Mount Jefferson, Mount Adams, & Mount Clay - Caps Ridge Trail & Gulfside Trail - HD

This video shows parts of the scramble up the Caps Ridge Trail to Mount Jefferson, then taking the Gulfside Trail to Mount Adams, then returning on the Gulfside Trail around Jefferson and up to Mount Clay.

06/19/2022 - The weather changed a bit throughout the day - clear blue skies all day, a low of 45 & high of 68, and lots of wind. This hike took me around 9 hours and almost 6 hours were spent above tree line, with really cold and strong wind. I alternated between 1-4 layers, gloves, and a hat often during the hike. It had lightly snowed the day before and Jefferson still had small sections of ice at the summit. I scrambled up the Caps Ridge Trail (2.5 miles) up to Mount Jefferson (5,712 ft) and then descended and got on the Gulfside Trail (2.3 miles) up to Mount Adams (5,774 ft). I then retraced my steps (1.9 miles) and remained on the Gulfside Trail, looping around Mount Jefferson hugging the Jefferson Ravine & Great Gulf Wilderness (2.1 miles) over to Mount Clay (5,533 ft), before returning down Gulfside again (1.8 miles) to get back on the Caps Ridge Trail (2.1 miles) to make it to the parking lot (12.7 mile total hike).

The Caps Ridge Trail starts out easy/moderate for the first stretch, and you reach the Alpine Zone and Whirlpool Ledge fairly quickly. However, there is a lot of elevation gain and scrambling up ahead. The trail becomes steeper as you start to see the Caps peak out above the trees. As you get closer the hike turns into a scramble when you reach the first Cap - which is a long scramble that may be difficult for beginners. You soon will reach the second Cap, which is a very steep scrambling section up slab. While the second Cap isn't vertical, it can cause vertigo and it definitely would be an issue if you have a fear of heights. I didn't have a problem ascending, but needed to take my time going back down. The third Cap is the least difficult, but to me it took longer to get through. Once past the Caps, you soon break tree line and the trail turns into a steep boulder field the remainder of the hike up Mount Jefferson. It seems like you are going through endless rocks, but you will finally get to the summit with 360 degree views from the middle of the Northern Presidentials. There is a smaller subpeak ahead of you which also has great views as well.

At this point, I turned to Mount Adams and got on the Gulfside Trail. The trail is well marked and has plenty of signs directing you the entire way. You drop down what I would guess to be at least +800 feet below the summit before you start the long ascent to Adams. The trail changes several times along the way between boulders, rocks, and a dirt trail. The entire trek is above tree line - open and exposed to the elements, so I would not do this hike in questionable weather. But that also means you are given 360 degree views the entire way to Adams & to Clay. As you get closer to Adams, the trail becomes boulders only and is a steep hike up to the summit. Once you're there though, the views of Mount Madison, Star Lake, and the look back towards Jefferson & Washington are incredible.

After spending some time walking around the summit, I headed back down the Gulfside Trail towards Jefferson. At 0.4 miles from the summit of Jefferson, I continued on the Gulfside Trail around Jefferson to the left - staying close to the Jefferson Ravine & Great Gulf Wilderness. There are some small trees about waist high, but you still have great views along the way into the Gulf. After you pass Jefferson, you keep on the Gulfside Trail and the views completely open up. The trail itself is narrow, but the mountaintop between Jefferson & Clay is very flat and wide. It's a great walk through this section, and Mount Washington looks massive compared to the plateau you're on. As you continue on, you turn towards the left to begin the steep hike up another boulder field to the summit of Mount Clay. After the boulders, the trail opens up a little more again as you pass by green fields before reaching the summit. Though it is not on the NH48 list, this mountain is worth the effort to get to and the front row view of Mount Washington is great. There is plenty of space to walk around the open, flat summit.

After spending some time up here, I retraced my steps down the Gulfside Trail and then got back on the Caps Ridge Trail to return to the parking lot.

This was a very good hike and the views along the way and at each peak are worth the effort. However, scrambling up the Caps Ridge Trail may be a deal breaker for some, but that shouldn't be the case if you have some scrambling experience in the Whites. This is also a hike you really should do in favorable weather conditions, due to the amount of time above 5,000 feet facing the elements alone. But if you do get a chance to go on a nice day, this hike will be worth it.

0:00 Jefferson Pano
0:26 Caps Ridge Trail
6:36 Rock field to Jefferson Summit
9:37 Gulfside to Adams
16:08 Gulfside to Clay
20:38 Clay Summit