South Bay: Black Mountain Loop
by Conan Tigard
BayInsider contributor Location: Saratoga
Category: Dirt ride
Distance: 18.09 Miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 3159 ft.
Difficulty: Strenuous
Riding Time: 1¾ - 2¼ Hours Directions
Located in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, the Black Mountain Loop is a ride that takes place on blacktop, fireroad and singletrack. The initial climb is almost 3000 feet, so if you don't like climbing, this is not the ride for you.. It takes about an hour to climb the blacktop to the dirt. Almost 12 miles of this loop is on paved roads, the last 5 all downhill, although the angle is slight. Most of the dirt ride is on fireroads. Only about a mile is on singletrack. This is a great workout ride, with the initial 6 miles being climbing and the last 12 miles being descent. Watch out for poison oak on the singletrack.
Location: Saratoga
