"Started out from the Miner’s Ridge Trailhead and followed the rocky trail toward Black Mountain. The first stop was Secondary Summit. There were good views of nearby Black Mountain from the top. Although there is a trail directly connecting the two peaks, the pathway is closed. My alternative was to return to where the spur trail left the main path and continue on it. It meanders a bit before reaching Black Mountain Road. The road then leads to the summit. After pausing under the towers for a few minutes, I continued on to Little Black Mountain and Manzanita Loop Hill. Ebony Benchmark was the next obvious summit along the ridge, but I ran out of time. Will figure a way up that one next time. Good weather today and good hiking trails in Black Mountain Open Space Park." — MikeTeeples • Jan 5, 2020

"Parked at Glider Point trailhead and used Glider Point trail to summit Secondary Summit. Backtracked to link up with Miner’s Ridge Trail to Nighthawk Trail to service road to summit Black Mountain. Back down to Nighthawk Trail to Little Black Loop Trail. Summited Little Black Mountain. Quickly moved onto Manzanita Loop Hill and summited. Moved onto the final peak of the day Ebony Benchmark. Moved on to the truck to complete the loop. Recommend trekking poles. Will need gaiters for Ebony Benchmark. Tons of foxtails. " — Mtstalker • Apr 15, 2019

"The hike up Black Mountain happened on yet another beautiful day in San Diego. As a kid growing up in San Diego, I always admired Black Mountain from where I lived in Clairemont (20 minutes drive away) as it is very well visible from that neighborhood. I always wanted to visit it, and some 24+ years later, I finally visited the mountain (after moving to north Orange County, then New Jersey, and then back to north Orange County!!). Access to the mountain could hardly be easier. I parked at Hilltop Community Park on Oviedo Way, just off Black Mountain Road north of Ca-56. I went up the Nighthawk Trail to the service road, where I turned right, going to the summit at the towers. There are a few steep spots, but the going is not too tough for hikers of moderate ability. It is heavily visited by locals, so solitude is not an option, but the people are happy and appreciative of this open space, and the vibes are positive! The chaparral is beautiful and invigorating as well. An out and back trip would be about 4.2 mi, but when I came down, I took part of the Miners Ridge Loop Trail, adding about a mile, trying in vain to find a rare endemic plant reported to grow on Black Mounta..." — brianpowell • Jan 6, 2018

"I led some family friends up the mountain. All of the adults walked up the normal summit trail, while I led my siblings and the children of the other family up the Southwest Ridge. It was hot, so it wasn't all that fun." — Jashaszun • Jun 9, 2012

"I left my house at 5:50 P.M. I arrived at the trailhead, a hang gliding port, 30 minutes later, at 6:20. It took me 15 minutes to get from the trailhead to the top of Hill 1 (in the included picture), which I reached at 6:35. 10 minutes later, at 6:45, I was at the summit of Hill 2 (also in the included picture). Another 10 minutes, and I was standing on the summit of Black Mountain at 6:55. It was quite windy, which was refreshing. I left the summit area at 7:05 and took the South Face route back to the southwest trailhead. I was back home by 8:05, which means it took me one hour to arrive back home. In total, it took me 1 hour and 5 minutes to reach the summit from the trailhead (or 1 hour and 35 minutes from my house), and 1 hour back home. By the way, it was fun!" — Jashaszun • Jun 5, 2012

"Well, I live 3.1 miles away (by Google Maps) near Westview High School, where I go to school. 49 minutes up, 20 minutes at the top, and 51 minutes down made my trip exactly 2 hours, to the minute. I left while it was foggy, at 9:13 A.M., and by the time I reached the top, most of the clouds had burned off. Easy hike, nice view, but not very tall or impressive. If anybody knows of any good mountains around the Black Mountain area, please tell me. I would like to summit them!" — Jashaszun • Apr 21, 2012

"Hiking up this peak in a storm made it much more interesting. Not much of a view, but I sure enjoyed watching Nature do its thing. The radio and cell phone towers at the top were whistling and shaking in the wind." — benjineer • Mar 17, 2012

"Windy and rainy. Lots of fun! Took a route up I've never taken before, so that added to the adventure. Even managed to get lost for a little while because we were hiking in a cloud.:)" — Mark • Mar 17, 2012