Black Mountain

By Sam Shirley

In the winter, Black Mountain is a popular destination for alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, backcountry touring, and snow tubing. In the warm weather months, the mountain is much quieter, but it is still a great place for a moderate hike with interesting views.

Black Mountain lies just north of Rumford Whitecap Mountain, and the two peaks are connected by a wonderful traverse trail. While some hikers will continue on the Black and White Trail all the way to the summit of Rumford Whitecap (5.8 miles from the trailhead), the much shorter hike up Black Mountain is by itself worthwhile. The trail is well maintained and well marked with a combination of unique black and white diamonds and many small rock cairns.

From the paved ski area parking lots, the trail begins along a dirt road to the right of the base lodge, where a sign marks its start. This is the only section of trail that isn’t well marked, but it is easy to hike below the blue Novice Chair on the ski slope named Ellis.

At the top of the chairlift, another trail sign points the way along a mostly flat ski trail. At 0.4 mile from the trailhead, numerous signs mark the right turn into the woods where the footpath starts. The trail climbs moderately and reaches a narrow ski trail at 0.6 mile. After turning left and following the narrow ski trail for a short distance, the footpath turns right off of the ski trail and continues climbing.

After crossing a wide ski trail at 0.8 mile, the trail becomes somewhat less steep. It passes through a very rocky area before reaching a viewpoint to the southeast at 0.9 mile. At 1 mile from the start of the trail, a short spur trail heads right to an expansive viewpoint to the east from the top of a large rock above a ski trail. At 1.2 miles, the trail emerges from the woods to follow a grassy path along a series of ski trails. Be sure to watch for markers and cairns marking a sharp right turn in the section. At 1.3 miles, the trail reaches a good viewpoint looking northeast from a small rock ledge. It is also at this viewpoint that the trail leaves the ski trails for the last time.

Soon after entering a beautiful spruce-fir forest, a somewhat restricted viewpoint is reached at 1.4 miles. After a mostly level section of trail, a communications tower access road is reached at 1.6 miles. Straight ahead, the Black and White Trail continues down the back side of Black Mountain toward Rumford Whitecap. The road to the left soon reaches the ski area and a communications tower. To reach the west (highest) summit of Black Mountain, turn right on the access road. The road quickly passes a tower on the east summit of Black Mountain and descends into the shallow col between the summits. At the base of the col (1.7 miles), turn left at an intersection of two access roads and climb on this road to the west summit. At the summit (2 miles from the trailhead) is a large tower, and just beyond that tower is a large rock ledge with limited views to the northwest. The best view here is perhaps a unique up-close view of the extensive ledges on Rumford Whitecap, framed by fir trees.

Directions: From Route 2 in downtown Rumford, head northwest on Prospect Avenue. Prospect Avenue becomes Spruce Street and then Swain Road. After 2.2 miles, turn right onto Isthmus Road. In 1.8 miles, turn left onto Glover Road at a large sign for Black Mountain of Maine. The tiered ski area parking lots are reached at 0.3 mile down Glover Road. Park in one of these lots.