Black Mountain
Updated Nov 2022
San Diego, CA
Rating: aMTB2-3
Description
This area offers some technical “Sedona Style” riding which makes it extremely fun, but potentially tough for adaptive riders. Most of the trails are wide open, but the technicality requires me to be reserved in sending someone out there solo. The steep loose undulations make it pretty much impossible for those with front-wheel-drive bikes, without support.
If you are solo and have front-wheel-drive, then I’m sorry to say that I do not recommend you ride this area. You could perform an out-and-back on the fire road climb, but if you are going to descend the fire road, please do so slowly and with extreme caution. There is heavy hiker traffic. You could definitely descend Nighthawk, but it’s the Nighthawk Connector that creates the question mark. Its steep, loose, and extremely rocky. Get up there and look at it. If you are comfortable with it, then Nighthawk is a much better descent than the fire road. It’s not the greatest trail in the area, but if you are solo, it’s the only one I can confidently send you down. There are other options, but it’s complicated and I’m hesitant to create an aMTB1 route. If you are a solo front-wheel-drive rider, and are intent on riding here, then please contact me and I can direct you.
If you do have suspension, clearance, and rear-wheel-drive, then more options open up, even if you are solo. See my aMTB2 route below. You’ll need a support rider the first time though. If you have a support rider, then you can can get rowdy! There is some good stuff here. See my aMTB3 route below. Significant rock crawling is involved with these routes. Let me stress one last time, you will need suspension and clearance and rear-wheel-drive is highly recommended.
Staging
For adaptive riders, I recommend staging from Hilltop Community Park. (see map below). There is flat, paved accessible parking and running water facilities. My routes start from here.
Most riders park at the end of Sundevil Way or Laurentian Drive . These are both street parking only on hills with no facilities. The gate at Sundevil Way requires a curb hop to get around, but is no problem. The gate at Laurentian Way is a little tricky. Hence, my recommendation to stage from Hilltop.
Other options are Black Mountain Ranch Park and Jas Arnold Trail parking lot. Both are paved, but have no facilities. Jas Arnold does have a designated wheelchair loop for those who do not have a bike.
Route
Trails
Ahwee Trail (aMTB1) - Fun tight berm turns that may require three-point turn and can create an awkward off-camber situation. After the switchback section is a cool bridge SDMBA built, then the trail is very mellow.
Aqueduct Service Road (aMTB1) - Wide open service road. There are gates at Carmel Valley Road but you can go under them
Black Mountain Summit Road (aMTB1) - The main trail/road in the area. Its wide open and a brutal climb, but a great workout. Beware hiker traffic.
Black Widow (aMTB2) - This is the best tail in the area! If you like rocks and paver turns then you will have a blast. One rock garden and traversing sections towards the bottom may require spot.
BMR Parking Lot Connector (aMTB1) - Wide open and no issues.
Danger is My Business (aMTB2) - A little tight at the beginning (bottom). Some adaptive riders will need a spot. Riders with front-wheel-drive or no power assist may need a push up a ledgy section. Things open up after the trail turns the corner at the top.
Demaca Drop (aMTB1) - Gravely, wide open DH
Demaca-Nighthawk Connector (aMTB2) - Wide open fire road, but one side is higher than the other and its all off-camber. Not worth it. I recommend avoiding the main section and just use this trail to access Roadrunner and Little Black.
Lilac Trail (not rated) - This trail is not suitable for aMTB. I’ve ridden it once and luckily I had a strong crew with me. It took forever! The entire trail is pretty much off camber.
Little Black Loop (aMTB2) - This trail is close to being aMTB1 but there are a couple tricky spots. The last part is wide open and a quick fun DH to the Manzanita intersection.
Maler Dirt Climb (aMTB3) - The trail itself is AMTB1, but at the time of this blog there was an inaccessible gate at the bottom. They said they were going to change it. Not sure if they have yet.
Maler to Summit Road (aMTB1) - Wide open service road. No issues.
Manzanita Loop (aMTB3) - Best clockwise. Major rock crawls that adaptive riders will need help with. After the rocky section, which is a small portion of the trail, its actually all good.
Miners Loop Connector (aMTB1) - Wide open an no issues. Fun fast DH. Beware foot traffic though. Popular hiking trail.
Miners-Nighthawk Connector (aMTB2) - There is one spot possibly requiring a spotter for some adaptive riders. If you are headed to Miners ridge Loop, you will need a support rider anyway.
Miners Ridge Loop (aMTB3) - Best clockwise and downhill only. Climbing up this would suck! The east side is gnarly. Best to avoid. On the west side (clockwise), there is a ledgy climb that adaptive riders will need help with. Just before the trail turns downhill there is an off-camber section requiring a spotter. Enjoy the DH! Its wide open until the switchback section, which is do-able but gets a little precarious.
Nighthawk Connector (aMTB1) - aMTB1 downhill but probably aMTB3 uphill. It is steep, loose and rocky. Suspension and clearance highly recommended.
Nighthawk Trail (aMTB1) - Completely wide open and no issues. Steep, loose and rocky. There’s a track for two-wheeled bikes, but adaptive riders will need to have wheels ride in the rocks. Not fun but the only aMTB1 route in the area.
Nighthawk Runner (aMTB1) - Wide open and no issues, but there is a steep climb. Will need rear-wheel-drive
Oviedo (not rated) - A connector trail between the neighborhoods to avoid a little bit of road time. I have not ridden this trail yet, but it’s singtrack and looks aMTB2. More info soon.
Oviedo Connector (aMTB2) - This is the ride around for the inaccessible trailhead gate at Hilltop Community Park. The climb up from the road is a little steep and slightly off-camber. Most adap[tive riders are probably fine going down it, but some might require a spot going up.
Roadrunner Loop (aMTB1) - You’ll be performing a little bit of bush wacking, but this trail is mostly flat and perfectly fine for adaptive. It’s nothing exciting, but I use it to just add mileage to my route.
Roadrunner Ridge (aMTB1) - See Roadrunner Loop above
Soccer Balls (aMTB1) - Basically just the dirt around the back edge of the ball field used to access the service road.
Sundevil Slinky (aMTB1) - Semi-steep, loose climb. Wide open. No issues, except during the winter. A huge puddle develops at the bottom. Will need rear-wheel-drive
Wheelie Drop (aMTB2) - Wide open service road with no issues except for a gate at the bottom. There is kind of an unofficial ride around that is not a trail. I got around it with no help but it was weird.
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