Black Canyon Campground, Ramona, CA

The start of this drive on Tuesday is in this post, about the dam.

https://virily.com/travel/a-nice-drive-in-the-countryside-to-lake-sutherland-in-ramona-california/

Leaving Lake Sutherland and dam, we headed further into the Black Canyon. The drive to Black Canyon is on a truck trail called Santa Ysabel Truck Trail, and follows Black Creek. Usually these roads are for four wheel drive only, but when I looked up some information on this area, they claimed that two wheel drive cars could still make it down this road. This road is also a major route in and out of Mesa Grande Indian Reservation.

I will start off with the drive.. (Page one and two)

#1 .07 Mile

We came across this sign. Can you see the brown one above the mile marker?

Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:06 pm

Wow looks like it was used for shooting practice.

2
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:26 pm
  
  A lot of times too! One thing you probably wouldnt see over across the pond.

#2 The brown sign

Has been used for all kinds of target practice. Those are bullet holes..Check out the big one under the word can... The sign used to read, Driving can be hazardous. Boy was it. We hugged a bluff on one side, and a drop off on the other. The road was dirt, and had a really bad washboard effect. You bounced and jiggled down the road..

Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:07 pm

Just as I thought, bullet holes.

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:27 pm
  
  You knew!! I bet youve seen a few signs like this around where you live.
Norman Darlington says:

November 20, 2018 at 11:07 pm

Plenty of those in isolated parts here too!

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 21, 2018 at 2:28 pm
  
  Oh I bet there are!! 🙂
  
  1

#3 One lane

is right! When you meet a car, one of you has to back up..Fun. Notice my car mirror? I was hugging a bluff on the left hand side, with this drop off on the right.

Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:07 pm

You gotta be careful on these kind of roads. Great scenery.

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:27 pm
  
  My son kept laughing at me. I had the steering wheel gripped so tight. All stiff in the seat. Nose inches away from the windshield.
  
  1

#4 My car

is not that big, and it barely fit in some places. I was also hitting ground in high points of ruts, which I had to straddle. But we finally made it to the start of our hike.

Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:07 pm

Looks perfect for your journeys down itty bitty roads.

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:28 pm
  
  My little buggy.. 🙂 I love it.
Norman Darlington says:

November 20, 2018 at 11:09 pm

I didn’t know you had cars that small in Big-Car-Land!!

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 21, 2018 at 2:29 pm
  
  It’s insane the size of our vehicles. They actually let one smaller than this one on the roads lately. It’s a two seater.
  
  1
  - Norman Darlington says:
    
    November 21, 2018 at 3:56 pm
    
    It’s funny because that car wouldn’t look unusual in Europe 🙂
    
    1
    - Kim_Johnson says:
      
      November 22, 2018 at 1:12 pm
      
      True! I wish they would let more small vehicles here.
      
      1
      - Norman Darlington says:
        
        November 22, 2018 at 3:10 pm
        
        When the price of petrol goes up, that’s the only thing that’ll make Americans rethink their gas-guzzlers! We pay more than twice what you do, but the difference used to be much greater.
        
        1

#5 Black Creek

Low Water bridge. This creek when it rains can become a torrent of water, washing down huge boulders, and in the dry months runs to just a trickle. It was almost dry on Tuesday. There were pools which the dogs enjoyed.

Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:08 pm

Love the big rocks. Great view and itty bitty road.

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:30 pm
  
  Me too, it was fun trying to climb them. lol Itty bitty road is right!! This is where it was still paved. 😉
  - Norman Darlington says:
    
    November 20, 2018 at 11:10 pm
    
    I like your term ‘itty bitty road’, Carol! All the roads around here are itty bitty roads 🙂
    
    1

#6 Luna and Penny

Just exploring..

Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:08 pm

There they are. Having a fun time.

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:30 pm
  
  I didnt know at the time, but just 1/4 of a mile up the creek was a huge waterfall and pool. I will be back, soon.

#7 Meika and Luna

We sat here and had lunch. It was such a gorgeous day, and the dogs explored the area before we made our way up the canyon. We parked the car off on the side about were Meika is. (The white dog)

Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:09 pm

A nice day out with the kiddos. 🙂

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:31 pm
  
  It really was, this is my favorite place out of all the places I have been.

#8 I left my pack behind

To do some exploring. My son grabbed my camera and clicked this. Me climbing a rock. There were no hand holds on this..

Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:09 pm

Be careful while out and about.

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:32 pm
  
  Big chickens are always careful. Grins ~~~
  
  1

#9 The dogs

The dogs know when we get our packs on, it's time to head out.

Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:09 pm

They stay ready to hike.

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:33 pm
  
  Boy don’t they. Hard to wear them out for sure.

#10 Penny

Can you see Penny? She also noticed that our packs were being put on.

Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:10 pm

I do see Penny. She stays with the pack pretty much I see.

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:35 pm
  
  She stays closer to us, she is afraid of hawks, and things that go bump in the woods.. Luna is taking after Penny. Glad to have dogs, that pesky wolf is always out and about.
Norman Darlington says:

November 20, 2018 at 11:13 pm

I see her there! 🙂

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 21, 2018 at 2:31 pm
  
  She’s so tiny, and blends in so well with these rocks and sand.
  
  1

Report

6 Comments

Queen says:

November 22, 2018 at 12:09 pm

Sounds like nice trip. Excellent photos.

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 22, 2018 at 1:09 pm
  
  Thank you Milica! It was a great day and trip. 🙂
Norman Darlo says:

November 20, 2018 at 11:15 pm

What a super trip! I really enjoyed all the photos and accompanying narrative. Love your life 🙂

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 21, 2018 at 2:35 pm
  
  It was an awesome trip, and I will be back for sure. Next time it rains in fact. Thank you for joining me Norman. 🙂
  
  1
Carol DM says:

November 18, 2018 at 5:10 pm

You picked a pretty day to go out and about.

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  November 19, 2018 at 2:37 pm
  
  It was a gorgeous day for sure. In the 70’s, sunny, just a little wind. The oddest thing was the box of soups and skeleton.. OH there is an old Garnet mine here, and an old Indian Village, we have yet to find.

Black Canyon Campground, Ramona, CA

#1 .07 Mile

#2 The brown sign

#3 One lane

#4 My car

#5 Black Creek

#6 Luna and Penny

#7 Meika and Luna

#8 I left my pack behind

#9 The dogs

#10 Penny

What do you think?

Written by Kim_Johnson

6 Comments

Pine Creek Falls in Horsethief Canyon ~ San Diego ~ California

Horsethief Canyon and Pine Creek

Perspective… A point of view!

Back at it!

Last Monday

Nature Thursday

What do you think?

6 Comments

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