The view from Black Mountain summit, with San Clemente Island visible in the distance. (Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Originally Published: January 20, 2025 at 6:00 AM PST ...

I hike alone quite a bit for this column. And when I’m on the trail by myself, I like to play little mental games. For one, I quiz myself on the different plants that line the route — from laurel ...

I met a big black bear. Well, we weren’t formally introduced, but more on that later. It all started with our impromptu trip ...

SAN DIEGO — The City of San Diego is repairing a major leak in a 36-inch water main off Black Mountain in Rancho Peñasquitos. City workers had to bring in heavy equipment to dig down and locate ...

A few canisters — a makeshift trail register — are at the top of the mountain so hikers can log their summit. (Maura Fox / The San Diego Union-Tribune) The roughly 3.1-mile out-and-back hike ...