Mount Cardigan is a prominent bare-rock summit in the towns of Orange and Alexandria in western New Hampshire. While its peak is only 3,155 feet (962 m) above sea level, it has extensive areas of bare granite ledges and alpine scrub, giving it the feel to hikers of a much higher mountain. Most of the summit area was denuded by devastating forest fires in 1855. The Civilian Conservation Corps helped to develop the alpine ski trail network still in use today on the east side of the mountain. The mountain is set in the 5,000-acre (20 km2) Cardigan Mountain State Forest.