Southern Presi/Isolation 2 day

The Southern Presi/Isolation 2 day is 23.8 miles around the loop, starting at Highland center. At AMC book time — half the distance in hours plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing — that works out to roughly 12-19 hours. Most parties take longer than book time on rough or above-treeline terrain, in winter, or with a heavy pack.

The Southern Presi/Isolation 2 day climbs about 7,333 ft over 23.8 miles — an average of roughly 308 ft of gain per mile. That figure is cumulative ascent across the whole loop, not the difference between the trailhead and the high point.

HikerNerd rates the Southern Presi/Isolation 2 day Very Difficult, scored with the Shenandoah difficulty formula — √(elevation gain × 2 × distance) — applied to its 23.8 miles and 7,333 ft of gain. The score measures physical effort only. Above-treeline exposure, water crossings, and winter conditions can make a moderate-rated route the hardest day of your year, so check current conditions before committing.

The Southern Presi/Isolation 2 day summits 4 named peaks: Mount Eisenhower, Mount Pierce (Clinton), Mount Jackson, Mount Isolation.

The Southern Presi/Isolation 2 day starts at Highland center. Check the trail alerts on this page before you drive — trailhead access and parking in the White Mountains change with closures and construction.