Thompson and Meserves Purchase, New Hampshire 03593
Official WebsiteCaps Ridge Trail has views of the Presidential Range, including Mount Jefferson, Mount Adams, and Mount Washington. The trail is rated as difficult, as it involves steep and rocky sections, some scrambling, and exposure to the elements. The trail is about 5 miles long and gains about 2700 feet of elevation. The trailhead is accessible from Jefferson Notch Road, which is closed in winter. Hikers should be prepared for changing weather conditions, carry adequate water and food, and follow the Leave No Trace principles.
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In the decades prior to 1911, the unregulated logging practices of private timber companies in the White Mountains had resulted in a damaged landscape susceptible to both fire and flood. Fires had burned thousands of acres, and flash floods affected the water power necessary to the mills of major industrial centers downstream, such as Manchester, New Hampshire, and Lowell, Massachusetts. Concerns over losses to industry, business, and tourism, and the growing conservation movement led to citizen action. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) spearheaded an effort to ensure the permanent protection of the White Mountains from further depredation. After years of lobbying and intense public pressure, Senator John Weeks of Massachusetts, a native of Lancaster, New Hampshire, introduced legislation that became known as the Weeks Act. The Weeks Act was passed by Congress in 1911, appropriating 9 million dollars to purchase 6 million acres of land in the Eastern U.S. In turn, this led to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) in 1918, and twenty-one other national forests throughout the north and southeast. Many of the groups who were instrumental in the passage of the Weeks Act, including the SPNHF and the AMC, are still active today, and the WMNF has grown from 7,000 acres to almost 800,000. Today, the reforested mountains and hillsides supply forest products and provide magnificent recreational opportunities while maintaining healthy watersheds and ecosystems.
The AllTrails website has a description and map of a hike using the Caps Ridge Trail.
Restrooms on site
Wheelchair accessible trail
Entrance fee
Content from White Mountain National Forest Official Website
Last updated November 22, 2023