Mount Willey via Ethan Pond Trail

The Mount Willey via Ethan Pond Trail is 5.2 miles round trip, starting at Ethan Pond Trailhead (Willey House Station Road). At AMC book time (half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing), that works out to roughly 3-5 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.

The Mount Willey via Ethan Pond Trail climbs about 2,758 ft over 5.2 miles, an average of roughly 533 ft of gain per mile. That figure is cumulative ascent across the whole out-and-back, not the difference between the trailhead and the high point.

HikerNerd rates the Mount Willey via Ethan Pond Trail Hard on a six-tier scale from Easy to Most demanding. The rating comes from the route itself: its 5.2 miles, 2,758 ft of gain, and the steepest quarter mile of trail, with routes known for scrambles or ledges rated a step harder. It is the same scale our NH 4,000-footer difficulty ranking uses. Above-treeline exposure, water crossings, and winter conditions can still make a well-rated route the hardest day of your year, so check current conditions before committing.

The Mount Willey via Ethan Pond Trail summits 1 named peak: Mount Willey.

The Mount Willey via Ethan Pond Trail starts at Ethan Pond Trailhead (Willey House Station Road). Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive: trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.