Mount Jackson and Mount Pierce via Webster Jackson Trail and Crawford Path is a 6.3 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Bartlett, New Hampshire that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The trail offers a number of activity options. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Note: As of September 2020, users have reported that the MizPah hut is closed, so no restrooms, water or food. Please plan accordingly! This route can be done in either directions clockwise or counter clockwise. If you’re going counter clockwise and starting with Mount Jackson - it starts out with a long scramble up to the summit of Mount Jackson. You will get awesome views and then a quick climb over to Pierce. The views at Pierce are breathtaking too, it can get very cold/windy when you reach the top so definitely pack layers.
Restrooms available at the Crawford Path trailhead and the Mizpah hut.
Very popular trail, and a great introductory winter-hike without too much difficulty. We hiked it on 1/31/2021 and completed it in 5.5 hours. This is a really popular area, so you'll likely end up parking on the side of the road on Route 302. Please wear a mask & social distance from other hikers, especially at the base & the summit. We went the day before a major winter storm, so the snow will likely be much fresher. Trails up Pierce & Up Jackson were both packed, but the AT was very much powder. Spikes were fine, but snowshoes recommended. You can take either route - ascend or descend either mountain in winter. There are steep sections on the AT as you approach both Jackson & Pierce. Take it slow & scramble up them, but I wouldn't say one of them was "more difficult" than the other. Also - beware of strong summit winds. This is the presidential range after all!
Absolutely beautiful! Definitely muddy and wet. Embrace the fact that you will step in a few inches of water and mud every so often. Highly recommend footwear with good traction on wet rock. I didn’t hit any snow, but that’s likely because it melted due to the recent warmer temps. I found the trail very easy to follow. Some minor scrambling near the peaks. Glad I came.
Started up the Webster Jackson Trail at 7:30am. Quite a few hikers on the trail. Easy side of moderate for a while, then some rock scrambling near the summit for 15 minutes. You can feed the gray jays along the way in the palm of your hand. Great views. The path to Pierce is easy rambling forest until the Mitzpah Hut (closed). The hike up to Pierce is steep rocky step ups. Great views and lots of people at Pierce. Long easy walk down Crawford Path with small rocks and lots of roots. Overall not too physically challenging other than the pure distance. I think it came to 9.2 miles, not what is depicted above. Took my kids and I, 8 hours which included some long breaks. Foliage was very close to peak today. Enjoy!
We arrived around 7:30 AM and got the second to last parking spot while there were already long lines of cars along Rt 302 by time we were geared up and moving by Saco Lake. We took the loop counterclockwise which I also advise as the steepness and rock scramble to the top of Jackson is definitely done more easily on fresh legs. The stroll between Jackson and Pierce is relaxing and enjoyable. Pierce has some amazing views of the rest of the presidential range but both peaks and the trails up and down were very crowded which caused for some complaints from other hikers that thought they were going to be alone in nature. My wife, dog, and I aren't fast hikers, but we made what I thought was good time and were only a little sore at the end and really enjoyed our time. Also perfect time and trail for seeing leaves change!