Region
Most climbed route
Highlights
- The massive Mount Jefferson is like a wilder, untainted version of Mount Washington.
- Two distinct ridges lead to its summit: Ridge of the Caps and Castle Ridge, both mega-classic, short-but-steep routes
- Summit is surrounded by 3 dramatic glacial cirques: Castle Ravine, Jefferson Ravine, and the Great Gulf. Determined backcountry skiers make their way to these remote areas.
- Celebrated Monticello Lawn is a large area of alpine vegetation near the rocky summit.
Routes
/-71.3168419784656,44.3041801764291,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
3 summits • 4.6 mi • 2,672 ft gain • 4 hr 28 min
/-71.3168419784656,44.3041801764291,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 12.0 mi • 4,655 ft gain • 8 hr 16 min
/-71.3168419784656,44.3041801764291,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 12.8 mi • 5,177 ft gain • 7 hr 15 min
/-71.3168419784656,44.3041801764291,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 19.0 mi • 7,788 ft gain • 12 hr 51 min
/-71.3168419784656,44.3041801764291,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 23.3 mi • 8,222 ft gain • 22 hr 2 min
/-71.3168419784656,44.3041801764291,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 4.7 mi • 2,660 ft gain • 5 hr 35 min
/-71.3168419784656,44.3041801764291,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 5.6 mi • 2,696 ft gain • 5 hr 8 min
Latest summits

"Got on the trail at 6:36 am. Beautiful morning, very clear skies. Started out with a slow elevation gain, then made it to the view point just about 1.5 miles in. Clouds started to roll in. We continued on up the "Caps", in which there were three of them. Intimidating looking yes, but so much easier than Cathedral on Katahdin for sure. We made it over the caps, and crossed the sing that said .4 miles to the summit. THAT was hard. visibility was maybe 1/8 mile with clouds. Made it to the top, then headed back down stopping at "Caps" #3 for lunch. As we got to "Caps' #1 skies opened up over the summit, and cleared for the rest of the way. Made it back to the car at 1:19 pm. 5 miles of pure joy! Some butt sliding was needed...." — Bucky • Aug 6, 2022

"We took Caps Ridge trail up, took Castle Trail down and then Link Trail back over to Caps Ridge trail to finish it. Castle Trail was supposed to be a more gradual decline but it ended up being a LOT of ascend/descend. Also still had some cliff face/ledge to find a way down on. Overall a very challenging mountain for those with short legs" — catiehall • Jun 25, 2022
"Molly needed Washington and Jefferson for winter. We reached the Ammo trailhead and were informed by other hikers that the Jewell Tr was barely broken out. So we headed up Ammo to at least get Monroe and Washington in January. We used snowshoes to go up Ammo. We dropped our packs at the Hut and darted up to tag Monroe. We then switched into spikes back at the Hut and made our way up Washington. We were feeling pretty decent, so we decided to make a go for Jefferson. The wind picked up on the northern side of Washington. We slowly made our way up Jefferson and tagged the summit. We then came back and used a shortcut to get further down the Jewell Tr. The trail was broken out at this point. We made our way down and eventually reached the car. Molly now has 1 peak remaining for her NH48w." — newenglandwarrior • Jan 22, 2022
"An Adams and Jefferson hike today. Went up King Ravine from Appalachia. Had Nate Weeks pass by me as he was doing a Vert day. Went through the Subway and Ice Caves on my ascent. Reached Adams, then headed over to Jefferson. Crossed paths with an AMC MLS group in Edmund's Col. Saw Hiker Ed on Jeff summit. Took Randolph Path to Amphibrach back down. Beautiful day to be above treeline." — newenglandwarrior • Jun 12, 2021
"A hike with Molly and Denise. I needed just Jefferson for my Grid but Denise and Molly needed all 3. It was a tough hike today but we managed to grab all of them. We went up Jefferson first and ended on Monroe. " — newenglandwarrior • Apr 10, 2021
"A Presi day. And I learned that the Jewell Tr was broken out. I went up Jewell and did Jefferson first. Then I hiked up Washington. Then down to Monroe. Out via Ammonoosuc Ravine Tr. Beautiful day to be out. " — newenglandwarrior • Jan 24, 2020

"Single-day Presidential Traverse to finish off 3 days of peakbagging and Appalachian Trail redlining in White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire. The Traverse, spanning Pinkham Notch to Crawford Notch, covered 25 miles and 8,300 feet of elevation gain in 14 hours moving. The northern presidential peaks were socked in and windy." — wacbravo • Sep 9, 2019

"Last week we were all set to go camping ... a nice long weekend of relaxing. At the last minute our friends talked us into joining them to complete one of the Northeast Ultra 8's - the Presidential Traverse - 24 miles and 9200 feet of gain over some tough terrain. It was not my best day, I wasn't feeling it and I was slower - thankfully these guys were not worried about pace and instead they were all about enjoying the day, working together to get it done and keeping it fun - so thankful for a great crew!" — deb-and-rob • Aug 31, 2019
"Very good day for a winter hike in the No Presis. Low to no wind and actually warm. Recorded 34 deg as we were descending Jewell at 4:00 PM. Good deal of ice on the top of Jewell and along Gulfside, but spikes handled it. Some sun, mostly later in the day. Fantastic sunset across the Presidential and Willey ranges." — Alohabuffy • Jan 5, 2019

"2 semaines solo de pure plaisir à faire du hiking à différentes places dont les Whites Moutains. LA grosse journée où je tente trois gros sommets dont le mont Washington. Ce fut une réussite de A à Z. En beaucoup moins de temps que je le pensais et aussi plus facilement que je m'y attendais. Je monte par la trail ammonoosuc jusqu'à la Hut, direction Monroe, ensuite retour vers Washington, pause diner, direction Clay: ensuite Jefferson, je vire de bord pour me diriger vers la Jewel trail jusqu'au stationnement... Oufff! Très belle journée malgré que les sommets avaient la tête dans les nuages, ce qui est normal pour les Whites... J'en conserver un très beau souvenir." — fsoucy76 • Sep 24, 2018