Mount Jefferson via Pine Creek Loop in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV

Hike Mount Jefferson via Pine Creek Loop Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV

Class 2 17.4 miles 5900 gain 8-11 hrs Loop Sep 20, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Jefferson via Pine Creek Loop GPX Track

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Mount Jefferson is an ultra-prominent peak in central Nevada and the high point of the Toquima Range. It's always felt inaccessible since I don't have a beastly vehicle to access the standard route, which starts at a pass called Jefferson Summit south of the peak. With some research, I was thrilled to find out about the Pine Creek Trail, and Jon was definitely interested in attempting the peak from this way. We had no idea why this route is not used more commonly. From the summit of Mount Jefferson looking toward the standard route, we agreed the route we took instead was superior in beauty, while also avoiding a crap drive. We were also able to get all the major peaks of the Mount Jefferson ridgeline as a loop, rather than the standard out-and-back. Initially, we wanted to descend using the North Summit Mount Jefferson Trail (marked as such on maps), but the trail doesn't exist. More on this later.

The Pine Creek Campground is annoying to reach because of the long drive from anywhere, and some of the roads don't exist on Google navigation, so I recommend following the USFS directions to access the campground. The roads were graded for any car. Jon and I met up in the morning and set out along the immaculate Pine Creek Trail. We were happily surprised at its upkeep and made quick progress through the meadows and forests along the trail and to the talus-filled cirque to the north of Mount Jefferson. We reached a junction within the talus field with a trail called the Mount Jefferson Trail, keeping left. Even on the talus slope, the trail continued to be excellent all the way up to the saddle of Mount Jefferson and Mount Jefferson East Summit.

First, we headed along the ridge to the east summit, which had a social trail for a small section to avoid some rocky stuff, but the route to this peak barely goes at Class 2. The summit views were nice, and Mount Jefferson looked like an intimidating blob of talus to come. We headed back along the ridge, and although some maps mark a trail leading up to Mount Jefferson. Although this isn't accurate, it's easy Class 2 talus navigating and tundra walking. We reached the summit, which was wide and had pretty ridiculously sweeping views of the surrounding area despire the wildfire haze. Jon and I traced the standard route from up here and agreed we were very happy to have come up the Pine Creek Trail.

After leaving the summit to head north, keep to the right of the ridge and side-hill down talus/tundra to the ridgeline below. All is visible and obvious. Keeping to the ridge initially would result in cliffs. There isn't much to note about the traverse from Mount Jefferson to Mount Jefferson North Summit since the ridge is wide and the route is clear. There's a Class 2 move to gain Mount Jefferson Middle Summit, located just along the ridge and worth the extra minor effort. The ridgeline traverse was longer than we expected.

Once on Mount Jefferson North Summit, we briefly talked about trying to locate the now derelict North Summit Mount Jefferson Trail, which led north from the summit and wrapped down into the canyon to the north. I can't vouch for the quality of the upper portion of the trail past what I've read online (bad), but Jon and I can both attest that the lower portion of the trail is nonexistent. We didn't want to risk a bushwhack, and also the trail would add a bit of additional milage, so we continued east along the ridge to avoid the potential hassle instead. Alternatively, you could return to the northern base of Mount Jefferson South Summit and follow a trail back to the Pine Creek Trail, but this backtrack would add significant mileage.

The ridge on the east side of Mount Jefferson North Summit was a little tedious, but I thought it offered some of the best views of the day. There's a lot of Class 2 talus to navigate. As we neared the end of the ridge, it became a steep slope. The talus continued for the first 2/3 of the steep slope, minor bushwhacking toward the bottom, and then a nice meadow stroll. We saved a lot of time in miles, but were definitely slowed down by the descent from Mount Jefferson North Summit. Anyway, we made it to a minor saddle where we picked up the North Summit Mount Jefferson Trail (which I marked in purple on my attached map). It looked great here on this meadowy section, but we immediately lost it when the trail left the meadow. We can't completely blame trail negligence, since there were also many cattle-carved trails we could follow, adding to the confusion. We looked down into the canyon below and its trees and brush and determined we didn't want to follow the crap trail anymore (hence why the purple section on the map is so short). Instead, we side-hilled on pleasant terrain to a ridge to the south, where we continued down on even more pleasant terrain with lovely views toward the Mount Jefferson ridgeline down into Pine Creek. We crossed over the creek (50 feet of bushwhacking) and rejoined the Pine Creek Trail. We had no regrets about our route, though we did wish the Class 2 ridge descent was a little less tedious.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Jefferson - East Summit
11380 ft
440 rise
2
Mount Jefferson
11941 ft
5871 rise
3
Mount Jefferson - Middle Summit
11686 ft
246 rise
4
Mount Jefferson - North Summit
11814 ft
514 rise

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Heading up the Pine Creek Trail.
Heading up the Pine Creek Trail.
Some cute rocky features within the canyon toward the start of the trail.
Some cute rocky features within the canyon toward the start of the trail.
Entering the Toquima Wilderness. The trail was in amazing shape.
Entering the Toquima Wilderness. The trail was in amazing shape.
Along the Pine Creek Trail.
Along the Pine Creek Trail.
The trail alternates between pretty forest and meadows.
The trail alternates between pretty forest and meadows.
We came down the ridge on the top right later in the day, Mount Jefferson North Summit out of view up there somewhere.
We came down the ridge on the top right later in the day, Mount Jefferson North Summit out of view up there somewhere.
Image 6 from gallery
Mount Jefferson East Summit visible top left. The Pine Creek Trail continues ahead. You can see the primary Mount Jefferson ridgeline in the distant center.
Mount Jefferson East Summit visible top left. The Pine Creek Trail continues ahead. You can see the primary Mount Jefferson ridgeline in the distant center.
Looking back down the Pine Creek Trail at our progress.
Looking back down the Pine Creek Trail at our progress.
The Pine Creek Trail enters this talus-filled cirque.
The Pine Creek Trail enters this talus-filled cirque.
Looking back as we happily continue along the nice trail.
Looking back as we happily continue along the nice trail.
The trail continues up to the ridge above.
The trail continues up to the ridge above.
The trail avoids all talus and took us up to the ridge, Mount Jefferson East Summit visible ahead.
The trail avoids all talus and took us up to the ridge, Mount Jefferson East Summit visible ahead.
Along the ridge to Mount Jefferson East Summit.
Along the ridge to Mount Jefferson East Summit.
Mount Jefferson East Summit out of sight along the ridge ahead.
Mount Jefferson East Summit out of sight along the ridge ahead.
Looking back at the ridge, Mount Jefferson visible top left.
Looking back at the ridge, Mount Jefferson visible top left.
Mount Jefferson East Summit ahead.
Mount Jefferson East Summit ahead.
Mount Jefferson East Summit, view into Pine Creek Canyon, where we came up. You can see Mount Jefferson North summit on the left, and the ridge we would descend later to the low saddle visible in the center.
Mount Jefferson East Summit, view into Pine Creek Canyon, where we came up. You can see Mount Jefferson North summit on the left, and the ridge we would descend later to the low saddle visible in the center.
Back at the saddle of Mount Jefferson East Summit and Mount Jefferson, heading up Class 2 talus and steep tundra to the high point.
Back at the saddle of Mount Jefferson East Summit and Mount Jefferson, heading up Class 2 talus and steep tundra to the high point.
Looking back, Mount Jefferson East Summit on the right and Pine Creek Canyon on the left.
Looking back, Mount Jefferson East Summit on the right and Pine Creek Canyon on the left.
Another shot looking back. The terrain gets a little more rocky than this toward the summit, but it's never bad.
Another shot looking back. The terrain gets a little more rocky than this toward the summit, but it's never bad.
Mount Jefferson summit.
Mount Jefferson summit.
Mount Jefferson summit. Mount Jefferson East Summit on the right, Pine Creek center, the ridgeline to come and Mount Jefferson North Peak on the left.
Mount Jefferson summit. Mount Jefferson East Summit on the right, Pine Creek center, the ridgeline to come and Mount Jefferson North Peak on the left.
Mount Jefferson summit, view toward the standard route, which comes up along the ridge seen here, starting from the center of this photo.
Mount Jefferson summit, view toward the standard route, which comes up along the ridge seen here, starting from the center of this photo.
Heading down from Mount Jefferson, along the ridge. Keep right of the ridge and side-hill down on talus to avoid cliffs.
Heading down from Mount Jefferson, along the ridge. Keep right of the ridge and side-hill down on talus to avoid cliffs.
At the northern base of Mount Jefferson.
At the northern base of Mount Jefferson.
Looking aback toward Mount Jefferson as we traverse.
Looking aback toward Mount Jefferson as we traverse.
Class 2 move to gain Mount Jefferson Middle Summit.
Class 2 move to gain Mount Jefferson Middle Summit.
Mount Jefferson North Summit ahead on the right. The views were lovely.
Mount Jefferson North Summit ahead on the right. The views were lovely.
Mount Jefferson North Summit on the right.
Mount Jefferson North Summit on the right.
Almost to Mount Jefferson North Summit, view back toward Mount Jefferson, left of center.
Almost to Mount Jefferson North Summit, view back toward Mount Jefferson, left of center.
Mount Jefferson North Summit, view east along the ridgeline we decided to descend on. It started off nicely.
Mount Jefferson North Summit, view east along the ridgeline we decided to descend on. It started off nicely.
Along the east ridge, descending from Mount Jefferson North Summit. It pretty much stays like this for the majority of the route. Nice views, lots of talus.
Along the east ridge, descending from Mount Jefferson North Summit. It pretty much stays like this for the majority of the route. Nice views, lots of talus.
Looking back at our progress down from Mount Jefferson North Summit.
Looking back at our progress down from Mount Jefferson North Summit.
Image 34 from gallery
The ridgeline descent we chose to make it to the low saddle in the center of this photo, where we hoped to join with the North Jefferson Summit Trail.
The ridgeline descent we chose to make it to the low saddle in the center of this photo, where we hoped to join with the North Jefferson Summit Trail.
Looking back at the descent talus, Class 2.
Looking back at the descent talus, Class 2.
Some minor bushwhacking down the steep slope, the low saddle visible ahead.
Some minor bushwhacking down the steep slope, the low saddle visible ahead.
Looking back toward our descent ridge from Mount Jefferson North Summit from the low saddle. You can see the minor bushwhacking we dealt with in the center along the ridge.
Looking back toward our descent ridge from Mount Jefferson North Summit from the low saddle. You can see the minor bushwhacking we dealt with in the center along the ridge.
At the low saddle, view of the North Jefferson Summit Trail before it disappeared when the trail left the meadow on the right. You can see the ridge we will head to instead once we left the trail, seen left of center.
At the low saddle, view of the North Jefferson Summit Trail before it disappeared when the trail left the meadow on the right. You can see the ridge we will head to instead once we left the trail, seen left of center.
We lost the trail. It was awful. We continued to the lighter-colored ridge in the center of this photo, leaving whatever remained of the trail.
We lost the trail. It was awful. We continued to the lighter-colored ridge in the center of this photo, leaving whatever remained of the trail.
Looking back toward the low saddle (far right) as we follow a social trail. The ridge we descended from is visible top left.
Looking back toward the low saddle (far right) as we follow a social trail. The ridge we descended from is visible top left.
Wonderful stroll down into Pine Creek, visible center. We followed the ridge a bit before dropping in.
Wonderful stroll down into Pine Creek, visible center. We followed the ridge a bit before dropping in.
Pine Creek Trail on the left, Mount Jefferson ridgeline visible across the top.
Pine Creek Trail on the left, Mount Jefferson ridgeline visible across the top.
Jon heading into Pine Creek. You can see the trail on the left.
Jon heading into Pine Creek. You can see the trail on the left.

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!