Black Diamond Mines

During my visit to the Bay Area to see family, I had the chance to go hiking with my sons, Michael and Andrew. We selected the trails at Black Diamond Mines situated in the Antioch hills. Historically, Black Diamond served as an active coal mining town in the late 1800s.

The day was ideal for hiking, with temperatures in the mid-60s and a gentle breeze to mitigate the effort of ascending 800 feet. The majority of the trail lay open to the sunshine.

Starting at the Nortonville trailhead, we walked by cows resting in the shade of an oak tree. We paused at the historic Rose Hill Cemetery, home to former residents of the area, and then proceeded downhill to the Black Diamond trail.

Upon noticing a large black object suspended from a tree, we approached it cautiously, only to discover that it was a buzzing beehive.

Departing from the Black Diamond trail, dappled by several walnut trees, we encountered a detour to the Coal Canyon trail.

This path guided us to an underground abode known as Jim’s Place. We delved into the cave-like residence, which featured a square skylight, a circular stovepipe opening, and a recessed shelf.

Leaving Jim’s Place, we made our way downhill along the winding, narrow canyon path, encountering a diverse array of wildflowers such as paintbrushes, poppies, lupines, and shooting stars.

The trail concluded in a grassy canyon’s basin, where we paused to rest. On the opposite side lay the Black Diamond Trail. From there, we doubled back on our path and returned to our vehicle, marking a total of five miles walked.