The Daniel Webster Trail is a scenic hiking route that traverses the southern slopes of Mount Madison in the White Mountain National Forest. The trail is named after Daniel Webster, a prominent American statesman and orator who was born in New Hampshire and often visited the White Mountains. The trail offers spectacular views of the Presidential Range, the Great Gulf Wilderness, and the surrounding valleys. The trail is moderately difficult, with some steep and rocky sections, and requires about 6 to 8 hours to complete. The trailhead is located at the Dolly Copp Campground, where there is a parking fee and a self-service pay station. The trail follows the Peabody River for about 1.5 miles, then crosses the river on a footbridge and ascends through a hardwood forest. The trail then enters the alpine zone, where the vegetation becomes sparse and the wind and weather are more severe. The trail passes by several landmarks, such as the Hermit Lake Shelter, the Star Lake Hut, and the Madison Spring Hut, where hikers can find water, snacks, and overnight accommodations. The trail ends at the summit of Mount Madison, the fourth-highest peak in New Hampshire, and offers panoramic views of the region. 

In the decades prior to 1911, the unregulated logging practices of private timber companies in the White Mountains had resulted in a damaged landscape susceptible to both fire and flood. Fires had burned thousands of acres, and flash floods affected the water power necessary to the mills of major industrial centers downstream, such as Manchester, New Hampshire, and Lowell, Massachusetts. Concerns over losses to industry, business, and tourism, and the growing conservation movement led to citizen action. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) spearheaded an effort to ensure the permanent protection of the White Mountains from further depredation. After years of lobbying and intense public pressure, Senator John Weeks of Massachusetts, a native of Lancaster, New Hampshire, introduced legislation that became known as the Weeks Act. The Weeks Act was passed by Congress in 1911, appropriating 9 million dollars to purchase 6 million acres of land in the Eastern U.S. In turn, this led to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) in 1918, and twenty-one other national forests throughout the north and southeast. Many of the groups who were instrumental in the passage of the Weeks Act, including the SPNHF and the AMC, are still active today, and the WMNF has grown from 7,000 acres to almost 800,000. Today, the reforested mountains and hillsides supply forest products and provide magnificent recreational opportunities while maintaining healthy watersheds and ecosystems.

The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike using the Daniel Webster Trail.