Jackson: Ski History, Trails and Winter Experiences

Jackson combines a remarkable ski history with a variety of ways to enjoy the outdoors. Black Mountain is the oldest continuously operating ski area in New Hampshire. There are also hiking trails, a historic site and special winter offerings such as sleigh rides and ice skating. If you’re looking for a vacation rental for your trip, these experiences can help you decide what you’d like to focus on.

Skiing with a History at Black Mountain

Black Mountain offers skiing and snowboarding for all ages and ability levels. The area covers more than 140 acres, with 5 lifts and 45 trails. These figures give a concrete sense of the variety on offer: If you’re planning ski days, you can pair a stay in Jackson with a ski area whose character is shaped by more than just its current slopes.

The history of ski technology is part of the story, too. The Shovel Handle, now called the J-Bar, at Black Mountain was the first above-ground cable lift in the United States. Together with the ski area’s long operating history, this makes Black Mountain interesting to travelers who are curious about the development of skiing. For families, the information that the area caters to all ages and ability levels is a useful point of reference when planning a trip that brings together different interests and levels of experience.

Trails and Discoveries

At Jackson Falls/Historic District, you can take an easy-to-moderate, one-mile hike. The Library/Mystery Trail is also one mile long, but it’s a loop. This gives you two specific trail options to choose from: one with a stated length and difficulty level, and another with a stated length and loop format.

The Jackson Field Station has an extensive trail network across 228 acres. Its grounds are also home to one of the earliest known tin mines in North America. Here, trails and mining history share the same site. This makes the Field Station an interesting option for anyone who wants to look for historic traces as well as spend time outdoors. The information about the trail network describes the grounds across 228 acres, not the length of any one trail.

Winter Activities at Nestlenook Farm

Nestlenook Farm offers sleigh rides along a 1.5-mile trail. Lights and kerosene lanterns decorate the route, and rides take place in a custom-made Austrian sleigh. The trail length and its features give this activity its own character. If you’re interested in a ride like this, it offers a different way to enjoy the outdoors than skiing or hiking.

More than 3 miles of trails wind through a picturesque forest on the 65-acre, snow-covered estate. Ice skating is available on the 3-acre Emerald Lake. Nestlenook Farm thus offers several different winter experiences: a ride along the decorated trail, forest trails and skating on the lake. As you plan your trip, consider which activities you and your family would most like to focus on.

Art and Getting Your Bearings in Jackson

Jackson Art Studio and Gallery is one mile north of Jackson Village, at 155 Ridge Road, off Route 16. Along with the ski area and hiking options, the studio adds to the range of things that make Jackson an interesting destination.

When looking for a vacation rental, you can start by deciding whether you’d mainly like to ski and snowboard, explore outdoor trails, discover historic sites or combine several of these interests. Jackson offers specific ways to do that without requiring every experience to be part of the same kind of stay.

More town pages: Conway, Hart's Location, Tamworth, Bartlett, Wakefield, Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro, Ossipee.

For the broader travel overview: Carroll.