State: New Hampshire
Location: White Mountains National Forest
Length, One-Way: 2.5 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 3008 feet
Maximum Elevation: 5712 feet
Elevation Change: 2704 feet
Best Season: May to September
Difficulty: Difficult
Usage: Heavy
Parking: White Mountains National Forest Fee Site.
River whitewater
Trail Information
The Caps Ridge Trail is the highest trailhead on a public road in the White Mountains. The trail starts at an elevation of 3,008 feet at a parking lot on the Jefferson Notch Road and ends on the summit of Mt. Jefferson (el. 5,715 feet). This trail is 2.5 miles long. The trail is steep, rough, wet and rocky and tends to be difficult to negotiate.
The Caps Ridge Trail leaves the parking area and crosses some wet areas on log bridges before beginning a steady but moderate ascent. After about a mile, the trail reaches some large boulders with potholes, with views of Mount Washington and some unnamed ravines. The trail soon reaches the junction with The Link, then climbs more steeply along the ridge. Just before reaching the rock outcrops of the first Cap, the trail climbs some steep ledges in the scrub.
The trail ascends steeply up the rock of the first Cap, then dips briefly to cross another outcrop. After a section of low scrub, the trail climbs over the second Cap followed by a brief descent. The trail ascends slightly to the junction at 2.1 miles with The Cornice, which circles the north and west sides of Mount Jefferson and provides some shelter from wind and lightning but it has rougher footing than the main trails over the summit. Above this point, the Caps Ridge Trail is out in the open, climbing over a spur to reach the summit at 2.5 miles. A short descent leads to a signpost for the Mount Jefferson Loop, which connects to the Castle Trail and the Six Husbands Trail.
Note: The Jefferson Notch Road is not plowed or maintained in winter. Do not expect to drive it from November to May in ordinary cars, although 4wd vehicles can be used if there is only a little snow. In mid-winter, it is closed to wheeled vehicles and used by snowmobiles.
Directions
From Interstate 93:
Take Exit 35 near Franconia Notch. Take US Highway 3 about 13 miles north to New Hampshire Route 115. Go east on Route 115 about 8.5 miles and turn right on Valley Road just beyond the abandoned railroad tracks. Follow Valley Road about 3.0 miles, then turn right on Jefferson Notch Road and follow it about 5.4 miles to the parking area on left.
