Black Hill is a hill in Morro Bay, California

Morro Bay, California

Morro Bay is a waterfront city in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,234, down from 10,350 at the 2000 census.- History :...

. It is a part of Morro Bay State Park

Morro Bay State Park

Morro Bay State Park is a state park in Morro Bay, in western San Luis Obispo County, California. On the bay’s northeastern edge, there is a saltwater marsh that supports a thriving bird population. -Recreation:...

. The hill is the second to last in a series of volcanic plug

Volcanic plug

A volcanic plug, also called a volcanic neck or lava neck, is a volcanic landform created when magma hardens within a vent on an active volcano. When forming, a plug can cause an extreme build-up of pressure if volatile-charged magma is trapped beneath it, and this can sometimes lead to an...

s called the Nine Sisters

Nine Sisters

The Nine Sisters or the Morros are a chain of nine volcanic peaks and hills between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo, California. They are popular with photographers and rock climbers. Their volcanic origin makes them of significant geological interest. They support a wide variety of plant, animal,...

.

The west side of Black Hill is accessible by a trail that goes all the way to the top. The road to the trail is officially open during the day, but the opening and closing of the gate is unreliable. Black Hill is rumored to have received its name because of a tar seep on the north side of the hill.

Monterey Pine forest

There is a forest of Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) trees on Black Hill, called Fleming's Forest, on the hill which were planted by John Fleming, a former park superintendent. Fleming was working on another project and ordered twice as many trees as he needed, thinking that he would not get his entire order. However, he received his order in full and decided to use the left over trees on Black Hill.

Many of the trees have died or are in the process of dying from the Pine Pitch Canker

Canker

Canker and anthracnose are general terms for a large number of different plant diseases, characterised by broadly similar symptoms including the appearance of small areas of dead tissue, which grow slowly, often over a period of years. Some are of only minor consequence, but others are ultimately...

, an introduced fungal disease, also threatening the Monterey Pine's remnant native groves in Cambria

Cambria, California

Cambria is a seaside village located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the California State Route 1 . The name Cambria was settled upon in 1869 .It is a census-designated place in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States...

 and the Monterey Peninsula

Monterey Peninsula

The Monterey Peninsula is located on the central California coast and comprises the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and unincorporated areas of Monterey County including the resort and community of Pebble Beach.-Monterey:...

.