
The Wild Road to Black Mountain in California
Usa, north-america
15.28 km
2,184 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, let's talk Black Mountain! Perched high up in the Diamond Mountains of northeastern California, this peak hits an elevation of 7,165ft. The route to the top? Forest Road 26N80, a glorious, completely unpaved path that's typically open from Memorial Day to October, Mother Nature permitting.
Heads up: you'll want a high-clearance vehicle for this one. Starting near Milford, it's a 9.5-mile climb to the summit. Once you get there, you're rewarded with a fire lookout tower built back in '35, a few radio towers, and views for days! Seriously, get ready for some epic snapshots of Honey Lake to the north and Last Chance Creek sprawling out to the south. Trust me, the views are worth the bumpy ride!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 15.28 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,184 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
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