Black Mountain (Rancho San Antonio Preserve)

Description: Black Mountain from Rhus Ridge Road

Distance = 10.03mi (Caltopo-phone), 9.55mi (Garmin-watch), 9.77 (Google Earth-phone)

Total Elevation Gain/Loss = +2696/-2698 (Caltopo), 2923 (Garmin), +3339/-3341 (Google Earth)

Lowest to highest elevation = 2365'

My Run/Hike Time = 2hr 20min

Black Mountain is the highest point along the Monte Bello Ridge in Santa Clara County. One can bike across most of the ridge on Montebello Road from Stevens Canyon Road to Page Mill Road, over Black Mountain’s wide summit at the top. I did this many years ago but this trip report is about the trail from Rhus Ridge Road in Los Altos Hills. The entire trail is within the boundaries of Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve.

The Rhus Ridge Trail begins with a moderate 1 mile fireroad climb to the crest of the first hill, opening up a view of Monte Bello Ridge. Here, I made a right to continue onto the singletrack Black Mountain Trail. For about a mile, the grade is mostly flat and allows one to pick up the pace. It eventually steepens to a grade above 30% in some areas. After reaching the radio towers, it is only a few hundred feet more to Monte Bello Road on Black Mountain’s wide summit.