
143 acres, 45 runs near Jackson. New Hampshire's oldest continuously operating resort, Indy Pass.
Black Mountain's summit reaches 2,350 feet, dropping roughly 1,100 vertical feet to a base at 1,250 feet across 45 runs spread over 143 acres near Jackson in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Terrain splits 35 per cent intermediate, 29 per cent beginner, 23 per cent advanced and 13 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 125 inches. The resort carries Indy Pass affiliation. Four lifts, including one double chair and one triple chair, serve the mountain alongside one surface lift and two t-bars.
Black Mountain holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating ski area in New Hampshire, a genuinely rare heritage among the state's resorts. Its affordable, unpretentious character and spectacular Presidential Range views have earned it a loyal following among skiers seeking an authentic alternative to the region's larger destination resorts.
The Civilian Conservation Corps cut the mountain's first ski trail in 1934, and the area, then known as Moody's, opened its trails in 1935. Owner Edwin Moody built the Goodrich Falls Hydroelectric Plant on the Ellis River that same year to power the resort's lift and lodge, and Moody and local inventor George Morton constructed one of the first ski lifts in New Hampshire. In 1936, H. Holland and Helen Whitney purchased the area, renaming it Whitney's and installing the Shovel Handle, later known as the J-Bar, the first overhead cable lift in the country, before adding one of New England's first snowmaking systems in 1957.
John Fichera and his family operated Black Mountain independently from 1995, working to keep the resort open, affordable and accessible. In March 2026, plans for a community cooperative purchase were halted when the resort was instead purchased by general manager Erik Mogensen. Adult daily tickets run from 65 to 85 US dollars, with children aged 5 and under skiing free.
Black Mountain is a small, old-school hill near Jackson, New Hampshire, with 45 runs over 143 acres (58 hectares). It climbs from about 1,250 ft (381 m) to 2,350 ft (716 m), a vertical of 1,100 ft (335 m). Terrain splits 29% beginner, 35% intermediate, 23% advanced and 13% expert, a more rounded mix than its size suggests. Snowfall averages around 125 inches a year, healthy for the White Mountains. Lift lines stay short, and the whole mountain is easy to learn in a day while still rewarding repeat visits.
Whitney's Slope, where skiing began in 1935, is the historic heart of the mountain, and Lower Black Beauty is another named run worth finding. Black Forest and the other glades give stronger skiers somewhere to hunt, with expert-level tree skiing available despite the modest footprint. Gentler slopes keep first-timers comfortable. Honest scale is the point here: you get character rather than mileage. Black Mountain suits families, budget-minded skiers and anyone chasing traditional New England skiing, while Wildcat, a short drive away, is the pick for bigger vertical.
The 2025-26 season at Black Mountain ran from 13 December 2025 to 25 April 2026, a considerably long season for a resort of its scale, supported by average annual snowfall of around 125 inches. This extended season length reflects Black Mountain's commitment to maximising ski days for its loyal, value-conscious visitor base.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to the mountain's varied terrain, spanning beginner through expert-rated runs. As an Indy Pass resort, Black Mountain draws some visiting skiers holding that multi-resort pass alongside its core regional White Mountains visitor base drawn to its affordable, authentic character.
Given Black Mountain's status as New Hampshire's oldest continuously operating ski area, the resort attracts visitors specifically seeking its historic charm and spectacular Presidential Range views, a contrast to the larger, more developed resorts nearby. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the resort's substantial beginner and intermediate terrain and free access for children aged 5 and under.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Following the March 2026 purchase by general manager Erik Mogensen, after decades of Fichera family ownership since 1995, Black Mountain continues its long tradition of independent, community-focused operation. The resort's nine-decade history remains central to its seasonal identity.
Black Mountain sits near Jackson in New Hampshire's White Mountains, with a base elevation of 1,250 feet and a summit at 2,350 feet across a roughly 1,100-foot vertical drop over 143 acres. This setting places the resort within one of New England's most scenic mountain regions, with spectacular views toward the Presidential Range.
Jackson, a picturesque White Mountains village, provides local lodging, dining and covered-bridge charm within a short drive of the resort. Nearby North Conway offers more extensive shopping and services, giving visitors a range of options within the broader Mount Washington Valley region.
Local roads connect Jackson directly to the resort, a short drive from the village. Winter driving conditions in this White Mountains setting can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled routes are regularly maintained given the region's popularity as a ski destination. There is no direct public transport service to the mountain.
Specific nearest commercial airport details are not confirmed in available resort information, though Black Mountain's White Mountains location keeps it within a reasonable drive of the greater Boston metropolitan area's major airports for visitors travelling from further afield.
Hotels and lodges near Black Mountain, powered by Stay22.

Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.

Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.

Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.

Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.

Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.

Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.

Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.

Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.
Black Mountain's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from November 15 through May 2. That window is roughly 168 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in New Hampshire, Usa often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
Black Mountain lists about 143 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 45 named runs (58 hectares alongside 143 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
Trail grading at Black Mountain breaks down roughly as 29% beginner, 35% intermediate, 23% advanced, 13% expert. The advanced and expert share is substantial, so confident skiers and riders will find plenty of steeper fall-line options once they leave the nursery slopes.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical feet. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
Black Mountain operates 5 lifts across 4 lift types. The fleet includes 2 t-bars, 1 triple chair, 1 double chair, and 1 surface lift.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
Base elevation at Black Mountain is about 1,250 ft (381 m), with the summit around 2,349 ft (716 m), giving roughly 1,099 ft (335 m) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
Black Mountain averages about 125 inches (318 cm) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Black Mountain is affiliated with the Indy. Pass holders should confirm current season benefits, blackout dates, and reservation rules on the pass issuer's site. Policies change year to year and can differ between international and domestic products.
If you are not on Indy, day tickets and multi-day bundles are still available; see the lift tickets page for published rates and purchase links.
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans US$55 to US$85, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
SnowStash pulls together a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Black Mountain so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Black Mountain. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Black Mountain sits in New Hampshire, Usa. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.