[3] In 1939 the Works Progress Administration created a road enabling widespread access to Mount Jefferson, which at the time had no official name and was primarily referenced to as Panther Mountain, likely due to a local legend of a panther once eating a child there.

By 1956, their efforts yielded a 300-acre (1.2 km2) donation and raised enough funds to buy an additional 164 acres (0.7 km2) for the park.

As a result, Mount Jefferson received its official name and became a state park in October 1956.

[4] The park has one main road that leads to the peak of Mount Jefferson.

The 2 miles (3.2 km), one-way Mountain Ridge Trail, which ascends to the peak of the mountain and through each overlook, may be accessed at the first park gate across from the park office during inclement weather, though caution is advised.