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Black Hill Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 175 Google reviews · Running trail in Morro Bay, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Black Hill Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Popular hiking destination with a scenic overlook of Morro Bay, Los Osos, and Morro Rock.
What runners say about Black Hill Trail
“What a great hike and a hidden gem in morro bay , a beautiful relaxing walk, about a 90 minute round trip from the embarcadero”
“You don’t even need to go very far in order to see the views, but if you hike to the top (about 15 mins, easy hike) the view is spectacular.”
Just amazing views. Well worth the hike up the trail. (You park 1/2 way up and then need to hike the remainer if the way.) We caught the sights on a mid-week afternoon when nobody else was around. The summer crowds won't be around for awhile and the weekend was not near so it was the perfect time to visit this spot.
Best short hike ever. Epic views for just 40 minutes of climbing. Not to steep so you can take anyone from beginners to experienced hikers. It's definetely worth the time for the images you get to capture at the top.
You can start from one of the lower paths to make the climb a little more rewarding. Views along the way and then at the top are predictably fantastic, and it's a peaceful time. It's also fun to see from above what you know only from the surface.
A great place to visit and definitely worth hiking up all the way to the top - even when there is fog and therefore little of a great vista. We enjoyed the hike nonetheless.
Trail conditions & character
“What a great hike and a hidden gem in morro bay , a beautiful relaxing walk, about a 90 minute round trip from the embarcadero”
“You can either start the hike from the State Park trailhead or drive past the golf course to the upper parking lot.”
“Beautiful 360° view of Morro Bay, bird estuary, Morro Bay State Park and surrounding hillsides from the peak of Black Hill.”
Plan your run at Black Hill Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–5:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–5:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–5:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–5:30 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–5:30 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–5:30 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–5:30 pm |
Running trails near Morro Bay
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Morro Bay State Park Boardwalk
4.8 ★★★★★ 52 reviews
Estuary with trails and boardwalks for birding and enjoying nature.
Morro Bay T Pier
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,620 reviews
Wildlife park featuring otters and seals along with views of Morro Rock.