more stats
1.5 miles
Distance
32 ft
Climb
-523 ft
Descent
00:09:19
Avg time
-490 ft
Altitude change
695 ft
Altitude min
1,214 ft
Altitude max
1,185 ft
Altitude start
696 ft
Altitude end
-6.2%
Grade
-29.4%
Grade max
5.3%
Grade min
1,624 ft
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
568 ft
Distance flat
00:09:19
Avg time

Nighthawk Trail Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Gravel Bike
    • Adaptive Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Black Mountain
    San Diego, California
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (2 votes)
  • Local Popularity
    40 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 45 in E-Biking
    • 70 in Trail Running
    • 80 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #125620 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #85911 in E-Biking
    • #82307 in Trail Running
    • #72345 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Mixed
  • Bike Type
    DH, AM, XC, Fat, Adaptive MTB, CX, Gravel
  • Direction
    Both Directions[+]
    Popular Direction Shown
    • Both Directions for Gravel Biking
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Family Friendly
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Ride in Rain
    Yes

A steep, rocky, and loose climb to the top of black mountain.

Adaptive Bike Info
aMTB Green Rating: Beginner features and moderate terrain.

This trail is entirely aMTB1 except for the last section right before Miner Ridge Loop. Solo adaptive riders should turn around at Nighthawk Connector.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 12 rides
  • 10 miles avg distance
All
  • 108 rides
  • Last: Aug 21, 2026
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Nighthawk Trail Trail Reports

Status:
on Jul 6, 2023
Dry
Avg: 3.33 (9 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to nighthawk-trail trailhead (32.982390, -117.112150)

      Photos

      8 more »
      mtb
      111 |
      Jan 8, 2022 @ 1:56pm
      Jan 8, 2022
      mtb
      153 |
      Feb 19, 2021 @ 7:23pm
      Feb 19, 2021
      mtb
      175 |
      Dec 22, 2019 @ 8:09am
      Dec 22, 2019
      mtb
      197 |
      Dec 22, 2019 @ 8:03am
      Dec 22, 2019

      Videos

      1 more »
      Black Widow trail review, Black Mountain MTB...
      mtb
      15:33 | 328 | May 17, 2024 , San Diego

      Routes with this trail

      4.5 9 miles 1,400 ft 29 Loop
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      Michel's Black Mountain Loop 02032024
      2.9
      9 Ratings
      5 11%
      4 22%
      3 33%
      2 11%
      1 22%

      5 Reviews & Comments

      chadwick444 chadwick444
      Total gravel bike climb not a great decent unless you’re looking to fly rock everywhere
      bocomtb
      Steep, very wide, loose rocks. Typical double track for the San Diego area. Boring as a descent but a nice cardio (and shifting) challenge as a climb.
      Chesty-LR
      Sometimes rough/rocky double track/fire road, not a lot of corners. Ok descending but not particularly exciting.

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      • By The-dirt-farmerTF Pro & contributors
      • #52419 - 4,453 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Where is Nighthawk Trail located?
      Nighthawk Trail is located in Black Mountain, San Diego, California, United States. It is part of the Black Mountain trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 32.98239, -117.11215.
      How hard is Nighthawk Trail?
      Nighthawk Trail is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 6.2%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      What is the elevation gain for Nighthawk Trail?
      Nighthawk Trail has 32 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 523 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 695 ft to 1,214 ft.
      Is Nighthawk Trail a point to point trail?
      Nighthawk Trail is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is mixed.
      How long is Nighthawk Trail?
      Nighthawk Trail is 1.5 miles long. The trail type is mixed.
      Are dogs allowed on Nighthawk Trail?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Nighthawk Trail. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      How do I access Nighthawk Trail? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Nighthawk Trail are: View all parking locations in the area.
      How long does it take to ride Nighthawk Trail?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 9 minutes to ride Nighthawk Trail. The trail is 1.5 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      How busy is Nighthawk Trail?
      Nighthawk Trail is a moderately popular trail. There have been 715 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 720 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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