Black Cat Peak
- 2.6 mi
- loop
- 293 ft
- climb
- 781 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- May, Aug–Oct
- best months
Black Cat Peak is an easy loop hike in northern Maine, about 6.5 miles from the town of Norcross. The route is 2.6 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 293 feet and a total loss of 561 feet, so it works well as a short outing or a warm-up before heading to other trails in the area. The loop starts at about 612 feet and reaches a high point of 781 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.8 miles in, with a grade of 13 percent. The trail's low point is 530 feet, and the overall climb is one way, so the return trip covers the same ground in reverse. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Millinocket weather station show July and August highs around 78°F with lows in the mid-50s, while winter highs stay in the 20s. Several other outings sit close by. Twin Pines Loop, a mountain biking route, is just 0.2 miles away, and Katahdin View and Saddle Loop are each about half a mile off. Paddlers can find Millinocket Stream about 4.5 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Northeast Whitewater45 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May, Aug–Oct
Best time to visit Black Cat Peak
Best months: May and August–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
24° / 5°
10 wet
Feb
26° / 6°
9 wet
Mar
36° / 16°
10 wet
Apr
50° / 30°
10 wet
May
64° / 41°
12 wet
Jun
74° / 51°
13 wet
Jul
78° / 57°
13 wet
Aug
78° / 56°
11 wet
Sep
70° / 48°
11 wet
Oct
55° / 37°
12 wet
Nov
43° / 27°
11 wet
Dec
31° / 15°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Millinocket, ME, 7.6 mi away at 360 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Photo: TK905, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Katahdin View
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12.3-mile out-and-back trail in Maine with 1,393 ft elevation gain/loss
Photo: TK905, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Twin Pines Loop
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Twin Pines Loop
Next door
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Also worth it near here
Route details
- Distance
- 2.6 mi
- Climbing
- About 293 ft
- Summit
- 860 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 1 hour
Questions about this route
How long is the Black Cat Peak on Black Cat Mountain?
About 2.6 mi.
How much elevation gain is on the Black Cat Peak?
About 293 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Black Cat Peak?
It is rated easy.
How long does the Black Cat Peak take?
About 1 hour round trip.
Conditions and forecast on Black Cat Mountain
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
