Mount Isolation (4,004 feet)

Mount Isolation from Crawford Path (A.T.)

Mount Isolation is southeast of Mount Washington and is located in the Montalban Range.  It has one of the longest approaches to the summit of any of the 4,000 footers but is well worth the hike as there are tremendous views down into the Dry River Wilderness up to the Southern Presidential Range from it's summit.  The most common approach is hiking the Rocky Branch, Isolation, and Davis Path Trails.  Water Crossings on the Rocky Branch Trail can become difficult to very dangerous after heavy rain.  All trails are in the woods with no views but protected from the wind until one reaches Isolation's summit.

Trails I've Hiked

Davis Path: 9.7 miles 4,100 feet.  The Davis Path trailhead is located east of Crawford Notch off Route 302.  It has moderate grades with good footing until Stairs Mountain.  From here until the Mount Davis Spur the trail is lightly used and footing becomes rougher and the trail can be a muddy mess at times.  Past the Mount Davis Spur until the Isolation Spur the trail sees much more use but still has sub-par footing.

Rocky Branch Trail / Engine Hill Bushwhack / Isolation Trail / Iso/Davis Bushwhack / Davis Path: 6.5 miles 3,400 feet.  The standard winter route is very easy if broken out!  It has easy to moderate grades with good footing protected from much of the wind.  The highlight of the hike is the Engine Hill Bushwhack which travels through beautiful birch glades.  If the Engine Hill Bushwhack is broken out correctly it comes out on the Isolation Trail just before the last major water crossing.

Trip Reports:

January 15th, 2017: Up and down Rocky Branch Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path

December 11th, 2016: Up and down Rocky Branch Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path

July 21st 2016: Grid Finish & NH 4K #1000

May26th, 2016: Up Boott Spur, down and up Davis Path, down Glen Boulder Trail, across The Direttissima

April 10th, 2016: Up Rocky Branch Trail, across Engine Hill Bushwhack, up and down Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Rocky Branch Trail

January 30th, 2016: Up and down Rocky Branch Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path

November 5th, 2015: Up and down Glen Boulder, Davis Path

June 6, 2015: Glen Boulder Trail, Davis Path, Notchland Inn Trail, Nancy Pond Trail, Carrigain Notch Trail, Wilderness Trail, Abandoned Wilderness Trail, Bondcliff Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, Lincoln Brook Trail, Owl's Head Path, Lincoln Brook Trail, Franconia Brook Trail, Lincoln Woods Trail

March 7th, 2015: Up and down Rocky Branch Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path

January 5th, 2014: Up and down Rocky Branch Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path

December 30th, 2013: Up and down Rocky Branch Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path

October 13th, 2013: Up Tuckerman Ravine, down Crawford Path, Davis Path, Glen Boulder Trail, across Direttissima

May 19th, 2012: Across Old Jackson Road & Madison Gulf Trail, Up Osgood Trail, across Gulfside Trail, Uup and down Lowe's Path, Gulfside and Jefferson Loop over Jefferson, Gulfside and Clay Loop over Clay, Gulfside up to Washington, down Crawford and Davis Path to Isolation, up Davis Path, down Glen Boulder Trail, across Direttissima

January 29th, 2012: Up and down Rocky Branch Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path

February 13th, 2011: Up and down Rocky Branch Trail, Engine Hill Bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Iso/Davis Bushwhack, Davis Path

September 18th, 2010: Up Davis Path, down Dry River Trail

August 16th, 2009: Up Great Gulf Trail, down Davis Path and back to Glen Boulder Trail to Pinkham Notch