Black Mountain Road to Tower Site

The beginning of the trail is sandy, but probably not more than half a foot deep. I was able to streamline through it with 4H and traction control/ESC off. I wouldn attempt to go around the sandy roads after a rainy day. Most of the trail is paved with rocks up the size of a tennis ball, but well maintained. The last mile or two of the trail gets very steep with some sharp switchbacks. I had to do a few 3 point turns with my full size truck, but nothing crazy. The trail gets to one car width, so on a crowded day it might be a little more difficult to navigate. But terrain wise, this trial is about a 3/10. Fun trail and great views.

The first part of the marked trail on onx is extremely sandy, probably impassible for a heavier truck, and I highly recommend instead following the paved frontage road until it curves and the follow that dirt road straight off it until you hit this trail (which appears to be how the tower access road is supposed to go and is the maintained part). Aside from that sandy area, the trail is in excellent condition. Was pretty busy for a Wednesday afternoon.

The last couple of miles are single track shelf road with steep drop offs and a half dozen very sharp and fairly steep switchbacks. There are two or three small pullouts you could turn around in and get back down if you didn’t want to commit all the way to the top. The trail is rated as easy and I mostly agree. Unless, came across an opposite direction vehicle. At that point someone is backing back up or back down to one of the small pullouts. There just isn’t anyway to pass an opposing vehicle other than that on the switchbacks so I’d call it a moderate trail.

The trail is super cool and ends with an easy shelf road with amazing views. There is some mud and a little bit of snow but easily passable.