I made an overnighter out of this hike. Climbed the South Summit on the first day and continued North atop the ridge camping by Barker Creek. The second day I returned to the ridge and continued North past the North Summit and then down into a river valley where I bushwhacked for a few hours on what was supposed to be a trail. If you find this route in Mike White's "Backpacking Nevada" book it is listed as "Mt. Jefferson Loop" Please take my advise and don't try to make this hike a loop. The North part of the loop no longer exists. The trail is completely overgrown with thorn bushed. There are faint traces of a trail that I would guess hasn't been hiked in more than 10 years (probably more like 20). The only way I would recommend doing the North loop is with a very large machete.
tednv - Aug 5, 2010 8:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2010
beautiful
final peak of my 5 peak road trip, and it was the best. great scenery and a nice hike. camped at jefferson saddle and hiked in from there. wish i had brought more water and some food, since it looked like the north summit was an easy hike only several miles away when on the s summit. maybe next time. beautiful area and lots of other great hikes around
Hiked w/ Bob Burd, Adam Jantz, and Bill Peters. Great day, just enough snow to make it annoying...
weeds19 - May 31, 2010 9:56 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2010
Pine Creek route
Started the hike at the Pine Creek campground (which is free and very pleasant) and followed the creek for a number of miles up the drainage. Eventually we found a snow covered gully that we ascended for about 2000 vertical feet then followed an undulating snow covered ridge over to the south summit. Great views in all directions. Still some large cornices hanging off the ridges as well!
SageHawk - Aug 25, 2009 7:30 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2009
From Jefferson Saddle
Climbed for 2nd time from the saddle between Jeff's south summit and Shoshone Peak. Had the area to myself as I climbed both the south summit of Jefferson and Shoshone Peak as well. There are no trails as far as I could tell on Shoshone, climbed via NE ridge to the summit. Good times!
lasvegaswraith - Aug 16, 2009 4:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
Southern Route
Nice views. Took the standard southern route from about 8500'.
Had the mountain to myself, if you don't count the bighorn.
Meadow canyon makes for a cool drive in.
Drove in until the road ended, then hiked up the South Summit. We proceeded over to the Middle Summit, where we saw seven bighorn sheep. We also could see another group of animals about a mile off toward the North Summit, but they were too far away to idetify (we guessed more bighorn sheep). Great day!
mlarkin2002 - Aug 13, 2007 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2007
Dayhike
Drove to 9,400' then ran out of road. On the way up, fixed the Alta Toquima wilderness sign that had blown down. Saw a group of 50+ pronghorn antelope on the summit. Great views.
MoapaPk - May 28, 2007 6:45 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2007
South route & Pine Creek
Could get my Subaru Outback to about 9300', got confused a few times, and took about 1.75 hrs to the top.
Since I was camped at Peavine, I took the Manhattan Road across (FS014) to rte 82. The Manhattan road was recently bladed (May 2007) and you could drive an MGB down it. However, the last few miles of the route, up to 9300', are quite rough.
There was a gas station in Belmont, but I have no idea when it is open; I wouldn't depend on it.
2 years later:
I took the Pine Creek route. About 4500' elevation gain accumulated, 15 stream crossings! Lots of snow up high. Saw no signs for gas in Belmont. Pine Creek is a beautiful campground.
Anya Jingle - Jan 28, 2007 3:20 am Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2005
Southern Route
Windy all day, but the clouds cleared up while we were hiking up. As soon as we got back to the car, clouds returned and it started to snow. Our slideshow is here: Mount Jefferson South Summit
Dean - Jul 6, 2006 2:49 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
No wind
Via Jefferson saddle. Hardly more than a breeze on the summit which considering all the other reports was a blessing. Saw only two others all day.
I had done Arc Dome the day before and decided to do this one while Dennis went off to do Pilot Peak near Wendover. I met him later near North Schell mountain which we climbed on the 3rd. Nevada mountains are all great to do.
jfrishmanIII - Mar 24, 2006 4:10 am Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2003
Route Climbed: Pine Creek
Came up Pine Creek trail in the fall aspens, traversed to Middle Summit, descended. I had to avoid the largest herd of bighorns I've ever seen, with numerous irritable looking rams, in the cirque below Middle Summit. Awesome day!
Route Climbed: Southern Date Climbed: October 17, 2004
Duane drove his Explorer about a mile south of Jefferson Summit before we started hiking. We climbed up into the clouds and battled high winds all the way. Couldn't see a thing on the summit. On the way down we got hammered by horizontal ice pellets before finally dropping below the cloud cover. The weather was only starting to get bad.
surgent - Dec 11, 2003 1:48 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2000
Route Climbed: Southern Route Date Climbed: Aug 2000
Clear summer day, with some strong winds near the top. Never saw another soul the whole day. Wonderful hike!
utclimber - Dec 17, 2011 1:37 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2011
Jefferson PassHiked up to the south summit from Jefferson pass.
dshoshone - Nov 30, 2011 11:11 am Date Climbed: Nov 27, 2011
Jefferson SaddleNice walk, very little snow still
A Bit - Jul 17, 2011 12:28 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2011
Jefferson SaddleKept going on to Middle and North Summits. Spotted a large herd of Desert Bighorn Sheep just south of Middle Summit.
WhiteInVermont - Sep 17, 2010 1:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2010
Solo HikeI made an overnighter out of this hike. Climbed the South Summit on the first day and continued North atop the ridge camping by Barker Creek. The second day I returned to the ridge and continued North past the North Summit and then down into a river valley where I bushwhacked for a few hours on what was supposed to be a trail. If you find this route in Mike White's "Backpacking Nevada" book it is listed as "Mt. Jefferson Loop" Please take my advise and don't try to make this hike a loop. The North part of the loop no longer exists. The trail is completely overgrown with thorn bushed. There are faint traces of a trail that I would guess hasn't been hiked in more than 10 years (probably more like 20). The only way I would recommend doing the North loop is with a very large machete.
tednv - Aug 5, 2010 8:44 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2010
beautifulfinal peak of my 5 peak road trip, and it was the best. great scenery and a nice hike. camped at jefferson saddle and hiked in from there. wish i had brought more water and some food, since it looked like the north summit was an easy hike only several miles away when on the s summit. maybe next time. beautiful area and lots of other great hikes around
Princess Buttercup - Jun 1, 2010 12:03 am Date Climbed: May 29, 2010
Via Jefferson SaddleHiked w/ Bob Burd, Adam Jantz, and Bill Peters. Great day, just enough snow to make it annoying...
weeds19 - May 31, 2010 9:56 pm Date Climbed: May 30, 2010
Pine Creek routeStarted the hike at the Pine Creek campground (which is free and very pleasant) and followed the creek for a number of miles up the drainage. Eventually we found a snow covered gully that we ascended for about 2000 vertical feet then followed an undulating snow covered ridge over to the south summit. Great views in all directions. Still some large cornices hanging off the ridges as well!
SageHawk - Aug 25, 2009 7:30 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2009
From Jefferson SaddleClimbed for 2nd time from the saddle between Jeff's south summit and Shoshone Peak. Had the area to myself as I climbed both the south summit of Jefferson and Shoshone Peak as well. There are no trails as far as I could tell on Shoshone, climbed via NE ridge to the summit. Good times!
lasvegaswraith - Aug 16, 2009 4:19 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
Southern RouteNice views. Took the standard southern route from about 8500'.
Had the mountain to myself, if you don't count the bighorn.
Meadow canyon makes for a cool drive in.
buzzdainer - Jul 5, 2008 1:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2008
Jefferson SummitDrove in until the road ended, then hiked up the South Summit. We proceeded over to the Middle Summit, where we saw seven bighorn sheep. We also could see another group of animals about a mile off toward the North Summit, but they were too far away to idetify (we guessed more bighorn sheep). Great day!
mlarkin2002 - Aug 13, 2007 11:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 12, 2007
DayhikeDrove to 9,400' then ran out of road. On the way up, fixed the Alta Toquima wilderness sign that had blown down. Saw a group of 50+ pronghorn antelope on the summit. Great views.
MoapaPk - May 28, 2007 6:45 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2007
South route & Pine CreekCould get my Subaru Outback to about 9300', got confused a few times, and took about 1.75 hrs to the top.
Since I was camped at Peavine, I took the Manhattan Road across (FS014) to rte 82. The Manhattan road was recently bladed (May 2007) and you could drive an MGB down it. However, the last few miles of the route, up to 9300', are quite rough.
There was a gas station in Belmont, but I have no idea when it is open; I wouldn't depend on it.
2 years later:
I took the Pine Creek route. About 4500' elevation gain accumulated, 15 stream crossings! Lots of snow up high. Saw no signs for gas in Belmont. Pine Creek is a beautiful campground.
Anya Jingle - Jan 28, 2007 3:20 am Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2005
Southern RouteWindy all day, but the clouds cleared up while we were hiking up. As soon as we got back to the car, clouds returned and it started to snow. Our slideshow is here: Mount Jefferson South Summit
Dean - Jul 6, 2006 2:49 am Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2006
No windVia Jefferson saddle. Hardly more than a breeze on the summit which considering all the other reports was a blessing. Saw only two others all day.
I had done Arc Dome the day before and decided to do this one while Dennis went off to do Pilot Peak near Wendover. I met him later near North Schell mountain which we climbed on the 3rd. Nevada mountains are all great to do.
jfrishmanIII - Mar 24, 2006 4:10 am Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2003
Route Climbed: Pine CreekCame up Pine Creek trail in the fall aspens, traversed to Middle Summit, descended. I had to avoid the largest herd of bighorns I've ever seen, with numerous irritable looking rams, in the cirque below Middle Summit. Awesome day!
Dennis Poulin - Oct 21, 2004 5:27 pm
Route Climbed: South side from Jefferson Summit Date Climbed: 8 Oct 2004This is a great climb. Nothing technical, no bushwhacking, but it was windy 25-30 mph on the summit.
Bob Bolton - Oct 20, 2004 10:53 pm
Route Climbed: Southern Date Climbed: October 17, 2004Duane drove his Explorer about a mile south of Jefferson Summit before we started hiking. We climbed up into the clouds and battled high winds all the way. Couldn't see a thing on the summit. On the way down we got hammered by horizontal ice pellets before finally dropping below the cloud cover. The weather was only starting to get bad.
surgent - Dec 11, 2003 1:48 pm Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2000
Route Climbed: Southern Route Date Climbed: Aug 2000Clear summer day, with some strong winds near the top. Never saw another soul the whole day. Wonderful hike!