Ethan Pond Trail
On the way up Mount Willey · New Hampshire
Ethan Pond Trail is a trail in the Pemigewasset Wilderness and the Willey Range, climbing about 1,600 ft from Ethan Pond Trailhead (Willey House Station Road) to the Twinway and Zealand Trail junction.
Map length
7.0 mi
Climb from the low end
1,582 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
4 h 17 min / 3 h 47 min
High point
2,914 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
1,476 ft/mi
Stream crossings
1
Low point
1,445 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
Ethan Pond Trail
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Ethan Pond Trailhead (Willey House Station Road) (the lower end) to Twinway and Zealand Trail junction.
- 0.0Ethan Pond Trailhead (Willey House Station Road)
- 0.2Junction with Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail
- 1.2Junction with Kedron Flume Trail
- 1.5Junction with Willey Range Trail
- 2.5Junction with Spur Path
- 4.4Junction with Shoal Pond Trail
- 4.7Bridge over North Fork East Branch Pemigewasset River
- 4.9Junction with Thoreau Falls Trail
- 5.7Junction with Zeacliff Trail
- 7.0Junction with Twinway and Zealand Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail junction
0.17 mi (total 0.17) · ↑143 ↓0 ft · 10 min / 5 min
To Kedron Flume Trail junction
1.03 mi (total 1.20) · ↑835 ↓0 ft · 56 min / 31 min
To Willey Range Trail junction
0.29 mi (total 1.49) · ↑200 ↓0 ft · 15 min / 8 min
To Spur Path junction
1.00 mi (total 2.49) · ↑282 ↓58 ft · 38 min / 32 min
To Shoal Pond Trail junction
1.91 mi (total 4.40) · ↑3 ↓339 ft · 58 min / 1 h 7 min
To Thoreau Falls Trail junction
0.53 mi (total 4.93) · ↑3 ↓54 ft · 16 min / 17 min
To Zeacliff Trail junction
0.77 mi (total 5.70) · ↑25 ↓59 ft · 24 min / 25 min
To Twinway and Zealand Trail junction
1.28 mi (total 6.98) · ↑73 ↓58 ft · 41 min / 40 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethan Pond Trailhead (Willey House Station Road) | Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail junction | 0.17 | 0.17 | 143 / 0 ft | 10 min / 5 min |
| Arethusa-Ripley Falls Trail junction | Kedron Flume Trail junction | 1.03 | 1.20 | 835 / 0 ft | 56 min / 31 min |
| Kedron Flume Trail junction | Willey Range Trail junction | 0.29 | 1.49 | 200 / 0 ft | 15 min / 8 min |
| Willey Range Trail junction | Spur Path junction | 1.00 | 2.49 | 282 / 58 ft | 38 min / 32 min |
| Spur Path junction | Shoal Pond Trail junction | 1.91 | 4.40 | 3 / 339 ft | 58 min / 1 h 7 min |
| Shoal Pond Trail junction | Thoreau Falls Trail junction | 0.53 | 4.93 | 3 / 54 ft | 16 min / 17 min |
| Thoreau Falls Trail junction | Zeacliff Trail junction | 0.77 | 5.70 | 25 / 59 ft | 24 min / 25 min |
| Zeacliff Trail junction | Twinway and Zealand Trail junction | 1.28 | 6.98 | 73 / 58 ft | 41 min / 40 min |
↑ walking from Ethan Pond Trailhead (Willey House Station Road); ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Trailheads and parking
Ethan Pond Trailhead (Willey House Station Road)
Trailhead
Weekdays (all seasons): Had space in all 3 reports, as late as 4 pm.
Latest report, Mon, Aug 10: Filling up at 9:30 am.
All parking reports for Ethan Pond Trailhead (Willey House Station Road)
Summit conditions
Today's conditions reportRecent trip reports
1 report on this trail in the last 30 days: snow or ice in 0, microspikes recommended in 0, mud in 1. From hikers on New England Trail Conditions.
- Sat, Sep 12MudDry
Water crossings: Not an issue
Full report on NETC - Tue, Aug 18MudWet
Water crossings: Small water crossings, easy
Full report on NETC - Sun, Aug 16WetDryFull report on NETC
Connecting trails
What to bring
From the summit forecast, Sat to MonPaid links. Backcountry.com pays me if you buy. Prices are Backcountry's, checked twice a day.
60 mph
Summit gusts
Plan a below-treeline hike
Daytime gusts near 60 mph above treeline. Pick a sheltered route or another day.
28°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 28°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
11h 13m
Daylight
Headlamp
Sunset around 6:08 PM, so a late start or a slow descent ends in the dark.
The rest of the list: Winter gear guide · How I pick gear
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Distances are measured from the map and can differ from signs and guidebooks. Conditions change: check before you go.