Black Mountain Open Space Park
Black Mountain Open Space Park | |
---|---|
San Diego | |
Coordinates | 32°58′54″N 117°06′59″W / 32.981712°N 117.116422°W |
Area | 2,352 acres (952 ha) |
Operated by | San Diego Park and Recreation Department |
Black Mountain Open Space Park is a city park located in the suburbs of
Description
The park covers 2,352 acres (9.52 km2) in the
Plant species
Native plant species preserved in Black Mountain Open Space Park include both
Animal species
The Black Mountain Open Space Park is home to a wide variety of animal species. Mammals include
Black Mountain
Black Mountain is the central feature of Black Mountain Open Space Park, standing at 1,554 feet (474 m) tall.[1] At its peak, Black Mountain is host to a handful of communication towers, including a retired AT&T microwave repeater tower[3] and a Verizon wireless communication facility.[4]
Prior to European contact, the Kumeyaay lived on the mountain and referred to it as "Amat Kwanyil".[5]
The mountain is also an extinct volcano, having last erupted 118-125 million years ago. Black Mountain is a part of the Santiago Peak Volcanoes, including Cowles Mountain, which are a group of volcanoes that originated as a chain of volcanic islands 150 million years ago.[6]
Mine
Tucked away in the Black Mountain canyon is an abandoned arsenic mine, accessible via pathways branching off of the park's Miner's Ridge Loop trail. The mine was established in the 1920s by Escondido rancher, rodeo cowboy, and actor Frank Hopkins, due to the demand for
In 2016, the University of San Diego conducted soil sampling in the vicinity of the mine site. Some locations, including portions of the Miner's Ridge Loop trail revealed high levels of arsenic present. As of January 6, 2017 the San Diego City Attorney recommended closure of the lower sections of the trail pending further study.
The Jas Arnold Trail for All People (located at the Miner's Ridge Loop parking lot), a handicapped accessible trail named in honor of the park's long serving Chair of the Citizen's Advisory Committee who passed in May 2016 remains open to the public. The Lilac Canyon Trail which connects this same parking lot to the Glider Port also remains open.
Hiking
The park is a popular hiking spot, offering numerous trails of varying length and difficulty.
Trails
- Lusardi Creek Loop Trail
- East Rim Trail
- Miner's Ridge Loop Trail
- Glider Point Trail
- Nighthawk Trail
- Accessible via Hilltop Community Park[1]
- Little Black Loop Trail
- South Point View Trail
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Black Mountain Open Space Park". San Diego Park and Recreation Department.
- ^ a b "Park Plants and Wildlife". San Diego Park and Recreation Department.
- ^ "Microwave Towers Sites: Southern California". Telephone Central Office.
- ^ "Report to the Planning Commission" (PDF). The City of San Diego. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ^ "Kumeyaay Sense of the Land and Landscape". Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
- ^ "Black Mountain Gliderport". Hidden San Diego. June 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^ Lister, Priscilla. "Black Mountain's Miner's Ridge Loop Trail offers an abundance of colors". Union Tribune. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ^ "Black Mountain Mine (Black Mountain group)". mindat.org. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ^ "Black Mountain (Rancho Bernardo)". Mountain Bike Bill. Archived from the original on 2004-04-05.
External links
- Media related to Black Mountain Open Space Park at Wikimedia Commons
- "Black Mountain Open Space Trail Map" (PDF). San Diego Park and Recreation Department. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- "Black Mountain Mine in PQ". Hidden San Diego. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- Pulver, Gary (June 2020). "Geology of Los Peñasquitos Canyon, Carmel Valley, and Black Mountain" (PDF). Friends of los Peñasquitos Canyon.