Lower Right: View along Black Mountain Trail. Top Right: My yellow Jeep is ready for adventure. Bottom Left: Brad's silver Jeep at the trail head. 

Heading up the Mountain

The trail, which is off State Route 243 about 13 miles north of Idyllwild, a charming little town nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains, can be tackled in a four-wheel drive vehicle with good clearance. You might even wonder for the first few miles if you actually need four-wheel drive because sections of the lower trail are paved and you’ll likely pass a few commuter-type cars. But several miles in, the trail gets rough, rocky, and rutted, and you’ll be happy to have all four wheels to navigate the terrain. 

The lower half of the trail can also get a little congested because the area is home to some of the best bouldering and rock climbing in Southern California and people come from all over to climb the enormous granite boulders and mountainside. It’s also easy for two-wheel drive cars to handle, and people take advantage of the easy access to explore, camp, climb, and hike these beautiful mountains. So be prepared to share the narrow trail with other adventure-seekers for the first several miles.

After a quick stop to check out the bouldering area, we're back on the trail. 

But don’t worry, because once you get past this section, you most likely won’t encounter many (if any) other vehicles when the road begins to get rougher and a little more challenging. During our trip, after we passed the sign that pointed the way to Black Mountain Lookout, Boulder Basin, Fuller Ridge (which is part of the Pacific Crest Trail), and Black Mountain Group Camp, we only encountered two other vehicles.

What I loved most about this trail was being surrounded by trees, the scent of fresh mountain air, and the stunning views from the top of the trail of the valley below and mountains off in the distance. Even though I live near San Diego, the beach with all that scratchy sand is not my happy place. And, while my husband loves the desert and I agree that it has its own special kind of beauty, I’m a mountain girl at heart. Give me towering trees and clear, cool rivers and I’m a happy camper. Without a doubt, Black Mountain Trail made me smile as I bounced down the trail in my little yellow Jeep. 

You could do the entire trail, up and then back, in about four hours, depending on how often and how long you stop along the way. Of course, we made frequent stops to enjoy the views, so we spent several hours on the trail.  

Enjoying Our Journey

Our first stop was for lunch in an open area encircled with pine trees. There’s something special about a good meal eaten in the fresh air, which is why we usually travel with food and equipment to quickly and easily setup a camp kitchen. In addition to the tailgate tables we have in all of our vehicles, we make sure one of us has cooking gear and a portable refrigerator so we can enjoy some good chow on the trail. Just make sure to clean up after yourself and store your food appropriately because there are black bears in the area.   

The view from a scenic overlook. 

The next stop was at a scenic overlook with views for miles. There were several massive boulders here and a path among them that you can climb up with relative ease to take in the stunning vistas of the mountains in the distance. There is fencing for safety, but I still recommend that you watch your footing because even a short fall would probably ruin your day.   

The final stop was at the end of the trail in a snug spot surrounded by lofty pine trees and more of the huge boulders scattered all about the mountain. The views from here are breathtaking and you’ll probably want to take some time to soak it all in—we did! Having arrived about 30 minutes before sunset, the sight of the mountains in the distance with the trees silhouetted against the cloud-streaked, rose-tinged sky was mesmerizing. 

Our trail trek was just a day trip, but there are a few places to camp along the way if you want to take your time enjoying and exploring the area and stay overnight. There are six remote campsites along Black Mountain Trail, each offered on a first-come, first-served basis and marked with yellow posts.   

Know Before You Go

If you plan on camping, you should check with the local ranger station before you go to find out what permits are required, what current fire restrictions are in place, and any other information that could impact your plans. Usually, in Southern California, campfires are not allowed because of the high risk of forest fires and in the mountains it does so snow so road closures are a possibility.       

Whether you spend a few hours or a few days exploring Black Mountain Trail, it is well worth the trip and you won’t be mad about the views. It’s an easy trail, which makes it perfect for a leisurely family fun day along the backroads of Southern California’s mountains. 

Enjoy the Adventure!

Trail Information

If you'd like to check out the trail and have your own adventure, here's some useful information.