Black Diamond Mines Trail turn-by-turn mileage log, Part One
0.0 Start at the parking lot on the left past the entrance kiosk at the Sommersville Rd. entrance in Antioch. Go up the Railroad Bed Trail (which parallels the paved road) till you reach the upper parking log.
0.7 You might want to get a park map at the upper parking lot. Turn right on the Nortonville Trail.
1.4 After climbing past the abandoned Rose Hill Cemetary, go over the top and bear right and continue on the Nortonville Trail.
1.9 After the descent, go through the gate and turn left onto the Black Diamond Trail.
2.5 Turn onto the paved road and continue climbing.
3.2 Continue on the "microwave towers" climb until you reach the locked gate.
3.6 Turn left at the gate and continue on the Black Diamond trail. From here on out the trail will mostly descend until the junction with the Nortonville Trail where you started the loop.
5.5 Turn right onto the Nortonville Trail and head back towards the parking lot.
6.2 At this point you can either head back the final .7 miles to the parking lot or turn onto Stewartville Trail and start the second loop.
Black Diamond Mines Trail turn-by-turn mileage log, Part Two
0.0 Turn onto the dirt fire road called the Stewartville Trail. Continue through the gate and climb straight up to a saddle where there is a trail junciton.
0.7 Go through the gate and make a left turn onto the Ridge Trail. After a short, steep climb, prepare for a roller coaster ride of epic proportions.
1.3 Bear left, continuing on the Ridge.
2.7 At the bottom of the ridge turn right onto the Stewartville Trail. Continue a gradual climb through Stewartville Valley until you reach the "wall".
5.1 The Wall is aptly named and has a short, flat relief section half way up so that you can recover a bit. After grinding up the second section, you will be at the trail intersection at the start of the loop.
5.8 Turn left on Stewarville Trail and head back.
6.5 Turn right on Railroad Bed towards the parking lot.
