Location: Ramona, CA, back country east on Highway 78 north east of the town of Ramona. From downtown Ramona, head north on 7th street. Turn right onto Elm Street and continue for 1.4 miles. Turn right onto W Haverford Road then left onto Pamo Road. Follow Pamo Road for 5.2 miles to the gated Forest Service Road entrance on your right. Park along Pamo Road. map
Distance: 14.2 miles round trip
Hikeability: Strenuous difficult
Water: 3 liters for 8 mile round trip due to heat, less if cooler. It’s best to bring more water than you can consume, the extra weight is well worth it and more water consumed the extra weight will dissipate;
Food: You will burn a lot of calories on this hike, pack a lunch, plenty of snacks
One of the more demanding hikes in San Diego County is Big Black Mountain, which is off of Hwy 78 just Northeast of Ramona. In fact this hike provides such a strenuous challenge that most who do it, do it in sections. So for the purposes of this writing I will call Big Black Mountain in Ramona, a section hike. That said this is one of the more beautiful hikes our county has to offer, and that is saying a lot due to the varied topography and multitude of hiking trails we are so fortunate to have. Like all back country hiking in San Diego County, much of the beauty is in the drive out to the trailhead, Big Black Mountain Ramona does not disappoint here. As you drive along Pamo Rd., the one road into the trailhead location, you are surrounded buy the rolling hills, the not so common Engleman Oaks, distant Mountain Peaks of the area, and finally the trailhead up to Big Black Mountain ascending rather steeply above the remote and scenic Pamo Valley. As you continue on Pamo road you will come to a one-lane concrete bridge which crosses Santa Ysabel Creek, the trailhead is another 1.4 miles beyond the bridge on your right and is designated Forest Road 12S07, or Upper Santa Ysabel Road. Once there you can park off the road and head towards the gate and trailhead start. The vrown jewel of this 7.1 one way hike is the grove of Pine Trees at the sumit. You can see the Pines from the trailhead start and will have them ion your sights much of the climb to the top. This hike is not foregiving as it pretty much is uphill the entire hike. That is why many choose to break this hike up into 2, two separate day sections.
That said if you try to pull off this hike in cooler weather, and if you bring an appropriate amount of food, and water, the 14.2 is doable. On this day we hiked 4 miles and called it a day. The temperatures were in low 90’s, and although we brought adequate food and water supply, we were running low on both and decided to call it a day at the 4 mile mark, thus making our hiking experience a just over 8 mile trek. I’d list this hike as strenuous, based on its constant and relentless climb that although not steep, you do climb 3000+’ in 7 miles. at the 4-mile mark we had ascended roughly 1500′. The trail composition is hardened dirt/sand, few spots of rocky, but since its original design/purpose is that of a road, this trail is well suited for such a long trek. The scenery is the highlight of Big Black Mountain trails, as surrounding you 360 degrees are views of the local and distant mountains and hillside and to the southwest you can see Mt. Wooden and Iron Mountain Poway. The trail is pretty exposed much of the way with little protection from the sun, although there are 2 spots along the way which do give you shade from overhead tree and the hillside. The trail wanders and switches back and consistently in a large looping way and except for a few small sections is a continual incline ascent, certainly for the first 4 miles we did. We averaged just over 2/MPH on this hot dry day and if not for a small to medium breeze that blew up more times that not this hike would have been a lot more challenging than it was. You will expend a lot of calories on this hike, especially in the heat. Our 8+ mile round-trip burned 1500 calories. Bring plenty of snacks, food and at least 3 liters of water, due to the over 90 degree heat. less if cooler We are planning to do part 2 of this section hike soon, as we are using Big Black mountain as a training hike for our upcoming Mt. Whitney adventure, another section hike on our list. Big Black Mountain is listed in the 100 Peaks guide SD Peak #70 and a must hike for the avid hiker who appreciates a hiking challenge.
Each hike has a life of its own, offers diversity unique to that trail, and provides a great sense of accomplishment as you start from point A journey to point B, and then back to point A. Each hiker receives their own sense of Reward, Peace and fulfillment in their own special way.
Hike safe…