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Mt. Webster
Carroll, NH, Hart's Location, NH, Bean's Grant, NH
Trailheads, measurements, times, distances, and maps are all approximate and relative to the hike(s) as shown below.

Looking up the Webster-Jackson Trail
Route: Webster-Jackson Trail, Webster Cliff Trail, (Mt. Webster), Webster Cliff Trail, Webster-Jackson Trail, Bugle Cliff spur trail, Webster-Jackson Trail
Mt. Webster has been on my to do list for quite awhile - normally it's done with Mt. Jackson, however I didn't have the time or knee to make it over to it back in June. With the days quickly getting shorter, I had to do it soon if I wanted to fit it in as an after work hike.
I do have to wonder about the name - why in the world would they name a mountain after Webster, but not one after Diff'rent Strokes? Apparently there are zero Gary Coleman fans out there anymore.
I started at the trailhead a little bit later than I had hoped, but still at a decent time. The first half of the ascent on the Webster-Jackson Trail isn't overly challenging - though it is rocky and there are a few steep sections, much of it is relatively flat.
After the Webster-Jackson Trail split, I quickly descended into the Silver Cascade area - a quick, steep scramble I didn't know about! The falls are rather neat - I couldn't help but take some photos before climbing up the other side of the gorge.
After this, the trail continues a moderate ascent, with a few steeper rocky sections. It seemed to take forever to get to the Appalachian Trail intersection - quite frankly, I find the two sections of the Webster-Jackson Trail I've hiked to be rather ugly (rocky, dead trees, etc.).
Finally at the Appalachian Trail intersection, I eagerly headed up to the summit and the ledges. Though the late afternoon sun dulled the views to the west, the scenery was nonetheless excellent - looking up the Presidentials and out toward Mt. Chocorua.
After scrambling around the ledges to get a closer look at some of the cliffs, I had a quick snack and headed down.
Soon, I had to turn on the head lamp. I was able to get a glipse at the post-sunset sky over the Mt. Washington Hotel from Bugle Cliff, before descending the rest of the way in the dark. Coldplay's X&Y and Brian Eno's Music For Airports supplied the soundtrack of the descent.
All in all, a nice hike. I do wish to get up to Mt. Webster again someday - though I doubt it will be via that somewhat ugly trail - I think the Webster Cliff trail is going to be the way!
Hike Ratings |
Getting To Trailhead: |
Easy |
Destination: |
Mt. Webster |
Length: |
Moderate |
Steepness: |
Difficult |
Navigation: |
Easy |
Views: |
Excellent |
Crowds: |
Minimal |
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Hike Stats |
Date Hiked: |
Monday, September 17, 2007 |
Hike Commenced: |
4:14 PM |
Parking Elevation: |
1,900' |
Destination: |
Mt. Webster |
Ascent Commenced: |
4:15 PM |
Summit Reached: |
5:37 PM |
Time Elapsed: |
01:22 |
Trailhead Elevation: |
1,905' |
Summit Elevation: |
3,910' |
Distance: |
2.5 miles |
Vertical Gain: |
2,210' |
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Hike Ended: |
7:27 PM |
Hike Time Elapsed: |
03:13 |
Hike Distance: |
5 miles |
Hike Vertical Gain: |
2,460' |
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Webster-Jackson Trail trailhead on Route 302
Looking northeast at Mt. Washington from the Mt. Webster summit

Directions to trailhead: Take Route 302 West from Bartlett into Carroll. There is a small parking lot on the left side of the road. Trailhead is located on the right side of the road, just after the parking lot and just before Saco Lake.
Back to Mt. Webster Profile
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