Mt. Jefferson is the dominant feature of this High Cascades area, along with Three Fingered Jack (7,841 feet). Mt. Jefferson's slopes are mantled by five glaciers: Whitewater, Waldo, Milk Creek, Russell, and Jefferson Park. Other geographic features include steep talus slopes, rock outcrops, and alpine meadows. There are over 150 lakes, many stocked with trout.
Mt. Jefferson Wilderness covers 104,523 total acres. There are 163 miles of trail within this wilderness including a 40 mile stretch of the Pacific Crest Scenic Trail.
Vegetation is predominantly Douglas-fir, silver fir, sub-alpine fir, mountain hemlock, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, several species of cedar as well as species like vine maple, huckleberry and rhododendron.
For trail information see:
Jefferson Park Trail Area
Marion Lake Trail Area
Maxwell Trail Area
Pamelia Lake Trail Area
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
Know Before You Go
- Starting in 2021, all overnight and some day use visitors to the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness must carry a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit if visiting between the first Friday of Memorial Day weekend and last Friday in September.
- Wilderness Permits are required when visiting the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness between the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and October 31.
- Learn about Wilderness Regulations, including special area regulations in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness.
- ''Leave No Trace'' techniques are encouraged in Wilderness areas, including properly disposing of human and pet waste and carrying out all trash; click here for more information.
- There are no facilities within the Jefferson Park area or the Wilderness area.
- Find out about the Weed Free Feed Requirement and other good Know Before You Go tips.
