New Hampshire · Hiking · Near North Conway

Mt Jefferson Loop

Mt Jefferson LoopPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.3 mi
round trip
749 ft
climb
5,687 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Mt Jefferson Loop open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in White Mountain National Forest. It doesn't name Mt Jefferson Loop, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · White Mountain National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Mt Jefferson Loop is a 1.25-mile hike in New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest, within the Androscoggin Ranger District and along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The Forest Service manages the land. The trail is an out-and-back, and its climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.15 miles in from the trailhead. The high point is 5,687 feet, and the total round-trip gain is 749 feet. The most comfortable time to go is late summer into early fall. A nearby weather station at Mt Washington, about 2.9 miles away and 580 feet lower, records typical July highs around 55°F with lows near 44°F, and September highs around 49°F. Winter is harsh, with typical January highs of 15°F and snow on 20 days a month. The trail is rated easy and takes about an hour to complete. It's open year-round, and bikes are allowed on the natural-surface path. The route is not accessible. Edmands Col and Cornice are both within a third of a mile, so the loop pairs easily with those hikes. For an overnight stay, Hermit Lake Complex is about 3.5 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Valley Way Campsite

    Campground

    Campground · 2.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    The Glen House

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 4 mi
  • If it rainsKen Gallager, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    New England Ski Museum

    Museum

    Museum · 21 mi from North Conway

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Ken Gallager, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)

More in North Conway
  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Mt Jefferson Loop

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      15° / -3°

      20 wet · 20 snow

    2. Feb

      15° / -3°

      18 wet · 18 snow

    3. Mar

      21° / 5°

      20 wet · 18 snow

    4. Apr

      31° / 17°

      18 wet · 13 snow

    5. May

      42° / 30°

      18 wet · 7 snow

    6. Jun

      51° / 40°

      17 wet · 2 snow

    7. Jul

      55° / 44°

      17 wet

    8. Aug

      54° / 43°

      15 wet

    9. Sep

      49° / 37°

      14 wet · 2 snow

    10. Oct

      38° / 25°

      18 wet · 9 snow

    11. Nov

      28° / 13°

      19 wet · 15 snow

    12. Dec

      20° / 3°

      21 wet · 19 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Washington, NH, 2.9 mi away at 6,267 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Edmands ColPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Edmands Col

Next door

Edmands Col is a 0.46-mile point-to-point trail in New Hampshire with 605 ft of elevation gain.

Castle Ravine TrailPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Castle Ravine Trail

~1 min drive

0.72-mile point-to-point trail in New Hampshire with 1,604 ft elevation gain.

Adams Slide TrailPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Adams Slide Trail

~2 min drive

0.82-mile point-to-point trail in New Hampshire with 2,099 ft of elevation gain.

Huntington RavinePhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Huntington Ravine

~4 min drive

3.72-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 2,765 ft of elevation loss.

CornicePhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cornice

Next door

3.12-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 983 ft gain

EmeraldPhoto: Ktr101, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Emerald

~2 min drive

Emerald is a 1.05-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 967 ft of elevation gain.

Lowe's PathPhoto: John Hayes (gravelboy), CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lowe's Path

~2 min drive

Lowe's Path is a 4.14-mile point-to-point trail in New Hampshire with 1,026 feet of elevation gain.

ButtressPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Buttress

~2 min drive

3.20-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 2,188 ft gain

Mt Clay LoopPhoto: John Hayes (gravelboy), CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Mt Clay Loop

~2 min drive

2.02-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 618 ft gain.

WamsuttaPhoto: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wamsutta

~4 min drive

2.97-mile out-and-back trail in New Hampshire with 2,201 ft elevation loss

Route details

Distance
1.3 mi round trip
Climbing
About 749 ft
Summit
5,708 ft
Difficulty
Easy
Time
About 0.5 hours

Season

Season: Year-round.

Other routes up Mount Jefferson

Questions about this route

How long is the Mt Jefferson Loop on Mount Jefferson?

About 1.3 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Mt Jefferson Loop?

About 749 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Mt Jefferson Loop?

It is rated easy.

How long does the Mt Jefferson Loop take?

About 0.5 hours round trip.

When is the best time for the Mt Jefferson Loop?

Year-round.

How many routes go up Mount Jefferson?

4: Caps Ridge, Castle, Mt Jefferson Loop and Six Husbands.

Conditions and forecast on Mount Jefferson

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.