Nestled in the White Mountains, Jackson is an attractive resort town near New Hampshire’s border with Maine. It is named after the hero of the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson, who was inaugurated as the seventh president of the United States in the same year that the town was incorporated.
Things to do in Jackson
In the heart of Jackson is the Wentworth Golf Club, which offers exceptional views across the Presidential Range from its 18 holes. You can book a lesson with one of the resident pros or enjoy a meal at the Red Fox Bar and Grille. Near the golf club is Jackson’s famous Honeymoon Bridge, a wooden, covered bridge that dates back to 1876.
In the winter months, you can hit the ski trails of Wildcat Mountain, which boasts the second largest vertical drop in New Hampshire. It’s home to one of the oldest ski-racing trails in the United States, with the Civilian Conservation Corps responsible for its construction in 1933. Descend along the lengthy Polecat Trail or explore the Wildcat Valley Trail, which connects from the mountain summit to the town of Jackson.
Jackson makes an ideal base for exploring the White Mountain National Forest, which provides habitat for native wildlife species that include coyotes, white-tailed deer and moose. It is traversed by around 160 kilometres of the long-distance Appalachian Trail, as well as the scenic Kancamagus Highway. The forest is particularly majestic during the autumn due to its brilliant displays of foliage colour.
Getting around Jackson
Jackson is around 20 minutes’ drive from Conway and 1.5 hours from the Portland International Jetport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Jackson and exploring the surrounding region.