Jackson Town Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Explore

Jackson is small, but it has a big reputation. Drive through the red covered bridge off Route 16 and you are in a mountain village that has been drawing painters, skiers and honeymooners for well over a century. This guide covers the things to do in Jackson NH in every season, with places to eat and stay from our directory.

Jackson at a glance

Jackson is a town in Carroll County in the White Mountains, north of North Conway. The 2020 census counted 1,028 residents, up from 816 in 2010, and parts of the White Mountain National Forest lie to the west, north and east. The town is drained by the Ellis River and its tributary Wildcat Brook, and it sits entirely within the Saco River watershed. The highest point in town is 3,870 feet on Wildcat Ridge, at the northern boundary. The ridge keeps rising to the 4,422-foot summit of Wildcat Mountain, a popular alpine ski area with a view of Mount Washington, just over the line in Bean's Purchase.

The area was first named New Madbury, after the seacoast town of Madbury, and was first settled in 1778 by Benjamin Copp and his family. In 1800 it was renamed Adams in honor of President John Adams. When the town was incorporated in 1829, it took the name Jackson for Andrew Jackson, with only one vote cast against the switch. In 2021, residents voted to rededicate the name to honor the geologist Charles Thomas Jackson instead. The small population is part of the charm: Jackson Village feels like one main street, a bridge and a cluster of inns, ringed by mountains.

A village made for artists and visitors

Jackson's tourism story starts with painters. Beginning in 1847, artists of the White Mountain School came to paint the scenery, and their work helped bring tourists by the late 1800s. In 1858 Joshua B. Trickey opened the Jackson Falls House. When the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad began serving Glen station in nearby Bartlett in the early 1870s, more hotels were built, and by the 1920s some 40 trains a day brought passengers to Jackson. Trickey's Thorn Mountain House, built in 1869, evolved during the 1880s into Wentworth Hall, which is still in business today. As cars replaced trains, some grand hotels closed, but the village never lost its popularity. The tradition of hospitality continues today in the inns that still line the village and the surrounding hills.

The Honeymoon Covered Bridge

The red Honeymoon Covered Bridge carries a road over the Ellis River at the entrance to the village. It was built in 1876 and is one of the most photographed covered bridges in New Hampshire. Stop on the Route 16 side, walk back to see the bridge framed by the river and the hills, and then drive through into town.

Jackson Falls

Jackson Falls is one of the features that made the village famous, and the name has been part of local hospitality since the Jackson Falls House opened in 1858. It is a natural stop on any walk around the village and especially pretty in fall foliage season. Use care on wet rock, and respect any posted rules about access and swimming.

Skiing at Black Mountain

Black Mountain is one of the classic small ski areas of New England. The mountain says it has about 90 years of skiing history and describes itself as a fiercely independent, community mountain. Its stewardship has transferred to Indy Pass, the network of independent ski areas. Its size and community feel make it a good choice for skiers who prefer a smaller hill to a big resort.

After skiing, the Shovel Handle Pub at the base area is the traditional place to warm up.

Cross-country skiing at Jackson XC

Jackson is one of the best-known cross-country ski towns in the East, and the reason is Jackson XC. The touring center says it maintains more than 50 trails covering over 100 kilometers, a network Wikipedia notes has been rated one of the best in the world, which wind through the village, forest and surrounding valleys. It offers rentals, lessons and snowshoeing, so beginners can show up without gear and still have a good day. Check conditions and passes on the center's site before you go.

Where to eat

J-Town Deli & Country Store is just over the covered bridge in Jackson Village and says it is celebrating 20 years in town. It serves breakfast and lunch, has a bakery and stocks local gifts, which makes it a natural stop before a hike or after a morning on the trails. Grab sandwiches for a picnic at the falls.

The village inns also run restaurants and pubs, which means you can eat well without driving. The Wentworth's dining room and tavern and the Shovel Handle Pub at Whitney's Inn, both covered below, are good examples.

Where to stay

Jackson's inns are the heart of the village. Two directory listings show the range.

The Wentworth at 1 Carter Notch Road is the grand historic hotel in the center of the village. It has 61 rooms, and dining options include the 1869 Room and the Alpine tavern. The name and the date echo the village's 19th-century hotel era, and the inn still feels like a destination in its own right.

Whitney's Inn sits at the base of Black Mountain, steps from the lifts. It offers rooms and cottages and is home to the Shovel Handle Pub. If skiing is the point of your trip, it is hard to be closer to the snow.

Our Jackson and Bartlett inns guide covers more places to stay in the valley.

Jackson through the seasons

• Winter: The big season. Downhill skiing at Black Mountain, a huge cross-country network at Jackson XC, and snowshoeing. Wildcat is a short drive north toward Pinkham Notch.
• Spring: Waterfalls run full, and the village is quiet. A good time for inn deals and short walks.
• Summer: Hiking in the surrounding national forest, picnics at Jackson Falls, and long evenings on inn porches.
• Fall: Foliage season. The covered bridge and the falls are at their most photographed, and the inns fill up, so book early.

A simple Jackson weekend

Saturday:

1. Breakfast at J-Town Deli, just over the bridge.

2. Morning on the cross-country trails at Jackson XC, or a walk in the woods if there is no snow.

3. Picnic lunch at Jackson Falls.

4. Dinner at The Wentworth.

Sunday:

1. Ski Black Mountain in winter, or hike nearby in the warmer months.

2. Warm up at the Shovel Handle Pub at Whitney's Inn.

3. Stop at the covered bridge for a last photo on the way out.

Getting there

Jackson is off Route 16, a few miles north of North Conway and Glen. From the south, follow Route 16 through the Mount Washington Valley and turn through the covered bridge into the village. Continuing north on Route 16 takes you through Pinkham Notch toward Wildcat and Mount Washington. In winter, check road conditions before driving through the notches.

Frequently asked questions

What is Jackson, NH known for?

The red Honeymoon Covered Bridge, one of the most photographed in the state, Jackson Falls, historic inns, the independent Black Mountain ski area and one of the East's largest cross-country ski networks.

How old is the Jackson covered bridge?

The Honeymoon Covered Bridge over the Ellis River was built in 1876.

Is Black Mountain a good ski area for families?

It is a small, independent community mountain, which many families prefer for its relaxed pace. It is part of Indy Pass.

How far is Jackson from North Conway?

It is a short drive north on Route 16, just past Glen.

Sources

• Jackson, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census, history, covered bridge, Wentworth Hall, geography): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson,_New_Hampshire
• Black Mountain: https://www.blackmt.com/
• Jackson XC: https://www.jacksonxc.org/
• J-Town Deli & Country Store: https://www.jtowndeli.com/
• The Wentworth: https://www.thewentworth.com/
• Whitney's Inn: https://www.whitneysinn.com/