Also on this trip
Trails Used
Webster Cliff trail
Trail Conditions
Parking
Parked across the street and the Ripley Falls a lot
Water Crossings
Rock hopping
Wildlife
No bugs too windy
Also on this trip
Trails Used
Webster Cliff trail
Trail Conditions
Parking
Parked across the street and the Ripley Falls a lot
Water Crossings
Rock hopping
Wildlife
No bugs too windy
Also on this trip
Trails Used
Webster-Jackson Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
Slipped maybe 5 or 6 times on my way around this loop, which was frustrating, but it was that type of hike. Slippery roots and rocks and lots of mud. Embrace the wet outside world.
Parking
Free parking all along the road and in the parking next to the depot. Gets pretty full on a good day but clears out after 3-4pm
Water Crossings
Able to rock hop all of them, but the rain brought in lots of water and mud so beware of slippery rocks!
Wildlife
Rare occurance of little to no bugs. The wind and rain must've kept them away.
Also on this trip
Trails Used
Webster-Jackson, Webster Cliff
Trail Conditions
Notes
Beautiful hike, lovely views, varied terrain - lots of fun!
Parking
Parking lot was empty at 5 am, full when we finished in the late morning!
Water Crossings
Water crossings were pretty easily made, levels are running higher due to recent rains.
Wildlife
The bugs were nonexistent first thing in the morning due to cooler temps and windy conditions. Blackflies and mosquitoes became more abundant on the descent - just keep movin' and you'll be fine.
Trails Used
Webster Jackson Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
Loved Mt. Webster yesterday! The trail was pretty with a couple lush areas and lots of cool boulders. At one point you climb down a steep rocky area and pop out at a beautiful waterfall. There were tiny frogs out everywhere, esp near the muddy areas, and a nice little patch of trillium. Bugs were terrible if you stopped but fine if you kept moving. We were lucky to be under tree cover most of the day to keep us cool. Trail was a little wet and muddy in some isolated places but very manageable. Water crossings were fine.
Parking
No issues
Water Crossings
Totally fine
Wildlife
Bugs were out and swarmed you if you stopped moving. Not an issue if you kept a steady pace.
Trails Used
Webster cliff trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
Great hike- trail to webster was more difficult terrain wise then expected but beautiful day and hike
Water Crossings
Major water crossing .8 miles in is doable- just cross further up on your left where they are rocks to hop over on
Wildlife
Very little bugs- a few flies on the summits
Trails Used
Webster Cliff Trail
Trail Conditions
Notes
At the start of the trail there is a large pool of standing water that is not too hard to get by without getting soaked. There were several places at low elevation where ground water was issuing forth from the recent heavy rainfall. in two places the water was running down the trail. In other places the water was running perpendicular to the trail. These conditions are not usual for this trail. Nevertheless, the water caused no problem for hiking. There was a stretch further uphill below the first outlook where water ran down the trail. The most water on the trail was between Mt Webster and Mt Jackson. There are patches of snow between the two peaks with none extending for more than twenty feet or so with a depth of 2' or less. The center of these snow patches was solid enough to bear weight with no sinking. Ledges in the evergreen areas were frequently wet but were not difficult to pass over. Exposed ledges were mostly dry. No need for traction. As usual, great views from many ledges along the ridge heading up to Mt Webster and at the two summits. The rhodora are not in bloom yet. I met only one hiker on the Webster Cliff Trail from route 302 to Mt Webster. There were many hikers on the Webster-Jackson loop coming up from Crawford Notch. The WMNF 2026 project list includes a 0.85 mile trail relocation for the Webster Cliff Trail with a decommissioning of 0.6 mile of existing trail.
Parking
Dirt lot off route 302 where the AT crosses the road.
Water Crossings
A bridge spans the Saco River. All other crossings are minor.
Wildlife
None
Also on this trip
Trails Used
Webster Jackson Trail, Webster Cliff Trail
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
Trail between Jackson and Webster had intermittent monorail but not much ice. See trail report from 4/29 for more updated trail conditions on the Jackson side of the trail.
Water Crossings
All rock hoppable
Trails Used
Brooks Fisher Trail, Crawford Ridgepole Trail, bushwhack
Trail Conditions
Notes
Some trail checking in this lesser-traveled portion of the Squam Range. Most of this route was dry except for right around Mt. Webster, where there was a dusting of snow from the most recent storm. Unlike other parts of the range, this area has very easy grades and generally good footing, making it a joy to hike. Inbound, I continued past Webster to my turnaround point at the old Cascade Trail. On the way back, I did the short but somewhat scratchy bushwhack to the off-trail summit of Webster, which is recognized with a register and cairn. Looks like a new notebook was placed late last year. Perfect hiking weather today with sunshine and cool temps.
Parking
At the Brooks Fisher trailhead on Perch Pond Rd.
Wildlife
Not yet but soon.
Also on this trip
Trails Used
Mount Webster and Jackson Loop
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
Summit ledges were bare rock. Grey jays observed.
Wildlife
Grey jays visited during hike.
Photos
Log in to view
Trails Used
Webster Jackson Trail, Webster Cliff Trail
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
This is a tricky hike. There are relatively good times to go and there are times you wouldn't want to go on this hike. If conditions are wet or the snow is soft, it wouldn't be recommended to go. That is because there are a few areas where scrambling is required or during the general winter season, something like scrambling. About 1/2 mile into the hike, a large section of the Webster Jackson trail was covered in thick ice. Because of this part and the steep up and down by the waterfall on the Webster Branch of the trail, I used crampons to supplement micro spikes. With those, things went well. Although difficult from a technical standpoint, this hike is rewarded with excellent views at the top. You get to look almost straight down the notch like a birds eye view (not in the way you look down the notch in the direction of the road from something like Mt Willard). More info on this hike and others in the White Mountains can be found on summitsmarts.com
Parking
Plenty of parking off Rt 302 in Crawford Notch
Water Crossings
Still bridged as of hike date, but will change fast with warming weather and snow melt.