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Hiking Black Mountain in Rancho San Antonio County Park

January 31, 2021 By Karl D 3 Comments

View from Black Mountain

At 2,812 feet, Black Mountain looms large, way up, and behind, the smaller hills to the west of Highway 280 in Silicon Valley. On a clear day you can see the Pacific Ocean, as well as San Francisco, and the entire Silicon Valley at your feet. You can also gaze at some of the other peaks in the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge, including Mount Diablo, Mount Umunhum, and Mission Peak.

It feels so far away, yet so close, to the busy valleys down below. Take the time to peruse the many ways to get to the top! Some are easier than others, and some can be a parking headache on pleasant weekends!

img
Trail Details
Summit: 2,785′
Distance: 11.5 miles
Time: 3-5 hours
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation gain: 2,800 ft
Dogs: No
When to go: Year-round
This guide describes the “trail less travelled”, from an unofficial, yet completely legal trailhead, used by those “in the know”! It’s 11.5 miles and 2,800 feet of climbing. Following that are a few more approaches, some easier, some harder, and one that requires an easy-to-get permit for “V.I.P. Parking”!

Getting to the Trailhead

Set your GPS to 28100 Laura Court, Los Altos Hills, and park in the residential area.

Parking near the old quarry

Notice the interesting lake nearby, and imagine what it looked like as a rock quarry, many years ago.

Hiking the Trail

Head uphill, past the gate. It’s quite steep for a bit, until the junction with the more popular Chamise Trail. Turn right onto the Chamise Trail.

Continue past the gate

After about a mile, the trail forks, then rejoins itself after ~0.2 miles. At that 4-way intersection, continue uphill, and to the west, on the Black Mountain Trail.

Turn right on the Black Mountain Trail

Over the next 3 miles, you’ll be climbing gradually towards the triple communication towers. Just when you think you’re getting close, there’s a 100 foot dip in the trail, followed by a steep final climb. You’re there!

Gradual Climb up Black Mountain

The official summit is where the “moon rocks” are, one of which has the official USGS Benchmark.

View of the bay from Black Mountain
Black Mountain benchmark

Black Mountain Trail Map & Elevation Profile

© OpenStreetMap contributors
Download file: Black_Mountain_from_the_quarry.gpx

Black Mountain Tips

  • When you return, on the final stretch to your starting point. There’s a little sign that says “Private Property Ahead”. No worries! This trail is heavily used, and not blocked or discouraged in any way. It’s not on the official map, however. MidPen tries to reduce the impact on residential neighborhoods.
  • It can get hot in the summer! Water, sunscreen, and good shoes are a must.
  • Phone signals are available on the majority of the trails.

Alternate Routes

  • The most popular approach is from Rancho San Antonio Preserve (22500 Cristo Rey Dr, Cupertino, CA). It’s about 12 miles and 3200 feet, round trip. Be aware that the parking lot fills-up quickly, particularly on pleasant weekend days. This is the main park entrance, on the eastern edge of the park map.
  • Another approach, with a very limited parking lot, is from the Rhus Ridge Trail. The hike is about 9 miles, and 2500 feet. It’s at the top-left of the park map, and is accessed from Rhus Ridge Road, off of Moody Road.
  • There are two easy approaches, via the neighboring Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. One is to drive up Page Mill Road, to the parking lots marked on the map, in the area of “#3”. Hike east on one of several trails, then north to Black Mountain.
  • Last, but not least, is to get a permit (and gate code) to park on upper Montebello Road, from the Midpeninsula Open Space folks (“Waterwheel Parking” permit application).  The park map shows both the parking lot, and Black Mountain, on the right side.

Northern California Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge

Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge SeriesThis hike is part of the Northern California Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge. This self-paced hiking challenge includes six hikes in San Francisco Bay Area. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to support Big City Mountaineers.

The annual challenge runs between January 1st and December 31st.

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: 11+ miles, Bay Area, Black Mountain, Midpeninsula Open Space, NorCal, peak, Rancho San Antonio Preserve, Six-Pack of Peaks, strenuous

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Karl D

About Karl D

Karl has been hiking and backpacking since he was a wee little Boy Scout, many years ago in the Adirondack mountains. Today, he can be found all over the NorCal's Bay Area hills, hiking, cycling and backpacking.

He works at a big tech company in Silicon Valley, and has a wife and a college-age daughter. Karl's favorite local park is the immense Henry W. Coe State Park in the cooler seasons, and anywhere in redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains in the summer.

Comments

  1. Ranjeet Shekhar Tate says

    August 26, 2021 at 3:52 pm

    Hi Karl, thanks for the details and the alternate routes.
    How did you calculate 3,200′ for the hike up from the Rancho San Antonio parking lot? The “shorter” route is via Stephen Arbor (FKA PG&E) trail and quarry trail and I find it brutal, with some sections of 800′ in 1.1 miles. The Stephen Arbor trail does have significant us and downs, which adds to the absolute ascents, but I still figured it at about 2,900′ (2800 – 400 altitude change, plus 500′ up/down.
    Upper high meadows trail is more gradual, without any significant up/down.
    Easiest approach is from Los Trancos (one of the ones you mention from Page Mill), only about 3 miles, and crowded with wildflowers in early-mid spring.
    I’ve done some backpacking in the ‘Dacks!
    Ranjeet

    Reply
    • Karl Doll says

      August 28, 2021 at 4:11 pm

      Ranjeet, All of my routes were estimates, done quickly when alternate mountains were needed during Fire Season. 10% error is not too bad, IMHO!

      Reply
  2. cam says

    February 28, 2022 at 10:57 am

    this is really amazing and interesting article for me. thanks for sharing this amazing article about the black mountain in rancho san Antonio country.

    Reply

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