Black Mountain Open Space Park is a 2,352-acre natural area owned and managed by the City of San Diego. Located in Rancho Peñasquitos, it stretches between Camino del Sur, Peñasquitos Drive, Lusardi Creek, and Carmel Mountain Road. At the heart of the park is Black Mountain’s 1,554-foot summit, offering 360-degree views—from the ocean to the west, mountains to the north and east, and downtown San Diego to the south.

Visitors can reach the summit via a 2.5-mile dirt trail starting at Hilltop Community Park (9711 Oviedo Way). The trail climbs through scenic chaparral and coastal sage scrub landscapes. Utility vehicles occasionally use this road for maintenance at the summit.

Trails and Activities

Black Mountain features many trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, winding through hills, canyons, grasslands, and riparian (streamside) areas. Highlights include:

• Summit Trail – Moderate climb to the top with incredible views.
• Miner’s Ridge Loop – A peaceful 2.5-mile trail through chaparral on the north side, accessed off Black Mountain Road.
• Santaluz Trails – 10 miles of multi-use trails with a mix of easy to moderate routes, perfect for wildlife watchers.

Plants and Wildlife

The park is home to rich plant communities like chaparral and coastal sage scrub, plus grasslands and streamside trees like sycamores and willows. Common plants include manzanita, lemonade berry, California lilac, and black sage.

This variety of plants supports over 80 species of birds, plus mammals like mule deer, bobcats, and kangaroo rats. You may also spot Pacific chorus frogs, slender salamanders, and even a red-diamond rattlesnake.

Reminder: All plants and animals in the park are protected. Please do not disturb or remove them.

• Trail Map
• Park Rules
• Information on the Black Mountain Open Space Park Natural Resources Management Plan

Volunteer Opportunities

The City of San Diego offers numerous volunteer opportunities to get involved in Black Mountain and other open space parks. Volunteer opportunities include cleanup projects, habitat restoration and trail maintenance projects. If people are interested, they are encouraged to attend the Black Mountain Open Space Parks Citizen Advisory Committee meetings held bi-monthly. For more information, please contact the park ranger staff at 858-538-8082.

To report suspected illegal activity, including transient encampments, encroachment onto City property or other maintenance needs, please call 858-538-8082.

In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.