Black Mountain–Upper High Meadow Viewpoint, 7 sights is a 12-mile out-and-back in Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve near The Highlands, CA. The route passes Upper High Meadow Viewpoint and Black Mountain before reaching Monte Bello Road (Trail) Viewpoint at the turnaround, 6 miles in. It climbs 3,229 ft, with sections as steep as 19% grade. It scores 13/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi367 – 2,815 ft · steepest grade: 19%12.3 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Rancho San Antonio Bike Path 37.33297, -122.08831
Nearest town The Highlands, CA
Directions
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Black Mountain–Upper High Meadow Viewpoint, 7 sights
12 mi · ▲ 3,229 ft · 5 hr 37 min
Elevation 366–2,815 ft
Out & Back · Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
Trailhead: Rancho San Antonio Bike Path · 37.33297, -122.08831
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rancho San Antonio Bike Path, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Hill Trail, heading SW.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Stephen E. Abbors Trail, heading SW.
- 3.4 miPass Upper High Meadow Viewpoint.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Quarry Trail, heading NW.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Black Mountain Trail, heading SW.
- 0.9 miTurn right, heading S.
- 400 ftBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Monte Bello Road (Trail), heading SW.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftPass Monte Bello Road (Trail) Viewpoint.
- 50 ftReach Black Mountain, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 350 ftBear right, heading S.
- 400 ftTurn left onto Black Mountain Trail, heading N.
- 0.9 miBear left onto Quarry Trail, heading NE.
- 1.1 miTurn right onto Stephen E. Abbors Trail, heading SW.
- 3.4 miTurn left onto Hill Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Rancho San Antonio Bike Path, heading NE.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
15% dirt2% paved1% gravel82% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:55 AMSunset 7:10 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.1 mi in (~194 min). Leave by 3:36 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Rancho San Antonio Bike Path Trailhead
- Upper High Meadow Viewpoint–Bella Vista Trail, 7 sights 16.1 mi · ▲ 3,910 ft
- Ewing Hill–Upper High Meadow Viewpoint, 7 sights 15.1 mi · ▲ 3,937 ft
- Mary Davey Memorial–Chamise Trail, 6 sights 11.1 mi · ▲ 1,862 ft
- High Meadow Trail–Hill Trail, 5 sights 7.1 mi · ▲ 1,353 ft
- High Meadow Viewpoint–Hill Trail, 5 sights 5.7 mi · ▲ 1,214 ft
- Mora Viewpoint–Coyote Trail, 5 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 611 ft
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