Jay Peak (Vermont)

Jay Peak
Jay Peak in January, with an aerial tramway car visible to the right of the summit
Highest point
Elevation	3,862 ft (1,177 m)[1]
Prominence	2,952 ft (900 m)[2]
Listing	#8 New England Fifty Finest #81 New England 100 Highest
Coordinates	44°55′27″N 72°31′32″W / 44.924184297°N 72.525628839°W / 44.924184297; -72.525628839[1]
Geography
Location	Orleans County, Vermont
Parent range	Green Mountains
Topo map	USGS Jay Peak
Climbing
Easiest route	maintained hiking trail

Jay Peak is a mountain located about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of the Canada–US border, in Jay and Westfield, Orleans County, Vermont, of which it is the highest point. Most of the mountain is in Jay State Forest. The mountain is named for the town of Jay, Vermont, in which much of the mountain except the peak area itself is located.

The town of Jay is in turn named for John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States and a local landholder. Jay Peak is part of the northern Green Mountains. The mountain is flanked to the southwest by Big Jay, and to the north by North Jay Peak (3,438 ft / 1,048 m).

The mountain is in the watershed of the Missisquoi River, which drains into Lake Champlain, thence into Canada's Richelieu River, the Saint Lawrence River, and finally into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The south side of the mountain drains into Jay Brook, thence west into the Trout River and the Missisquoi River. The northwest side of the mountain drains into Black Falls Brook, and thence into the Trout River. The north and northeast sides of the mountain drain east into the Jay Branch of the Missisquoi River.

Jay Peak is the northernmost major mountain crossed by the Long Trail, a 272-mile (438-km) hiking trail running the length of Vermont. The Jay Peak Resort is on the mountain's northeast side.