Black Mountain #1

Overview

Black Mountain #1 lies in the northwestern San Jacinto Mountains within the boundaries of San Bernardino National Forest. The likely reason for the 'Number 1' designation is it is the highest of eight Black Mountain summits in southern California from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County. In fact, Black Mountain is arguably the most overused peak name in the state of California as it appears 49 times in the USGS database along with 2 Little Black Mountains and Black Hill (see Etymology for more references).

However, one feature that sets this summit apart from its other Black Mountain brethren is its active lookout tower that is manned from roughly Memorial Day until Veteran's Day. The summit views are impressive with spectacular views of the San Jacinto Peak massif including Fuller Ridge and Castle Rocks, the San Bernardino Mountains and Banning Pass. The tower is manned by volunteers so unscheduled closures are possible. See this link for more information.



Black mountain is easily visible from SR 243 is crowned with granitic rocks typical of the San Jacinto Peak massif. It is also adorned with a forest mixed with conifers such as Coast Douglas-fir, Ponderosa Pine, White Fir, Jeffrey Pine, and Lodgepole Pine apparently giving it its "black" appearance.

Summit access is attained by either the Black Mountain Trail or the Black Mountain Road. For those who want to feel like they earned the summit, I recommend the pleasant, relatively steep hike up the well-maintained Black Mountain Trail. For those who like driving more than hiking or want an easy summit en route to the Fuller Ridge Trail, you will want to use Black Mountain Road. This road receives periodic maintenance, but is still a pretty rough drive due to heavy wash-boarding. A low clearance vehicle could surely navigate Black Mountain Road, but high clearance will certainly speed up your trip.

Getting There

Directions to Black Mountain Trail from North:
Drive I-10 to Banning. Exit at 8th Street (SR 243). Turn right at end of ramp and proceed as follows:
At 0.2 mile, turn left (W Lincoln Street).
At 0.7 mile, turn right (San Gorgonio Avenue).
At 1.4 miles, keep left on SR 243.
At 11.8 miles, pass the Vista Grande Ranger Station.
At 12.8 miles, turn left at signed "Black Mountain Trail."
Drive 100 yards to the end of the road and park here.

Directions to Black Mountain Trail from South:
Drive SR74 to Mountain Center and turn north on SR 243.
At 4.4 miles, pass turnoff for Idyllwild Ranger Station on right.
At 12.5 miles, pass turnoff for (4S01) "Black Mountain Road."
At 16.6 miles, turn right at signed "Black Mountain Trail."

Black Mountain Road drive up option from North:
Follow directions above with the following exceptions:
At 12.8 miles, pass turnoff for "Black Mountain Trail."
At 15.6 miles, pass Indian Vista scenic stop on right.
At 16.9 miles, turn left at (4S01) "Black Mountain Road."

Black Mountain Road drive up option from South:
Drive SR74 to Mountain Center and turn north on SR 243.
At 4.4 miles, pass turnoff for Idyllwild Ranger Station on right.
At 12.5 miles, turn right at 4S01, "Black Mountain Road."

Once on Black Mountain Road proceed as follows:
At 1.5 miles, fork. Keep left.
At 4.8 miles, turn left at Boulder Basin Campground. Continuing straight goes to Fuller Ridge/PCT trailhead.
At 5.3 miles, arrive in Boulder Basin Campground. Drive through the campground and park at the left road fork signed "Locked Gate Ahead". There is room here for 3 or 4 cars.

Standard Route Descriptions

Black Mountain Trail:
From the parking area (5120'), hike up Black Mountain Trail (2E35) for 3 1/2 miles to the Black Mountain Lookout Road near the summit.
Turn right on this road and follow to the summit lookout tower. It is possible to shortcut the road by turning right just before reaching the road, then following a use trail to near the top of the Lookout Road. The last bit of 'trail' is actually paved asphalt with railings. Total RT distance is 8 miles with 2700' elevation gain.

Drive Up Option:
From the parking area (7520'), hike up the Lookout Road on the left (signed "Locked Gate Ahead") and follow to the summit lookout. Total RT distance is about 1 mile with 250' elevation gain.

Red Tape

A National Forest Adventure Pass is required to park at either location. These passes run $5 per day or $30 per year. Details on this pass and how to purchase online are located at the link above. You can also pick one up at these locations in Idyllwild, CA.

Camping

Detailed camping information for the Boulder Basin and Black Mountain (Group Camp) campgrounds and Fuller Ridge trailhead primitive campground is found on the San Bernardino National Forest website. The two maintained campgrounds have toilet facilities, but no water.

When to Climb

Black Mountain can be climbed year round, but the Forest Service closes Black Mountain Lookout Road when it snows. Snow is common in winter and temperatures can reach the 80's in summer but this is a heck of a lot better than the 100 degree plus temperatures in the surrounding valleys. If hiking the Black Mountain Trail in the summer an early start is best and bring plenty of water as the trail and campground at the base of Lookout Road are dry.

Current Weather in Idyllwild, California

Etymology

From HPS Summit Signatures:
Named for various reasons the (non)color black is the most popular descriptive term for place names in California. According to Gudde it appears several hundred times. Black is mentioned before any color in the Bible. It comes first in the development of perceptual awareness in individuals. It is unique among color names in that it is universally recognized and named. It is used because of geological formations (such as the lava flows on Black #6), dark green chaparral, atmospheric conditions and sometimes for in early American sealer. Black Mountain (#5) was named by USGS Surveyor A. P. Hanson, (1883).

Appeared on USGS maps by 1900. Peak was on the original 1946 HPS Peak List. Weldon Heald climbed this peak in 1937.

Black Mountain Fun Facts
- Query of USGS Black Mountain Database reveals:
- 49 Black Mountain summits
- 2 Little Black Mountain summits
- 1 Black Hill summit
- 4 counties (Fresno, Kern, San Bernardino and Sonoma) have four different Black Mountain summits and Sonoma also has the two Little Black Mountain summits - get some originality guys!
- Sierra Club Hundred Peaks Section List has peak guides for 6 Black Mountains (including this one)
- Sierra Club San Diego County Chapter website lists 2 Black Mountain summits on their list of 100 summits.

Miscellaneous Info

The Boulder Basin Rock Climbing website is a useful link for you 'rock jocks' out there as there are opportunities a-plenty here.

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

Images

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