The Hunt For The Black Mountain Arsenic Mine

Forget about the rattlesnakes and beautiful Penasquitos views. Hiking through the canyons and hills surrounding Black Mountain is all about crazy, wild adventuring. There is a whole myriad of trails in this area that I had no idea about. The Black Mountain Open Space Park offers trails that wind all the way to the water tower on Penasquitos Drive and back, with four different trail heads. The trail that I took was the Lower Miner's Ridge Loop Trail, which can either loop back real quick to the parking lot, or continue to the tower, 4S Ranch, or Hilltop Park. The center of the park is the summit of Black Mountain, which can also be accessed by a trail from Hilltop Park, near Black Mountain Middle School. It's a good idea to take one of the maps provided in the parking lot with you.


One of the best things about the trails is the variance. You don't get bored because the incline, terrain, and difficulty level change throughout the hike. There are two different outlook off-shoots from the trail also. The first is longer and takes you down a very skinny, overgrown trail that opens out to a small lookout point with a bench.

Now, I have to say to approach the bench with caution because of a little encounter my mom and uncle had on their first time down there. Remember, I said that this trail is impossibly narrow and then it just all of a sudden puts you right on top of this bench. No warning, nothing. So the first time that they stumble on this bench, there's a cozy looking couple sitting there. I'm sure it absolutely killed the mood, as the look-out area is only big enough for two people to comfortable stand and only turn around in place. I'm sure the four of them were really feeling the love. It also prompted my family members to create long, drawn-out scenarios about how much worse it would have been if just my uncle walked down that trail, playing the part of creepy old guy in the underbrush. Needless to say, make a lot of noise on your way down. The view really is worth it.





The trail is called Miner's Ridge Loop because it circles an old mine, that is down in an extremely overgrown valley. If you cut the trail, and sneak through the brush to the edge you can see down. We saw a Subaru parked down there, which is very interesting considering no vehicles are allowed. Sounds like the beginning of a b-list horror movie to me...



As you climb the hill, you get closer to the summit of Black Mountain and get a really great view out from both sides. From here you can choose different trails to continue down, all depending on where you want to end your hike. Look at the maps, research a bit, and you can plan a path that works the best for you.


It's just a really great place to explore, find new trails, and enjoy the brush while it's not super dried-out yet. It's an amusing yet satisfying, very free way to spend the day. Let me know if you find the abandoned mine shafts...