Mount Webster - 3,910'
Hike Statistics
Total Distance: 6.5 miles (with Mount Jackson)
Elevation Gain: 2,550 feet
Hiking Time: 4 hours, 20 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Season: Summer
Hiking this peak in winter? Click here!
Hike date: 09/01/2019
Description: Mount Webster has an open summit with excellent views. To the northeast, you can see the Presidential Range and to the west directly across Crawford Notch you can see the Willey Range. Using the route below, you’ll have the opportunity to summit two peaks (one NH 48 peak and one 52 WAV peak) and enjoy phenomenal 360 degree views.
Trails Used: Ascend via Webster-Jackson Trail then take the Jackson Branch to the summit of Mount Jackson. From the summit, head south and take the Webster Cliff Trail to a junction where you’ll turn left to stay on the Webster Cliff Trail for 0.1 miles to the summit of Mount Webster. To descend, return 0.1 miles down the Webster Cliff Trail and then take the Jackson Branch back to the Webster-Jackson Trail, which will bring you back to the trailhead.
Trail Summary: The trailhead for this loop hike is on Route 302 in Crawford Notch near the AMC Highland Center and Crawford Depot. By doing the loop described below, you’ll be able to summit Mount Jackson as well as Mount Webster, which is a nice peak on the 52 With A View list.
The trail starts on the eastern side of Route 302 and is marked with a sign that indicates the Webster-Jackson Trail. After passing through a clearing and entering the woods, you’ll come to a side path in 0.1 miles for Elephant Head. We didn’t go up here, but it is a rocky ledge that has some nice views of Crawford Notch. The main trail continues and is a bit interesting as the lower portion of it alternates between mostly flat sections and steep, rocky sections. In another 0.5 miles, there will be another side path that leads to Bugle Cliff, which we also didn’t visit this time. There are supposed to be nice views from the ledges up there so we’ve heard. The main trail continues to climb moderately on gradual grades over rocky terrain, with some sections where minor descents are required. After another 0.8 miles from the junction with Bugle Cliff, you’ll reach the point where the trail divides - left for the Mount Jackson Branch and right for the Mount Webster Branch. To this point, you’ll have gained about 950 feet in elevation so far. You can go either way at the fork, but we chose to go clockwise by ascending up the Mount Jackson Branch first.
The Mount Jackson Branch starts its ascent gradually before becoming more moderate and a bit rougher footing as you approach the Silver Cascade Brook. Around 0.5 miles from the junction, you’ll rapidly cross three branches of the Brook. As you near the summit, the trail becomes steeper, climbing over a number of ledges. The ledges below the summit will require some tough rock scrambling to get to the open summit of Mount Jackson. At the summit, you’ll enjoy excellent views north towards the Presidential’s and west towards Crawford Notch. From the junction to the summit, the Mount Jackson Branch runs for 1.2 miles and gains 1,250 feet in elevation.
Getting ready to head up the trail!
Very typical terrain the whole way up
The junction - go left for Mount Jackson and go right for Mount Webster
Enjoying the excellent views of the Presi’s from the summit of Mount Jackson
Another vantage point from the summit of Mount Jackson
After enjoying the summit of Mount Jackson, you’ll take the Webster Cliff Trail towards Mount Webster. The descent off of Mount Jackson on the Webster Cliff Trail is very steep and will require lots of scrambling and care on the way down. Otherwise, the portion of the Webster Cliff Trail in between Mount Jackson and Mount Webster is very moderate and offers good hiking conditions. In 1.3 miles from the summit of Mount Jackson, you’ll reach the Mount Webster Branch. Here, you’ll want to take a left and continue on the Webster Cliff Trail for 0.1 miles to the summit of Mount Webster, which has great views of Crawford Notch. After enjoying the summit, you’ll head back down the 0.1 miles on the Webster Cliff Trail and descend on the Mount Webster Branch. This portion of the trail descends steadily over rocky and rough terrain. As you near the fork again, you’ll make a steep descent down a bank and cross a beautiful cascade and pool before making a steep ascent back up. After that minor ascent, you’ll immediately hit the fork in the Webster-Jackson Trail. From the summit of Mount Webster to this fork, you’ll have dropped about 1,150 feet in elevation in 1 mile. At the fork, you’ll simply retrace your steps down the same trail you came up earlier and back to the trailhead. The descent on this trail is moderate just like the ascent was.
One of the very steep sections of slab just below the summit of Mount Jackson
A rough and rocky section along the trail in between Jackson and Webster
The junction where Mount Webster is 0.1 miles away
Enjoying the excellent views from Mount Webster!
Looking across Route 302 towards the Willey Range
The small cascade and pool on the Webster Branch right before connecting back at the junction
Alternative routes:
We have not yet done any alternative routes to the summit of Mount Webster. This page will be updated once we have!
Hiking Mount Webster in the winter
We have not yet climbed Mount Webster in the winter, but once we do, we will update this page with our full report!
Questions? Comments? Want to share your take on this hike? Get in touch with us using the contact page!
As experienced hikers, we always make sure that we are hiking with The Ten Essentials which include navigation, a headlamp, sun protection, first aid, a knife, shelter, extra food, water and clothes. Overtime, we have discovered some items that we always bring on our hikes and consider them to be our personal, expanded ten essentials.