Black Mountain Backpack Camp

2 miles uphill from the permitted parking area. Beautiful, quiet, no road noises. Deer everywhere. I heard coyotes and saw a bobcat. There are animal boxes, and each space has logs to sit on and level concentrate circles to put your cook stove on. DONT BRING WOOD BURNING STOVES. AND NO DOGS. There is a pit toilet. Bring a car air freshener or open the door for about a minute before using it. Amazing views. The preserve is in Oak Woodlands, so you get views. You can also follow a creek trail. Taking multiple routes to get here. I recommend staying 2 nights. You can also connect to Castle Rock State Park and backpack there and Palo AltoFoothills Park. But I have not done that yet.

Two of us with loaded packs took about an hour to hike up from the parking lot to the campsite. I have been by the campground many times over the years but never camped. The area has 4 campsites and including us only three were in use. Never felt like we were crowded. The views were excellent. Drifted off to sleep with an owl hooting. Saw a few coyotes at sunset. Great camping!!!

Easy Hike, Kid friendly backpack Camp site. Beautiful scene.

The trail is really good and peaceful. Some are shade some are not though. Around peak area is quiet windy. It’s great trail for day hiking.

Well maintained campsites with non-potable water available via a spigot. There are 4 small sites and one large. The small sites are pretty close to each other. Each site has a small concrete block for a table surrounded by logs for seating. No fires but camp stoves are ok. It was hot the night we stayed July and we were annoyed by mosquitoes and flies; it would have been better if we could have hunkered down in sleeping bags but it never cooled down. If you hike up from Rancho San Antonio on a hot day you will likely run out of water so bring a filter for the abundant non-potable water at the camp and an extra container since you need one to hold the non-potable water to pump from. There are no views directly at the campsites but just a short walk will get you expansive views of the Bay and a sunset at the right time of year.

Warm hike in but a great spot!

The outhouse is the best! Lighted. Fan inside the toilet. Unpotable water - sign should say ok to boil.

I was so impressed with the views from this campsite. I could see Sutro Tower and 3 of the bridges. It was an easy hike. Did it at twilight. Very good for first timers! Also it was incredibly warm and not windy. I would like to know if it connects to the ocean trail. That would be a nice hike into the redwoods and to the beach.

Great in hike and out hike. Easy for our first backpacking experience with water bring a filter or boil, and chemical toilet. Great campsites but you won't be able to build a fire. Stoves only.

This campground requires a permit from the Midpeninsula Openspace Trust and costs $2 per person. It's strictly backpack or bike only usually up Monte Vista Road from Stevens Creek . No potable water but there is a payphone and cell reception. Plus the Openspace has strange rules, like you can't leave the campground to walk to the summit of Black Mountain at night to enjoy the view.