Caps Ridge Trail
To Mount Jefferson · New Hampshire
Caps Ridge Trail is a trail in the Presidential Range, climbing about 2,700 ft from Caps Ridge Trailhead (Jefferson Notch Road) to Mount Jefferson. Part of it is above treeline.
Map length
2.1 mi
Climb from the low end
2,680 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
2 h 25 min / 1 h 4 min
High point
5,692 ft
Above treeline
0.8 mi
Steepest ¼ mile
2,167 ft/mi
Stream crossings
0
Low point
3,007 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer. The mapped trail stops just short of the summit of Mount Jefferson; these figures end there.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
Caps Ridge Trail Above treeline
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Caps Ridge Trailhead (Jefferson Notch Road) (the lower end) to Mount Jefferson.
- 0.0Caps Ridge Trailhead (Jefferson Notch Road)
- 0.0Jefferson Notch
- 0.9Junction with The Link
- 1.3Leaves the trees: exposed above treeline
- 1.7Junction with The Cornice
- 2.1Junction with Castle Trail and Mount Jefferson Loop
- 2.1Mount Jefferson
Distances and book times (map miles)
To The Link junction
0.94 mi (total 0.94) · ↑785 ↓0 ft · 52 min / 28 min
To The Cornice junction
0.80 mi (total 1.74) · ↑1,238 ↓0 ft · 1 h 1 min / 24 min
To Mount Jefferson
0.39 mi (total 2.13) · ↑641 ↓0 ft · 31 min / 12 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caps Ridge Trailhead (Jefferson Notch Road) | The Link junction | 0.94 | 0.94 | 785 / 0 ft | 52 min / 28 min |
| The Link junction | The Cornice junction | 0.80 | 1.74 | 1,238 / 0 ft | 1 h 1 min / 24 min |
| The Cornice junction | Mount Jefferson | 0.39 | 2.13 | 641 / 0 ft | 31 min / 12 min |
↑ walking from Caps Ridge Trailhead (Jefferson Notch Road); ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Caps Ridge Trailhead (Jefferson Notch Road)
Off Jefferson Notch Road · Winter: not plowed
Weekends (all seasons): Had space in both reports, as late as 4 pm.
Weekdays (all seasons): Had space in all 3 reports, as late as 5 pm.
Latest report, Sat, Jul 18: Plenty of room, then nearly empty at 4 pm.
All parking reports for Caps Ridge Trailhead (Jefferson Notch Road)
Summit conditions
Today's conditions report4 incidents recorded on this trail, 3 fatal: Mount Jefferson safety record
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy. Prices are Backcountry's, checked twice a day.
73 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 73 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
27°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 27°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
11h 13m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:08 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
The rest of the list: Winter gear guide · How I pick gear
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Above-treeline areas from canopy height by Meta and WRI (CC BY 4.0). Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.