also a very runnable section with more gradual rollers than the rest of the terrain which has some steep climbs.
Things I Love About Black Mountain
- Not too long to get too from most areas of San Diego
- Far fewer people than many of San Diego’s hiking hot spots like Iron Mountain, Cowles Mountain, Potato Chip Rock, and Torrey Pines
- Easy to add on miles if you are having a good day
- Easy parking with bathrooms and water at Hilltop Community Park
- Varied terrain = never bored
A Few Notes About Black Mountain
- Fair amount of climbing no matter which direction you go
- If there has been rain, the start from Hilltop Community Park is extremely muddy for a short period (like need to scrap your shoes muddy) but quickly dries up
- There are bikers on the trails but it’s a far cry from the near constant flow of them at Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve
- Fewer people around (sometimes this is a con or requires that you be more prepared)
- There is an electrical tower at the peak and some of what you are viewing as you look at is suburban sprawl (still nice views worth checking, particularly on a clear day)
- If you run, it’s true trailrunning, it’s not a perfectly manicured path through woods. there are some very rocky, slippery steep sections.
WANT TO GO? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Trailheads: Hilltop Community Park, 9711 Oviedo Way, San Diego, CA 92129 (easiest for peak hike); OR Black Mountain Ranch Community Park, 14700 Carmel Valley Rd, San Diego, CA 92129
Parking Cost: Free
Distance: Varied
Summit Elevation: 1,554
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Map: Click to Download Trail Map by City of San Diego
PHOTOS OF BLACK MOUNTAIN
The following are a few snaps I’ve taken on my adventures at Black Mountain.
Muddy Start 
Early Blooms Due to Winter Rain 
Trail Signs Warm My Heart 
So Close Yet So Far From Suburban Chaos 
Lovely Loop to Run 
Map of Black Mountain Area 
Adding New Moves to the Arsena 
Looking Ahead to the Peak. Always Fun to See How Far You’ve Come
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