Jeff Hester

At 2,812 feet, Black Mountain looms large, way up, and behind, the smaller hills to the west of Highway 280 in Silicon Valley. It’s at the top-left of the park map, and is accessed from Rhus Ridge Road, off of Moody Road. Last, but not least, is to get a permit (and gate code) to park on upper Montebello Road, from the Midpeninsula Open Space folks (“Waterwheel Parking” permit application). The park map shows both the parking lot, and Black Mountain, on the right side.

Camelback Mountain is the most popular mountain to hike in the Phoenix area for good reasons. It’s a fun challenging hike from either side, with good views of the Phoenix area, and entertaining to compare its profile to a napping camel. Turn right onto E Glendale Ave, continue for about 4 miles, then turn right onto Tatum Blvd. They are a great way to explore the area, train for bigger adventures, and you’ll be doing good, with a portion of the net proceeds going to non-profits that help get youth outdoors.

Follow Highway 79 South southeast for 24 miles to the Oak Grove Fire Station. Turn right into the parking area across from the Oak Grove Campground, or just after the fire station. You’ll know you’ve successfully navigated the labyrinth when you get to the large Oak Grove Trail sign indicating it’s time to depart from the dirt road and turn right onto the single-track. At the two mile mark the single track path ends and you turn right onto a dirt truck trail called Oak Grove Road.

Hot Springs Mountain in the Los Coyotes Reservation is the highest peak in San Diego County, with chaparral, oak and pine forests. This road travels 7.7 miles to the trailhead at the intersection with Sukat Road, but you’ll have to stop at the entrance to the Los Coyotes Reservation and pay a per-person day-use fee, which at the time of writing was $10 per person. The trail begins up Sukat Road, a jeep trail that was chained off at the time of our hike. Continue across the flat open area to the trees on the north side of the clearing, and the trail to the true summit continues as a single track that snakes through manzanita and trees to a large boulder pile.