How Many People Have Died on Mount Jefferson? 5 Hiking Deaths on Record
As of 2026, 5 people have died hiking Mount Jefferson in the documented record — out of 7 incidents in this database, 2 of which were survived. This counts hiking and backcountry incidents only — widely-cited mountain death tolls that include railway, auto-road, and aviation accidents run higher. The causes that recur most here are medical, hypothermia, fall. Higher counts partly reflect how heavily a peak is hiked, not just how dangerous it is — it’s hiked safely far more often than not, but it rewards real preparation.
Most common causes on Mount Jefferson
- Medical3 incidents
- Hypothermia2 incidents
- Fall1 incident
- Lost1 incident
Where incidents happen on Mount Jefferson
Trails and locations named in 3 of the 7 records. Not every report specifies a location, so treat this as where incidents are documented, not a complete map of risk.
| Trail or location | Incidents | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Caps Ridge Trail | 4 | 3 |
One record each: Castle Trail, Link Trail.
When incidents happen
Documented incidents by month. Darker = more. Incidents cluster in July; winter incidents skew toward ice and traction, summer toward heat and exhaustion.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survived | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Fatal | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Based on incidents with a known date. Use it to plan the season — not to assume any month is “safe.”
Mount Jefferson deaths by decade
Across the documented record (1937–2026), Mount Jefferson averages 0.1 hiking deaths per year — about 0.1 per year over the last 20 years. Averages flatten real variation: a single winter storm can account for several deaths in one year, and none the next.
| Decade | Incidents | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 1 | 1 |
| 1940s | 1 | 1 |
| 1980s | 1 | 1 |
| 1990s | 1 | 1 |
| 2010s | 1 | 1 |
| 2020s | 2 | 0 |
Rescue records are documented far more consistently in recent decades than in the historical archive, so rising incident counts reflect improving records as much as changing risk. The fatality column is the more comparable series.
Every documented incident on Mount Jefferson
Each links to the full sourced report.
- Rescue · Link TrailAug 9, 2026
- Rescue · Caps Ridge TrailJul 24, 2024
- Fatality · Caps Ridge TrailAug 29, 2014
- FatalityJan 15, 1994
- Fatality · Castle TrailMar 15, 1986
- Fatality · Caps Ridge TrailOct 13, 1941
- Fatality · Caps Ridge TrailJul 4, 1937
Frequently asked
Is Mount Jefferson dangerous to hike?+
Mount Jefferson appears in 7 documented incidents in this database, including 5 fatal. The most common contributing factors here are medical, hypothermia, fall. Higher counts partly reflect how heavily a peak is hiked, not just how dangerous it is — Mount Jefferson is hiked safely far more often than not. Check the forecast, carry the Ten Essentials, start early, and be willing to turn back when conditions or daylight run short.
How many people have died on Mount Jefferson?+
This database documents 5 deaths on Mount Jefferson out of 7 recorded incidents. The record reaches back into the historical archive and is updated as new reports are reviewed, so it captures the documented fatality record plus a growing, primary-sourced sample of rescues — not a complete tally of every call.
What is the Mount Jefferson death rate — how many people die per year?+
Across the documented record (1937–2026), Mount Jefferson averages about 0.1 hiking deaths per year — 5 deaths over 90 years. Over the last 20 years (2007–2026) the rate is about 0.1 per year, from 1 recorded death. These are hiking and backcountry deaths only; totals that also count railway, auto-road, and aviation accidents run higher. Averages also flatten real variation — a single bad winter storm can account for several deaths in one year.
Part of the WMNF Hiker Incident Database. This tracks hiking and backcountry incidents — widely-cited mountain death tolls also count non-hiking fatalities (railway and auto-road accidents, aircraft, skiing, natural causes at the summit) that this database doesn't. Counts reflect the documented record, not every call NH Fish and Game responds to.