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Trail Description - Webster-Jackson Trail

The Webster-Jackson Trail is an unusual Y-shaped trail, starting at US Route 302 at Crawford Notch with one branch leading to Mount Jackson and another to near Mount Webster. The rough walking over roots and rocks makes this trail harder than the distance would indicate. The summit of Mount Jackson is a rocky cone which requires ledge scrambling on every trail. The Webster Cliff Trail runs along the ridge and allows a loop over both peaks, or with a short roadwalk, Mizpah Spring Hut and Mount Pierce.

Distance: From Crawford Notch to Mount Webster, about 2.5 miles one-way
From Crawford Notch to Mount Jackson, about 2.6 miles one-way

Elevation gain: From Crawford Notch to Mount Webster, about 2100 feet
From Crawford Notch to Mount Jackson, about 2200 feet

Hiking Time Estimator

Maps: USGS Crawford Notch
AMC Presidential Range or Franconia-Pemigewasset or Crawford Notch-Sandwich Range

Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map G/H-7/8
DeLorme NHA&G 44-C/D4 - Carroll/Harts Location/Beans Grant
The trail is located NE of US Route 302 at Crawford Notch, between Twin Mountain and Conway

Trailhead: N side of US Route 302 just N of gateway of Crawford Notch and about .2 miles S of AMC Crawford Notch Visitor Center, small parking lot on S side of road, elevation about 1900 feet
44.2151°N, 71.4081°W (WGS84)
From I-93 exit 35 near Franconia Notch, follow US Route 3 about 11 miles N to the junction of US Route 302 in Twin Mountain, turn R on US Route 302 and go E about 8.9 miles

Far End: Webster Cliff Trail near Mount Webster, elevation about 3910 feet
Mount Jackson, elevation about 4052 feet

Owner: private, state, and White Mountain National Forest

Maintainer: Appalachian Mountain Club

Special regulations: No camping on private or state land

Description

The trail climbs immediately into the woods across the road from the parking lot. At .2 miles, a .2-mile side path leads to the top of Elephant Head, a small cliff overlooking the notch; this path dead-ends and does not descend to the highway. The Webster-Jackson Trail alternates level and short downhill sections to the R with steeper climbs. At .6 miles, a short side path leads R to the top of Bugle Cliff, another viewpoint of the notch. The trail continues to angle uphill over rocks and roots, crosses Flume Cascade and several minor brooklets, and at 1.4 miles reaches its division point.

• The Jackson branch turns L uphill and runs parallel to Silver Cascade, eventually crossing it after it has shrunk in size. After a narrow section through evergreens, it comes out in larger trees with the rock cone of the summit visible to the L. The trail swings L to the foot of the cone, then climbs in scrub and up ledges marked with blue paint. The junction with the Webster Cliff Trail is reached 1.2 miles from the division at a cairn on a rock ledge. A herd path ahead leads into scrub to what may be a higher point, also used as a latrine. The summit of Mount Webster is 1.4 miles to the R on the Webster Cliff Trail, while a few steps to the L a survey point (drill hole with chiselled triangle) can be found at a ledge which also offers fine views N and E to the other Presidentials. The Webster Cliff Trail continues L to Mizpah Hut (1.7 miles), Mount Pierce (2.5 miles), and the Crawford Path (2.6 miles).
• The Webster branch descends steeply to a tricky crossing of Silver Cascade, then steeply up the other side. A steady but more moderate ascent continues for 1.0 miles from the division to the Webster Cliff Trail; the summit of Mount Webster is .1 miles to the R while the summit of Mount Jackson is 1.3 miles to the L.

Off Season

Parking lot plowed in winter.

Map Notes: The USGS map shows Elephant Head in the wrong place, it is the rock immediately overlooking Crawford Notch and there is no trail down its face.
The N junction with the Webster Cliff Trail is near the summit of Mount Jackson, not as shown.

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