Nye County Highpoint Trip Report

Mount Jefferson (11,941 ft)

Date: July 20, 2007
Author: Rich Wilson

This was a return trip for me, but others needed the peak, so off we went. We drove up the Meadow Canyon Road from Monitor Valley and then on to Jefferson Summit. We took a right at the summit and drove about a mile out to a little knoll. From there, it's about 6 miles round trip.

The trail disappears occasionally but the route is straightforward and easy to follow -- right up the ridge. The old sign is gone which used to mark the departure point for the summit so, when the trail wraps around to the northeast side, take off at the highest point and head on up. The old register is gone. A new one was placed in 2006. We passed a descending DPS hiker on our way up.

We spent 5 days camped at Pine Creek, a nice Forest Service Campground on the Monitor Valley side of the Toquima Range. An alternate approach to Mt. Jefferson is via the trail which starts at the campground. It is 13 or 14 miles round trip with much more gain.