Black Star Canyon - Park

Park

Traces of the Black Star mining operation can still be found, including rusted mining equipment, abandoned shafts, and piles of low-grade coal scattered about the floor of the canyon (similar to those found in Fremont Canyon to the north). In the early 1920s, the United States Forest Service built a narrow but well-graded road up Black Star Canyon and down the eastern slope of the mountains to Corona, thus opening the ranchlands of the upper canyon to hikers. Today, public access to the canyon's upper reaches in the Cleveland National Forest is currently allowed via a county easement through the lower section of the canyon, which remains largely private property, although Orange County officials do not maintain the road.

The beginning of the canyon is marked with signs which declare the road as private, which is half-true since the lower part of the road is privately maintained, although the county and, therefore the forest service, have an easement of public right-of-passage on the road, and have had that right for many decades. As is true with all wilderness areas, it is recommended that those exploring the canyon do not travel alone, especially at night.

Although Black Star Canyon has many roads and trails for hikers and mountain bikers, there have been many reports throughout the years of locals shooting at people passing through. There are many “Private Property” or “Trespassing” signs but according to authorities, they are not official and are used by the locals to scare off people passing by. “The Orange County Sheriffs Office has confirmed that all of the trail is in fact open to the public, and those signs were hung some time ago by squatters attempting to keep people off the land.” (http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/general-discussion/27556-blackstar-haunted.html). There are also many signs throughout the area filled with bullet holes.