Webster-Jackson Loop

Chris Rycroft

Presidentials bus

landmarkelevdisttime
Macomber Info Ctr1900011:30am
Bugle Cliff24500.6mi11:50
W-J fork28001.4mi12:15
Webster Cliff Tr.38402.4mi1:15
Mt. Webster39102.5mi1:20
lunch  2:10
Mt. Jackson40523.9mi3:00
W-J fork28005.1mi4:15
Elephant Spur Tr.19506.4mi5:25
Elephant Head20006.6mi5:35
rest  5:45
Macomber Info Ctr19006.9mi6:00pm


This trail offers two summits, Mt. Jackson and Mt. Webster, and a bonus for quick hikers: the Elephant Head Spur.

The trailhead is just south of Saco Lake (hard to miss). Pull off at a little parking lot after the train station just before entering Crawford Notch, and walk back toward the lake and cross the road to find the trailhead marked with only a small sign.

You'll go left past the Elephant Head trail, leaving it for later. After the main trail turns right over the Elephant Head brook, the trail alternates between nearly level and sharp uphill stretches. After crossing Little Mossy Brook the second time, there's a side path to Bugle Cliff. This is a massive ledge overlooking Crawford Notch, where the view is well worth the slight extra effort required. From here, the trail rises steeply, crosses Flume Cascade Brook, then comes to the Webster-Jackson fork within sound of Silver Cascade Brook.

Take the right branch toward Mt. Webster. This immediately descends steeply to Silver Cascade Brook, crosses it just below a beautiful cascade and pool, then bears left and climbs steeply up the bank. The trail then climbs steadily south 1.0 mi, meeting the Webster Cliff Trail on the high plateau northwest of the summit of Mt. Webster. The ledgy summit of Mt. Webster, with an excellent view of Crawford Notch and the mountains to the west and south, is .1 mi right via the Webster Cliff Trail.

After lunch, double back on the Webster Cliff Trail toward Mt. Jackson. The trail swings east and crosses numerous wet gullies, finally ascending the steep ledgy cone of Mt. Jackson to reach the summit. Turn left onto the Webster-Jackson trail there, descending steep ledges to the open summit, then swing left descending moderately, and passing Tisdale spring and three branches of Silver Cascade Brook. Not much farther, take the main branch right, back towards the base.

If time permits, take a detour to the Elephant Head Spur. This is an interesting ledge that forms the east side of the Gate of the Notch, a mass of grey rock striped with veins of white quartz providing a remarkale likeness to an elephant's head and trunk. The path runs through the woods parallel to the highway at an easy grade, then ascends across the summit of the knob and descends 40yds. to the top of the ledge, which overlooks Crawford Notch and affords fine views. It is 0.2mi (10 min) from the Webster-Jackson Trail.

I have stolen heavily from the White Mountain Guide for this summary.