Black Mountain Trailhead
Rhus Ridge Rd and Moody Rd
Los Altos, CA
9.4 miles roundtrip with 2300 ft elevation gain. The total estimated time is about 5 hours, including 4 hours of hike + 45 minutes of watermelon/snack break (at the summit) + 15 minutes shuttle ride (to/from Trailhead). Post-hike group lunch optional.
MANDATORY carpool. Leave at 8am SHARP. Group size <= 13 ppl. RSVP REQUIRED.
Direction to Carpool Place:
Parking lot of Sears store in San Antonio Shopping Center.
455 SAN ANTONIO RD MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94040
From 101 North, Take exit #400C/SAN ANTONIO RD SOUTH onto SAN ANTONIO RD; From 101 South, Take exit #400C/SAN ANTONIO ROAD onto SAN ANTONIO RD toward LOS ALTOS.
Drive about 2 miles, the Sears store and parking lot is at your LEFT side.
From 280, take exit El Monte Rd toward Mountain View, Turn LEFT on FOOTHILL EXPY(CR-G5 W), then Bear RIGHT on S SAN ANTONIO RD.
Drive about 2 miles, the Sears store and parking lot is at your RIGHT side.
Direction to Trailhead:
From Interstate 280 in Santa Clara County, exit El Monte/Moody Road and drive west on Moody Road. Go straight through the stoplight at Foothill College, and at a stop sign at about 0.6 mile, turn left to remain on Moody. Drive about 0.5 mile more on Moody, then turn left onto Rhus Ridge Road. Drive about 0.2 mile on this narrow road, then bear right into the parking lot.
Trailhead:
This trailhead has parking for about 12 cars; no parking on Rhus Ridge Road. No entrance or parking fees. No toilet facilities or drinking water. Maps available at information signboard.
Mile:
0.0: Begin at the gated entrance to Rhus Ridge Trail.
0.5: Path departs on the left. Continue straight on Rhus Ridge Trail.
0.9: Crest and junction. Turn right onto Black Mountain Trail.
1.6: Junction with path to Hidden Villa. Continue straight on Black Mountain Trail.
1.8: Second junction with path to Hidden Villa, on the right. Continue straight on Black Mountain Trail.
3.4: Near a high-tension power line, the narrow path widens to a fire road and begins a steep, relentless climb.
4.5: Gate.
4.5: Junction. Turn right.
4.6: Junction. Turn left onto Monte Bello Road.
4.7: Hilltop. Turn right onto an unsigned path, and head a few feet to a rocky viewpoint.
4.7: Turn-around point.
9.4: Back at the trailhead.
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