Black Mountain (Middle Peak) stands at 2,756 feet on a broad, forested ridge above Jackson, separating Wildcat Brook from the East Branch of the Saco River. The ridge's trailless high point rises another 500 feet to the north near Perkins Notch; this middle hump is the accessible counterpart, reached by wide backcountry ski trails through mixed hardwood and conifer forest. The summit itself offers almost no views, having grown in since its time on the NH 52 With a View list, though a clearing just below holds the Black Mountain Cabin, a Civilian Conservation Corps structure from the 1930s with a genuine look at Mount Washington and room for eight around a wood stove.
The standard approach follows the Black Mountain Ski Trail from Melloon Road in Jackson, a 1.4-mile moderate climb through White Mountain National Forest to the cabin, then another quarter-mile up the East Pasture Trail to the wooded summit. The wide trail corridor handles snowshoes and skis well, making winter visits especially rewarding. The spring near the cabin can be unreliable; bring your own water.
