Black Mountain Lookout

Black Mountain Fire Lookout is located in the San Jacinto Mountains. The tower is staffed by
volunteers and is open between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm every weekend and
holiday during fire season. Visitors are welcome to come up to the top and view the
mountains, learn about the National Forest, use the Fire Finder and learn about fire
prevention. The tower season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The Osborne Fire Finder has been refurbished. Without any electricity at this lookout, the cab is illuminated with propane lanterns. Visitors to the tower are shown the Osborne and get to
look through it.

Black Mountain has spectacular views of the Santa Rosa Mountains, Mt. Palomar Observatory to the south, San Gorgonio Pass to the north, and on a clear day you can see as far as the ocean to west. Occasionally, hosts and guests are greeted by glider planes that
come over San Jacinto Peak, riding the desert and mountain wind currents, wisping by silently.

The Black Mountain Lookout Coordinators are Kurt & Marie Moeschl

Directions
Take Highway 243 north out our Idyllwild for 8.1 miles to the turn-off of Black Mountain Road (Forest Road 4S01). This dirt road climbs through a forest of oak and pine. Make a sharp left turn and drive a half-mile to the end of the road (5.8 miles from the highway). Take the paved walkway to the lookout.