Yellow Stake #4 via Black Mountain Truck Trail(edit)

Technical Rating: 3-3 (MODERATE ) Typically, more rock or undulated road surface. Potential rocks and/or tree stumps less than 12" tall and/or vertical ledges less than 12" tall and/or near vertical ledges or waterfalls less than 24" inches. Tire placement becomes more difficult. Can be steep. Read more about our rating system Description This 12.3 mile trail will take you up 2,300 feet in elevation to a maximum of 7,665 feet. The travel is over sand, decomposed granite and small rocks. 4wd is recommended but a 2wd vehicle with high clearance will be OK. The Forest Service closes this trail in Winter as it will become impassable. This is a popular trail for hikers, bikers, and campers, share the road Waypoints 1. Trailhead (0.00 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 1: Trailhead4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 1: Trailhead4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 1: Trailhead The trailhead has a large staging area for meet-ups and airing down. The sign will give you the status of the campsites. There is a gate at the start of the trail which will let you know if the trail is open. 2. Hall Decker Spur (1.30 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 2: Hall Decker Spur4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 2: Hall Decker Spur4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 2: Hall Decker Spur Continue to the right on this first hairpin of the trail. Notice that asphalt has been placed in the turns for erosion control. This erosion control is no longer used after Waypoint 4. There is a Yellow Post Camping Site at the end of this spur. 3. 4S02 Dark Canyon (1.60 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 3: 4S02 Dark Canyon4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 3: 4S02 Dark Canyon4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 3: 4S02 Dark Canyon Continue straight at the Dark Canyon Spur, Google Earth reveals a gate in 0.25 miles. 4. Bouldering Spot (4.30 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 4: Bouldering Spot4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 4: Bouldering Spot4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 4: Bouldering Spot Bouldering is allowed, and done, throughout the trail. This spot is popular because of plenty of parking and it's close proximity to the trailhead. 5. Boulder Basin Campground (5.10 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 5: Boulder Basin Campground4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 5: Boulder Basin Campground4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 5: Boulder Basin Campground Continue straight at the Boulder Basin Campground junction. The campground is to your left where there are 16 primitive sites. 6. Yellow Post Camping (5.70 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 6: Yellow Post Camping4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 6: Yellow Post Camping4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 6: Yellow Post Camping This is Yellow Post Camping Site number two of six sites found along the Black Mountain Trail. 7. Black Mountain Group Camping (6.25 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 7: Black Mountain Group Camping4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 7: Black Mountain Group Camping4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 7: Black Mountain Group Camping Continue straight at the Group Camping gate. The site accommodates 100 tents and 50 cars, with tables, fire rings and vault toilets. No water is available. 8. Scenic Viewpoint (7.00 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 8: Scenic Viewpoint4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 8: Scenic Viewpoint4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 8: Scenic Viewpoint The views along the north face of the San Jacinto Mountains are spectacular. To the right is Mount San Gorgonio and off in the distance, middle left, is Mount Baldy 9. PCT Crossing (7.60 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 9: PCT Crossing4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 9: PCT Crossing4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 9: PCT Crossing The Pacific Crest Trail comes near, or crosses 4S01 Black Mountain in several spots including Waypoints 10 and 12. 10. Fuller Ridge Spur (7.90 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 10: Fuller Ridge Spur4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 10: Fuller Ridge Spur4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 10: Fuller Ridge Spur Continue straight at the Fuller Ridge Spur. The spur goes 0.2 miles to several of the Yellow Post Camping Sites and is a popular spot for the PCT hikers to camp and meetup with friends helping them with supplies for the the hike. Several water bottle caches were noticed around the site. 11. Locked Gate (8.90 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 11: Locked Gate4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 11: Locked Gate4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 11: Locked Gate Continue straight and to the left at this locked gate. Some maps show this as a loop trail to Waypoint 13. It is private property and travel is not allowed. 12. Scenic View (10.25 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 12: Scenic View4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 12: Scenic View4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 12: Scenic View Another spot to enjoy the beauty of the area. The PCT runs along side the trail at this point as well. 13. 4S01E Spur (11.00 mi) 4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypoint 13: 4S01E Spur4S01 - Black Mountain - Waypo