5,712 ft | Presidential | 2 routes
As of October 17, 2026
Trail conditions on Mount Jefferson are currently rated Dangerous. At 3:20 AM ET it was 21°F at the summit (5,712 ft), feeling like 6°F, with WNW winds at 23 mph. The shortest of 2 listed routes is Mount Jefferson via Caps Ridge: 4.8 miles round trip with 2,724 ft of elevation gain, taking about 3-5 hours. Mount Jefferson (5,712 ft) is #3 of 48 on the NH 48 list. See the hour-by-hour Mount Jefferson weather forecast for summit temps, wind chill, and the best hiking window.
Feels like 6°F
Recent Precipitation
Rain: 0.07" (24h) · 0.59" (48h)
Snow: 0.5" (24h) · 0.5" (48h)
Conditions summary as of October 17, 2026
Hurricane-force winds on the Presidentials, near-zero visibility, and fresh snow and ice over the exposed rocky summit cone and ridge make Saturday unsafe for Mount Jefferson. Wind chill near -14°F at the summit and slick, rime-glazed rock create serious risks of hypothermia, frostbite, and disorientation. Sunday offers a calmer, clearing window, though winds will still be significant above treeline and icy trail surfaces will persist.
The freezing level sits roughly between the trailhead and about 3,800 ft, so expect snow and ice on the trail from the start, with winds and cold intensifying sharply at treeline (about 4,000 ft) and wind chill dropping to around -14°F at the summit. Wear a warm base and mid layer from the trailhead, carry a full windproof shell, insulated mitts, balaclava, and goggles, and add them before leaving treeline shelter.
Best Hiking Window
Avoid summit attempts Saturday. If conditions allow, aim for a late-morning to early-afternoon window Sunday, when winds should be decreasing and skies clearing, but only proceed above treeline if wind and visibility have verifiably improved. Start early, set a firm turnaround time, and plan to be off the exposed terrain well before dark.
Last synthesized Oct 17, 3:20 AM ET
Planning a hike here this week?
Trailblazer adds the full 7-day summit forecast, the best day to go for every peak, and conditions for each route up.
Trail: Airline, Airline Cutoff, Valley Way, Osgood Trail, Star Lake Trail, Lowe’s Path, Israel Ridge Path, Gulfside, Jefferson Loop, Clay Loop, Cog Rail Trail, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Eisenhower Loop, Webster Cliff Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Black, Mud - Minor/Avoidable
“Props to Mount Washington Observatory for the heads up about rime ice during this morning’s report. A few spots this morning on Madison, Adams had much more of it and then as the sun made it high enough in the sky, it started to disappear. Trails were dry all the way to Eisenhower and then it got a bit wet from there to the stairs near 302. Wind was moving good this morning and then calmed. Weather report was spot on. Thanks to Chad for the ride assist.”
Trail: Castle Trail
Conditions: Dry Trail, Wet/Slippery Rock
“That is one tough trail but still a great time”
Trail: Airline, Gulfside, Jefferson Loop, Clay Loop
Conditions: Dry Trail, Ice - Breakable Crust
“Stayed in Gorham the night before. It got down to just about 40 overnight, & as the morning continued it continued to drop to about 38. Perfect summer day in my opinion. Headed up airline just before 0500. This was uneventful in the dark. Not having hiked in about two weeks i felt clumsy compared to usual but not out of shape. Was headed up adams just as the sun was rising, the winds were somewhere between 20-30mph & chilly. As soon as i hit adams wasnt really sure what i wanted to do. The goal for the day was to get 7000 vertical gain and as always not acquire a new injury or irritate previous nagging injuries. The idea of descending airline sent me toward jefferson which was out of the wind anyway. Fairly uneventful and didnt see anyone until headed up jefferson. Made it to washington at 1115 & decided to take the cog (train) down. I regretted it but my knees didnt. My partner/girlfriend had taken the car in the morning for a race & was able to pick me up on base station road. The road walk had a lot of traffic but trees were turning and it was breezy. All in all an excellent day. I have been doing this stretch of mountains quite a bit over the last 60 days as they are a decent way to acquire vertical gain when the weather is fair.....”
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Trail reports across the Whites this week · Trailhead parking
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Dangerous
Rating
Plan a below-treeline hike
Conditions above treeline are rated Dangerous. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
12°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 12°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
-12°F
Wind chill
The rest of the list: Winter gear guide · How I pick gear
Conditions synthesized from: NWS Higher Summits Forecast, NOAA Open-Meteo, Mount Washington Observatory, NETC Trip Reports, NOHRSC Snow Depth.
Third highest peak with dramatic Castellated Ridge and spectacular views. Often combined with Adams or Washington for a traverse.
Elevation
5,712 ft
Range
Presidential
Rank
#3 of 48
Difficulty
Very Difficult
Coordinates
44.3042, -71.3167
Been to Mount Jefferson?
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Mount Jefferson Loop (0.6 mi) · Caps Ridge Trail (2.1 mi) · Castle Trail (4.3 mi)
AI-generated from public data. Always verify conditions before heading out — backcountry weather can change quickly.
7 incidents on file · 5 fatal · drawn from NH Fish and Game releases and regional reporting
Cynthia Krum, a 65-year-old from South Portland, Maine
On August 9, 2026, Cynthia Krum, 65, slipped and fell from a rock while traversing the Link Trail on the north side of Mt. Jefferson, sustaining a leg injury that left her unable to walk. Her daughter called 911, and a rescue team of 3 Conservation Officers and 34 volunteers carried her out 1.6 miles to the Caps Ridge Trailhead. She was transported by ambulance to Littleton Regional Hospital.
60-year-old Alain Dion and 46-year-old Nadine Dion of Quebec, Canada
Two Canadian hikers on the Caps Ridge Trail to Mt. Jefferson became lost, ran out of water, and grew tired on July 24, 2024. After an initial 911 call around 5:40 p.m., they attempted to self-rescue but called again at 8:58 p.m. when one became ill and they could not continue. Three Conservation Officers responded and assisted the hikers down to their vehicle, providing food, water, and headlamps.
63-year-old from Bridgton, ME
Gregory Larson, 63, collapsed of cardiac arrest near the summit of Mount Jefferson on the Caps Ridge Trail on August 29, 2014 while hiking with the Denmark Mountain Hikers group. Companions — many trained in wilderness first aid — performed CPR for about two and a half hours. A National Guard helicopter hoisted him out, but he died during the rescue effort.
20-year-old UNH student from Saunderstown, RI
Derek Tinkham, 20, attempted a winter northern Presidential traverse with Jeremy Haas on January 15, 1994 in a forecast extreme cold-and-wind event. Per the American Alpine Club, 'The temperature on the summit of Mount Washington the night Jeremy Haas arrived there was -42° F, and the winds were gusting up to 100 mph.' Underdressed and carrying sleeping bags rated only to -10°F, Tinkham succumbed near Jefferson's summit; Haas left him in a bivouac and crawled to the summit observatory, surviving with severe frostbite. The pair had passed trails to the heated Gray Knob cabin.
56-year-old from Burlington, VT
Basil Goodridge, 56, died of a heart attack on the Castle Trail on Mount Jefferson in March 1986.
27-year-old from Roslindale, MA
Louis Carl Haberland, 27, died of exposure on the Caps Ridge Trail on Mount Jefferson in October 1941.
55-year-old from Salem, MA
Harry A. Wheeler, 55, died of a heart attack on the Caps Ridge Trail on Mount Jefferson in July 1937.