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The Wildcat River Trail leads from Carter Notch Road in Jackson to the AMC Carter Notch Hut, connecting with the Carter-Moriah Trail and Wildcat Ridge Trail. It is much less used than the opposite approach via the Nineteen Mile Brook Trail partly because it is slightly longer and has unbridged stream crossings. A greater consideration may be that the approach from Jackson is over a rough road which may be hard to find, with limited parking.
Distance: From Bog Brook Trail to Carter Notch Hut, about 3.5 miles one-way
From Carter Notch Road to Carter Notch Hut, about 4.2 miles one-way
Elevation gain: From Bog Brook Trail to Carter Notch Hut, about 1500 feet, nominal on return
Maps:
USGS Jackson, Carter Dome
AMC Carter Range-Evans Notch
Location: White Mountains Region
NH 2003-2004 map G-8
DeLorme NHA&G 45-C9 to 45-B8 - Jackson/Beans Purchase
The trail is located N of Jackson NH
South End: Bog Brook Trail about .7 miles from Carter Notch Road, elevation about 1790 feet
The Bog Brook trailhead (44.2142°N, 71.1959°W) is on Carter Notch Road about 3 miles N of NH Route 16-B in Jackson
North End: AMC Carter Notch Hut, elevation about 3288 feet
Owner: White Mountain National Forest
Maintainer: White Mountain National Forest
Special regulations: No camping within 1/4 mi. of trailhead or Hut
From the Black Brook Trail, the Wildcat River Trail continues up the old woods road along the river which gradually becomes less obvious. At .3 miles it crosses gravel Forest Road 232 adjacent to a bridge; this road starts at a gate at the end of Carter Notch Road .1 miles beyond the Bog Brook Trail, and by following it instead of the Bog Brook Trail you walk perhaps .2 miles farther but avoid three unbridged brook crossings. The Wildcat River Trail crosses Bog Brook 1.0 miles from the Bog Brook Trail, then at 1.9 miles reaches a junction with the Wild River Trail, which leads R to the Wild River valley and eventually Wild River Campground.
The trail soon crosses Wildcat River (last reliable water before hut) and switchbacks L up a ridge, then continues on sidehill on the W side. As the ridge flattens out, the trail returns to the E side and ascends gradually. Approaching the head of the valley the trail climbs more steeply and then levels off. Just before the first bunkhouse is the junction with a side path to The Ramparts, a boulder field with no marked path across but caverns to explore and views in various directions. The main trail descends past several bunkhouses before ending at the stone main building of the hut at 3.5 miles. The Nineteen-Mile Brook Trail continues ahead to connect with the Carter-Moriah Trail and the Wildcat Ridge Trail.
Hut open off-season on a self-service basis by reservation only, bring your own sleeping bags and food.
Carter Notch Road is not plowed to the trail, and access may be best over the Jackson Ski Touring fee network.
Map Notes: USGS map detail after crossing Wildcat River slightly wrong
The Ramparts in Carter Notch
AMC Carter Notch Hut
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