Black Mountain with East Ridge, Miner's Downhill and Lilac route

Black Mountain with East Ridge Trails, Minor's Loop Downhill and Lilac trails. Starting from Black Mountain Ranch parking lot.

Some route description with fun descents noted:

-Descend: Flowy single track on Ahwee Trail leading to Carmel Valley Rd (CVR)

-Climb: switchbacks under CVR. Go hard and warm your legs

-Cruise double-track+gravel Rd through Glider Port lot to CVR sidewalk

-2nd left from sidewalk to gravel service road (just before Black Mt Rd)

-Follow service road (ups and downs, mostly boring) to Maler Rd, turn right

-Climb: Find single-track entrance -- first left

-Climb: Asphalt service road leading to dirt service road. Left on main Black Mt. Service Rd.

-Climb: 1.9 mile service road to summit. Kodac moment

-Descend: Service road, taking left at the horseshoe turn. Bell for hikers would be good here

-Descend: Nighthawk Connector. Short, steep and rocky, turning right at the bottom - Nighthawk Trail. Fun with longer travel full suspension

-Left on Danger is My Business (past the fenced closed trail)

-Descend (fun) to next intersection, veering straight then left. Note trails to the right

-Climb: Demaca Drop leading to 4-way intersection. Noting gravel arsenic abatement

-Left: Manzanita Loop. Short ups and downs, rock garden. Returning to the 4-way intersection

-Left: Little Black Loop. Short ups and downs. Roadrunner Loop (lollipop), back on Little Black Loop

-Pause at 4-way intersection to prepare for...

-Descend (fun): Demaca Drop. Get a pedaling head start from the intersection. Veer right at the bottom

-Climb: Danger is My Business

-Right on Nighthawk Trail, which ends at Miner's Ridge Loop trail

-Right on Miner's Ridge Loop. Swing wide before the turn to look through the turn and navigate the rocks

-Descend (real fun): Miner's Ridge. Droppy/jumpy but rollable rocks and twisty turns

-Short climb with some gravel arsenic abatement

-Save some energy on the short climb to hit the rock garden with some momentum

-Descend (fun) to double-track with climb and descend to the Miner's parking lot

-Follow trail, with lot on right, to Lilac

-Lilac: Ups and downs. After first left turn with gradual climb, get momentum for the rock garden

-Descend: Turn right to Ahwee trail. Down switchbacks, under CVR and climb to parking lot

When Black Widow trail opens, take that to add to route, and more elevation. If so, maybe skip Manzanita or Roadrunner to shorten