| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Isolation, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Rocky Branch Trail, bushwhack, Isolation Trail, Davis Path, Isolation Spur |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
The Rocky Branch north trailhead parking area is huge. There were a number of cars already parked at 7am, and again at 5pm. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Dry Trail |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Only one, after bushwhacks, is #5, which was not a problem, as water flow was fairly low. Careful rock hop, with multiple choices available. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
Trails are in fairly good shape. |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
None seen, but a dog capable of a very long hike could do this route easily enough. Limited access to water, though. |
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 | Bugs: |
Didn't see any, did not use repellent. |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
The lower bushwhack (0.2 mi) eliminates first two crossings of the river and a half mile of trail. The point where the BW leaves Rocky Branch is about at the end of the normally wet, rocky downward section west of the height of land, about 3.4 miles in from the trailhead (if it really is 3.7 to the river, per the trailhead sign). There is a fairly visible herd path heading NW through the wet, mossy woods. Just before it ends at crossing #2 on the river, there is a sloppy, muddy area to be crossed. We encountered conditions generally much drier than is the case on this trail, but this BW still was damp. On the return trip, while the herd path was quite visible for much of the way, I noticed that at one point we were left (east) of the dotted line on the app's map. Thus a newer herd path may have been created since the map was created. I don't think I'd like to be following this path in darkness, even with a headlamp. At least it's short, and following a general SSE heading will bring you out onto Rocky Branch. The mid bushwhack skips 3 and 4, which are close together, perhaps 100 yds or so; the herd path is fairly visible. The upper bushwhack, through the tent site just south of the intersection with the Davis Path, is quite short, but it saves maybe a hundred yards of trail and a small amount of elevation gain. On the mile stretch of Davis heading south to Isolation, nearly all of the mud was firm enough for walking. I noticed that at that deep muddy place where people have bypassed it by walking on a ledge sloping steeply down to mud, some branch/log sections have been tossed into the mud to help navigate this mess.
Two of our eventual party hiked in via Glen Boulder, arriving at Isolation just before we did. One of our party finished her first round there, as did a gal hiking separately with a friend. They, too had hiked in via Glen Boulder but hiked out Rocky Branch with us; a pair in our group later drove them the 3.7 miles up the highway to their car, after a little tailgate party with us in celebration of the round finishers. |
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 | Name: |
Pappy |
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 | E-Mail: |
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| Date Submitted: |
2025-08-06 |
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 | Link: |
 https:// |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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