Mount Jackson via Webster-Jackson Trail
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Mount Jackson Hike Details
Trail: Webster-Jackson Trail
Miles: 5.2
Hours: 3:15 of hiking; 4:30 total
Level: Moderate
Mount Jackson Hike Overview
The Webster-Jackson Trail can be done as a loop hitting two summits - Mount Jackson (4,052’) and Mount Webster (3,911’). We decided to only summit Mount Jackson, so we hiked the trail as an out-and-back. The trailhead is very difficult to find if you aren’t looking for it. Alex and I passed it twice before we decided to park and walk to find it. If you are coming from the north on Route 302 (traveling from 93N), the trailhead will be on your left after the Crawford Notch Train Station and Saco Lake. If you are coming from the south on Route 302 (traveling from NH-16), the trailhead will be on your right before Saco Lake and Crawford Notch Train Station. You will see many cars parked on the street before you see the trailhead. If you cannot find the Mount Jackson trailhead since the sign is SO small, park near Saco Lake and walk South on Route 302 for about 0.2 miles. The Mount Jackson trailhead is on the same side as Saco Lake.
NOTE: Don’t let the short mileage fool you! The Webster-Jackson trail gains 2,200 feet of elevation in 2.5 miles, so it is steep. Right off the bat, the trail starts to climb steeply. Both Alex and I were worried the whole climb would be steep, so we mentally prepared ourselves. There are two views at the beginning of the trail - Elephant Head and Bugle Cliff - both of which give you beautiful views of Crawford Notch.
Mount Jackson Hike via Webster-Jackson Trail
July 23, 2017
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
We began our journey to Mount Jackson at 10:30 AM on a beautiful 70° July day. For the first 1.2 miles of the Webster-Jackson trail, the trail alternated from difficult to moderate. There were many steep sections but also flatter sections, which was a nice change of pace when our legs and butt began to burn. There were small brook crossings but were easy to cross. We soon came to an intersection where we had to choose to follow the trail left to Mount Jackson or right to Mount Webster. We decided to head left to Mount Jackson, so I cannot give any feedback on how the trail to Mount Webster is.
For the remaining 1.4 miles to Mount Jackson’s summit, the trail was STEEP. It was a constant uphill battle with only a few brief flat sections. We flew up the first half of the trail but slowed down during the second half because we needed breaks. The best advice I can give is to pace yourself. There were a few times when we thought we were close the summit but weren’t lol! But don’t you worry, the Webster-Jackson trail only got more difficult as we climbed! There were also some lookout points on this half of the trail where we could see Mt. Jackson’s summit. It looked farther away than it really was.
The last section of the trail had rock scrambles even before we reached the treeline. We needed our hands to help on most of the scrambles. The rock scrambles above the treeline gave us beautiful views, so we couldn’t wait until we reached Mount Jackson’s summit! Once we reached the summit, we were rewarded with beautiful views looking west to the White Mountains. We walked through a path between a patch of trees to get to the other side of the summit and had views looking east to Mount Pierce, Mount Eisenhower, Mount Monroe, and Mount Washington.
We reached Mount Jackson’s summit at 12:15 PM and stayed for over an hour to enjoy the view and take pictures. The views were a beautiful reward for a challenging climb. We met two men at the summit who were originally from Russia. They hiked 7 miles from another summit in three hours, which is incredible when hiking in the Presidential Range. I love meeting other hikers! Everyone is always so friendly and outgoing.
We started our descent of the Webster-Jackson trail at 1:30 PM. The descent is always easier on our legs, so we tried to beat our ascent time. The rock scrambles held us up a bit, but we flew down the rest of the trail and returned to our car at 3:00 PM beating our ascent time by 15 minutes!
The hike to Mount Jackson was challenging but not overly tiring. The Webster-Jackson trail wasn’t long which helped us mentally when hiking the steep sections. I would definitely recommend hiking Mount Jackson! If you are looking for a short but challenging hike, this is for you! The rewarding summit views always make the steep ascent worth it.
Have you hiked Mount Jackson using the Webster-Jackson trail? Did you hike Mount Webster with it?
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!