Isolation Trail
On the way up Mount Isolation · New Hampshire
Isolation Trail is a trail in the Presidential Range, climbing about 1,550 ft from the Dry River Trail junction to the Rocky Branch Trail junction.
Map length
4.9 mi
Climb from the low end
1,553 ft
Book time up / down (from map miles)
3 h 13 min / 3 h 6 min
High point
4,135 ft
Above treeline
None
Steepest ¼ mile
1,148 ft/mi
Stream crossings
4 (3 fords)
Low point
2,601 ft
Measured on the map. The AMC guide and Forest Service figures usually run 5 to 15% longer.
HikerNerd routes on this trail
Isolation Trail
Mile by mile (map miles)
From Dry River Trail junction (the lower end) to Rocky Branch Trail junction.
- 0.0Dry River Trail junction
- 2.2Junction with Davis Path
- 2.5Junction with Davis Path
- 3.3Fords Rocky Branch Saco River
- 3.5Fords Rocky Branch Saco River
- 3.5Fords Rocky Branch Saco River
- 4.5Crosses Rocky Branch Saco River
- 4.9Junction with Rocky Branch Trail
Distances and book times (map miles)
To Davis Path junction (mile 2.2)
2.16 mi (total 2.16) · ↑1,553 ↓34 ft · 1 h 52 min / 1 h 6 min
To Davis Path junction (mile 2.5)
0.31 mi (total 2.47) · ↑0 ↓302 ft · 10 min / 19 min
To Rocky Branch Trail junction
2.40 mi (total 4.87) · ↑0 ↓979 ft · 1 h 12 min / 1 h 41 min
| From | To | Map miles | Total | Climb ↑ / ↓ | Time ↑ / ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry River Trail junction | Davis Path junction (mile 2.2) | 2.16 | 2.16 | 1,553 / 34 ft | 1 h 52 min / 1 h 6 min |
| Davis Path junction (mile 2.2) | Davis Path junction (mile 2.5) | 0.31 | 2.47 | 0 / 302 ft | 10 min / 19 min |
| Davis Path junction (mile 2.5) | Rocky Branch Trail junction | 2.40 | 4.87 | 0 / 979 ft | 1 h 12 min / 1 h 41 min |
↑ walking from Dry River Trail junction; ↓ the other way. Book time: 2 mph over the map miles plus 30 minutes per 1,000 ft of climbing.
Summit conditions
Today's conditions report1 incident recorded on this trail: Mount Isolation safety record
Recent 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 26MudWetDry
Water crossings: Rock hoppable today… maybe not tomorrow?
Full 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.
28°F
Summit low
Microspikes
Summit lows near 28°F, so expect ice on rock and the upper trail.
56 mph
Summit gusts
Waterproof shell
Daytime gusts near 56 mph and up to a 72% chance of rain. A shell blocks both.
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.