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Black Mountain Trail
4.9 ★★★★★ 17 Google reviews · Running trail in Los Altos, California · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Black Mountain 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.
What runners say about Black Mountain Trail
“Mostly shaded trail with moderate climb, but there will be a bit of climb and unshaded section as you approach the top.”
This trail starts at the end of PGE... so if you start with PGE and continue it would be a 7.5 miles one way to Black Mountain Summit. PGE Trail is well reviewed so I will focus on Black Mountain Trail. First things first - TAKE WATER, there is no water on the way. Also no bathrooms.
Excellent trail, Hard level, quite shady, very steep on the way up gains almost 2500 ft in t mile distance. You are awarded with larger than life views of the Bay in clear days. No bugs or mosquitoes encountered this time around.
Black Mountain Trail offers a rewarding hike with scenic views and diverse terrain. The trail is well-marked and provides a good workout, with a mix of steep sections and flat stretches. The summit offers panoramic views that make the effort worthwhile. A must-do for hiking enthusiasts.
Nice and quiet trail. This used to be a horse trail and had a windmill historical site that has been removed due to safety reasons.
Trail conditions & character
“Mostly shaded trail with moderate climb, but there will be a bit of climb and unshaded section as you approach the top.”
“After that you get to a relatively easier terrain - but you have a lot of trees/plants on the sides so you don't really get a view.”
“Mostly shaded trail with moderate climb, but there will be a bit of climb and unshaded section as you approach the top.”
“Parking is very limited 9 spots only, if you don't find one, consider driving a bit up to Hidden Villa which has a parking for fee.”
“Excellent trail, Hard level, quite shady, very steep on the way up gains almost 2500 ft in t mile distance.”
Plan your run at Black Mountain Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
Running trails near Los Altos
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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Black Mountain Trail
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9.7 miles of oak- & chaparral-studded hiking track, with sweeping Bay Area views from the top.