Black Mountain via Black Mountain Ski Trail (White Mountain National Forest)
Hike Type: Lollipop Loop
Distance: 3.77 miles
Elevation: 1,512 feet
Time: 2 hours, 19 minutes (2 hours, 3 minutes moving)
Hiking Challenges: 52 With a View
Hiking Challenges: 52 With a View
The Hike
First silly early drive up to the Whites of 2025! Sarah and I planned/hoped to hike Carter Dome (finally) on this day, but the comical forecasts said otherwise. High of 0 degrees, wind 60-80 mph with gusts of over 100, and the usually wooded Carter Dome's summit had a snowpack of ~8 feet, which created a half mile stretch of fully exposed hiking, which we were not about to do. We talked about it a lot, and agreed we're both fully capable of 1) hiking in extreme conditions and 2) communicating needs, but we simply wouldn't have had much fun! We pivoted plans to skiing Black Mountain in Jackson, NH, which would be an EXCELLENT choice. I still wanted to get a hike in, so we drove seperate and I hiked up the Black Mountain Ski Trail (not linked to the ski area) before we met for some shredding. I was up at 2:50am and out the door just after 3am. It was a dark, sleepy drive, but I had fun playing with my automatic cruise control with automatic steering (SAFELY). I chrisened the bathroom at the Circle K in Ossipee and yet again at the porta potty at the scenic view off of Route 16 in Noth Conway. I was delighted at how not freezing it was! Temps at this point were in the low 20s and wind wasn't insane.
Once in Jackson, it started to snow! I made it to the parking area, which was large and plowed, at 6:25am. It was 22 degrees out with some wind, but nothing as insane as I expected. I was a little anxious about the day since the ski area lost power last night and they hadn't updated their snow report yet... We'll see! I had some leftover pizza for breakfast, and got to work!
[6:35am: Start of Hike]
[6:40am: Black Mountain Ski Trail]
The first stretch of the hike was along a driveway and then soon turned right into the woods at a trail sign. I put my Kahtoolas on, removed my puff, and started up the ski trail. The trail was wide and easy to follow. I think legally is blazed with blue diamonds, but I did not see any. It was snowing like a beautiful snowglobe. I took off my fleece and followed someone's postholes from I assume the warm day we had a couple of days ago. The post holes continued over some hidden stream crossings, where the hiker plunged into the running water underneath all three times.
There were many twigs and branches down from the wind, and then I reached an actual stream crossing at 0.3 miles, which was no problem. I was much warmer than I thought I'd be, which was a delightful surprise. I hit a recent blowdown at 0.5 miles, and thought about how this would actually be a fun trail to ski down in nicer conditions.
Higher up, the wind was stronger, but never enough to bring down my body temperature. There were a few SPOOKY gusts of wind that caused me to pause and watch for widowmakers, though. The snow was also softer up top, so I put on my new MSR Lightning Ascents at 0.9 miles! I only postholed once up until this point, and it was when I stepped off the trail bed, but I also wanted to practice using them. It took me a minute to figure out the bindings, but it soon made sense and I was back! I did feel a little bit like a newborn deer who was learning how to walk, but I soon got the hang of it.
[7:20am - Enters Black Mountain Cabin Forest Protection Area]
I started playing with the televators once I entered the Forest Protection Area, where the trail steepened. I liked the televators a lot, except for brief stretches where the trail would mellow out - then it just felt like I was wearing insane high heels. I only tripped twice, so far, though!
[7:34am - Black Mountain Cabin]
I continued over, through, and around a few more blowdowns, all of which were recent (they were on top of the post-holes), and eventually I made it to the cabin! Snow was deep around the cabin, and sadly it was locked (which I expected, but still hoped I could go inside...). The cabin was in a nice clearing. There was a shed next to it and a privy on the left. I didn't stay long since I was sweaty - I wanted to finish my uphill for the day before taking a break, so off I went!
"Black Mountain Cabin" from https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/whitemountain/recarea/?recid=74799
Constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), this cabin is located on the west side of Black Mountain, set on what was once pasture land just below the summit with an outstanding view of Mount Washington. The cabin is accessed by the Black Mountain Ski Trail, a 1.4 mile trail with moderate grades used by hikers and skiers.
The cabin is rustic with the only amenities being eight wooden bunks and a common room with benches and a wood stove. The capacity is eight people with no outside camping or fires permitted within one quarter mile of the cabin. A composting toilet is a short distance from the cabin. Please remove everything that you bring with you, including usable items.
There weren't any recent tracks up to the main summit, but it was no problem with snowshoes and a can-do attitude! There was one steep spot, but besides that it was pretty straight-forward. It was windier up here, but I saw the sun through the trees and eventually felt the warm rays on my skin which brought me back to life!
[7:49am - Black Mountain Summit Spur]
[7:52am - Black Mountain Summit]
The summit spur begins at the height of land of the trail and is basically a "choose your own adventure" through some gladed woods to the top (I'm sure there's a more defined footpath when there's no snow). I put my fleece on at the beginning for the last few feet, and I was greeted at the top by a lovely lack of views, which was expected. I could see a neighboring peak briefly, but between trees, clouds, and snow squalls, it was pretty viewless. I briefly paused for some water and realized I lost the sock I had over my Nalgene - sad!
[7:54am - East Pasture Trail]
[7:56am - Leaves Black Mountain Cabin Forest Protection Area]
Back at the start of the summit spur, I turned left onto the East Pasture Trail, which was significantly less-traveled than the Black Mountain Ski Trail. Snow was also less-consolidated, but fine with snowshoes. There were some deep post-holes, again, but they didn't mess me up at all. The sun felt amazing, too.
[7:59am - Black Mountain Cut Off]
[8:01am - Enters Black Mountain Cabin Forest Protection Area]
Now on the even less-traveled Black Mountain Cut Off, I meandered through an old trough in a really beautiful, dense forest. I reentered the Forest Protection Area, crossed some glades, and noticed some MASSIVE moose prints! I passed a massive blowdown that required some off-trail navigation through 2' of unconsolidated snow, and made it back on the trail in a stunning area.
There were no blazes on this stretch which made it a little tricky to follow, but overall it was straight-forward and VERY pretty. The trail was littered with branches, twigs, and MANY baby pinecones.
[8:14am - Water Spur]
[8:16am - Black Mountain Cabin]
I noticed the spur to the water source was broken out, so I decided to check it out, and it seemed to lead to another gladed section, I'm guessing for the backcountry skiers. Back at the cabin, I checked the time and decided I'd ski my hot chocolate break to get to the ski area earlier (also I was too lazy to put on more layers or change out of my sweaty shirt). I put my mittens back on, and started the grand return!
Back on the ski trail, the descent went well. I was mostly used to the snowshoes at this point, but I noticed my right foot kept getting angled-outward. I adjusted the bindings a bit and I think I solved the problem? Not sure. I did notice that I left a piece of packaging on my left shoe, which was very silly.
[8:28am - Leaves Forest Protection Area]
I left the Forest Protection Area for the last time and continued my trip down. I struggled a bit with stepping over blowdowns in snowshoes, but I eventually figured it out... I think. It started to flurry again once I was down low, and nearly sent myself into the running stream by stepping on snowshoes onto each other before attempting a leap of faith... I landed in a push-up position staring right into the water - a solid save on my part!
After that flirt with death, I was starting to get hungry for some more leftover pizza, passed a large wild turkey feather (thank you, Seek app!), shuffled past somoeone's home, and made it back to the driveway!
[8:53am - End of Black Mountain Ski Trail]
[8:55am - End of Hike]
I took off my snowshoes at the end of the ski trail and walked the driveway back to the car, where it was time for some pizza and a 10-minute drive to the ski area! I don't love getting up super early, but I do love starting my ski days with a nice, quiet hike. Plus, the weather wasn't bad at all! Not syaing we should have hiked Carter Dome, but this mountain, which is half the size of Carter Dome, was perfect!
Step-by-Step
- Start hike by turning left onto driveway.
- At trail sign, turn left onto Black Mountain Ski Trail.
- At Black Mountain Cabin, continue uphill on left.
- At terminus, turn left onto summit spur.
- Return to trail jct., turn left onto East Pasture Trail.
- At jct., turn right onto Black Mountain Cutoff.
- At Black Mountain Cabin, turn left onto Black Mountain Ski Trail.
- Return to Car
"Black Mountain Ski Trail" from White Mountain Guide, 31st Ed. (2022)
Melloon Rd. to Cabin: 1.3 mi; 1200 ft; 1:15
Melloon Rd. to Summit: 1.6 mi; 1500 ft; 1:35
WMNF This trail, intermittently marked with blue diamonds, leads to Black Mtn. Cabin and a nearby knob (2,757 ft.) on the ridge of Black Mtn. that provides restricted views of Carter Notch and the Baldfaces. To reach the trailhead, follow Carter Notch Rd. for 3.7 mi. from the jct. of NH 16A and NH 16B by Wentworth Inn in Jackson and then turn right onto Melloon Rd. at the jct. with the WMNF trail sign. Follow gravel Melloon Rd. across Wildcat River and then bear left uphill, passing Wildcat Valley Trail (X-C ski) on the right. Continue to a parking area don the left, 0.3 mi. from Carter Notch Rd., just before a private driveway with a chain gate. The road is plowed to this point in winter. Black Mtn. Cabin is kept locked, and reservations for its use must be made at recreation.gov or 877-444-6777. A spring (unreliable) is located near the cabin, and the trail crosses several small streams (also unreliable).
Black Mtn. Ski Trail ascends the gravel driveway and turns right onto an old woods road (sign) just before reaching a brown house. The trail crosses several small brooks, enters WMNF, swings right, and angles southeast up the western slope of Black Mtn., ascending moderately at first and then more steeply. At 1.3 mi., the trail reaches Black Mtn. Cabin, with a view northwest toward Mt. Washington. The direct route to the restricted viewpoint on the nearby knob of Black Mtn. follows the main trail left (northeast), ascending steadily for 0.3 mi. to a spur path (sign: “Summit”) that leads 80 yd. left to an outlook.
To make a scenic loop back to the cabin (only 0.3 mi. Longer than the direct route, with a 50-ft ascent), follow a connector to East Pasture Trail (X-C ski), which leads east downhill from the viewpoint spur path jct., for 0.1 mi. (The connector continues down another 0.15 mi. to meet East Pasture Trail.) Turn right (south) here onto 0.5-mi. Black Mtn. Cutoff and ascend briefly, crossing the ridge crest in a beautiful softwood forest. From here, swing right (northwest) and descend (rev. 200 ft.), emerging just to the south of the cabin on a path that leads left to a nearby spring (unreliable).
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