Backpacking the Rocky Branch Ramble
Mt Isolation is a remote 4000-footer located in the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness south of Mt Washington, with outstanding views of Washington, the Southern Presidential Range, the Oakes Gulf Headwall, and the Dry River Valley. Moderate in both length and difficulty, this is a good trip to cut your teeth on backpacking in the White Mountains with free pre-established US Forest Service campsites, easy access to water, and numerous opportunities to swim in the Rocky Branch River. There are five stream crossings along this route but they’re usually easy rock hops in summer, so you can keep your shoes dry.
While the distance of this route may appear short, you shouldn’t underestimate the challenge of hiking the rocky trails leading out to Mt Isolation. While experienced White Mountain hikers do hike the entire round trip distance in one day, it is a very long and strenuous day, that would be better broken up with at least one overnight to relax and enjoy some excellent stargazing.
Rating
A2 - Toggle Open for Key
Distance
A: Less than 15 miles in distance
B: 15-20 miles
C: 20-25 miles
D: 25-30 miles or less
E: more than 30 miles
Elevation Gain
1: 3000 ft or less
2: 4000 ft or less
3: 5000 ft or less
4: 6000 ft or less
5: over 6000 ft
Distance/Elevation Gain
14.6 miles w/3350′ of cumulative elevation gain
White Mountain 4000 Footers
- Isolation
Recommended Duration
1-2 nights
Season
June thru October
Permits Required
None.
Regulations
Backcountry Camping Regulations for the White Mountain National Forest.
Most of this route passes through the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness Area. Please observe all wilderness area restrictions.
Trailhead Directions
The northern Rocky Branch Trail Trailhead (not to be confused with the southern trailhead at the end of Jericho Rd) is a parking lot with space for about 25 cars on the west side of Rt 16, about 5.5 miles north of Jackson NH, just past the highway bridge over the Ellis River. This is a no-fee lot.
Maps
The Appalachian Mountain Club publishes the best maps for the White Mountains and I’d recommend buying the complete AMC White Mountain Waterproof Map Set. It contains three waterproof maps (2 regions per map) although you only need carry one or two on any trip. If it is unavailable (it is often sold out), the Map Adventures White Mountains Waterproof Hiking Trail Map is superb. I also use GPS apps for navigating, but these maps contain relevant trail, shelter and topographic information that is often not included in electronic maps. More detailed trail descriptions can also be found in the AMC White Mountain Guide (31st edition), which is considered the hiking bible for the region. It includes detailed driving directions to remote trailheads and is indipensible for navigating to them, especially when you're out of cell tower range. Take photos of the pages you need using your phone for easy reference, instead of carrying the entire book with you on hikes.Navigation Apps
I also recommend purchasing a GPS Phone App such as Far Out's White Mountain National Forest Guide, which though incomplete, lists many of the more popular trails, trailheads, shelters, campsites, views, and water sources referred to in this guidebook. GaiaGPS is another GPS Phone App, which is stronger in terms of topographic map coverage for the White Mountains but does not have as much information about trailheads, shelters, campsites, views, and water sources. It is partially based on user contributed information which may reference unofficial paths and is best used for position checks in the field: I wouldn't rely on it exclusively, and would always double check it's veracity with a paper map published by the Appalachian Mountain Club or Nationl Geographic.Trail Sequence
The route follows the following trails in sequence.
- Rocky Branch Trail (West) – 3.7 miles
- Isolation Trail (North) – 2.6 miles
- Davis Path (South) – 0.9
- Davis Path (North) – 0.9
- Isolation Trail (South) – 2.6 miles
- Rocky Branch Trail (East) – 3.7 miles
Scenic Highlights
The following list provides cumulate distances on the route to each view or landmark
- Rocky Branch River – 3.7 miles
- Mt Isolation – 7.2 miles
Camping Shelter Options
There are three designated USFS tent sites along the route, as marked on the attached map above. All are free. None of them have bear boxes, so you should be prepared to hang a bear bag, use an Ursack, or carry a bear canister to store your food and smellables at night.
There are also numerous pre-existing campsites along this route if the designated camping areas are full. Try to camp out of sight of the trail and be sure to leave no trace. This entire area is ideal for hammock camping as an alternative to carrying a tent.
Water
Natural water sources are plentiful in the White Mountains although you may need to descend to them from ridgelines along side trails if you run short. In any case, carry a detailed topographic map with you and don’t rely on the overview map provided with this trip description to find water sources.
Weather Cautions
This route is sensitive to seasonal and weather conditions which can make it hazardous. There are five water crossings of the Rocky Branch River on this route which may become difficult to cross in high water. The best way to avoid high water levels is to check the weather and postpone your hike if heavy precipitation is forecast during or a few days before your hike. Be sure to check the Weather.gov and Mt Washington Observatory Higher Summits forecasts before your hike.
On the Trail
After parking at the trailhead, begin hiking up the Rocky Branch Trail, which leaves from the north end of the lot, passing the trailhead kiosk. This trail climbs 1950 feet of elevation in the next 2.8 miles, which is pretty tame by White Mountain standards but can be challenging if you have a heavy pack. It is the only significant climb on this route, as the rest of the route is quite gradual.
There are two cross-country ski trails, blazed with blue diamonds that intersect the trail at 0.5 miles (on the left) and 0.7 miles (on the right) from the trailhead. Pass by them both and continue straight up the Rocky Branch Trail through a lush open forest.
At mile 2.3, you’ll pass a sign marking the Presidential Range-Dry River Wilderness boundary, finally reaching the top of the initial climb at mile 2.8. The trail continues on a level grade through a muddy area, before descending gradually to the Rocky Branch River at mile 3.7. The lower section of this descent is often wet and some rock hopping may be required to avoid water flowing between the rocks underfoot. It’s called the Rocky Branch Trail for a reason!
There is a short path on trail-left leading to a tent site just before the first stream crossing, which is marked as the Rocky Branch Shelter #2 on old maps. The shelter has been removed. Cross the stream and climb up the far bank (the stream is only about 30 feet wide) and look for the sign below, turning right to follow the Isolation trail.
The trail follows an old logging road, coming to a second stream crossing in 0.4 miles which is much easier than the previous one. Cross the stream and turn left on the other bank. The trail runs alongside the Rocky River which narrows to a tiny stream, proving plenty of opportunities for a quick soak, as you continue north.
When the trail begins heading northwest, you’ll pass by two designated campsites. The first of these has easy access to water, while the second is northwest of a reliable stream that crosses the trail. There are also numerous pre-existing (bootleg) campsites along this stretch, although the two designated sites are much nicer, drier, and worth camping at if there’s space.
The trail becomes increasingly wet and rocky as it continues north, traveling through a stand of fallen timber through which a path has been cut. This entire area has experienced significant damage from multiple hurricanes and microbursts in the past decade, making the route all that more interesting to hike through.
When you reach the Davis Path junction turn left (south) and follow the trail 0.9 miles to the Mt Isolation spur trail, which is clearly signed and climbs a short distance to the open summit.
The summit of Mt Isolation is open rock ledge with wide-ranging views. The biggest mountain on the horizon is the rocky cone of Mt Washington and below it, is the yawning chasm of Oakes Gulf, a deep glacial valley at the head of the Dry River. Mt Monroe is visible to Washington’s immediate left. Boott Spur is to its right, a 5000+ foot subsidiary summit of Washington, located atop the southern wall of Tuckerman Ravine. North Isolation, is just a short distance away, also off the Davis Path. Camping on open summits or above treeline is not permitted in the White Mountain National Forest in order to preserve the fragile alpine vegetation that lives in these alpine areas.
To return the way you came, descend the spur path that climbs to the Isolation and turn left when you reach the Davis Path, retracing your route back along the Isolation Trail and the Rocky Branch Trail to the trailhead on Rt 16.
About the author
Safety Disclaimer
This trip plan can not alert you to every hazard, anticipate your experience, or limitations. Therefore, the descriptions of roads, trails, routes, shelters, tent sites, and natural features in this trip plan are not representations that a particular place or excursion will be safe for you or members of your party. When you follow any of the routes described on sectionhiker.com, you assume responsibility for your own safety. Under normal conditions, such excursions require the usual attention to traffic, road and trail conditions, weather, terrain, the capabilities of your party, and other factors. Always check for current conditions, obey posted signs, and Backcountry Camping and Wilderness Area Regulations. Hike Safe and follow the Hiker responsibility code.Click for More Free 4000 Footer Backpacking Trip Plans
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Timely information. Looking at doing the loop from South Rocky Branch. Not sure if I’d do clockwise or counter-clockwise but good to know those tentsites at the Northern end of the loop are good options to stay at!
I backpacked this route the first weekend of August 2025, and to help others in the near future, it’s worth mentioning a few updates on camp sites.
There are now USFS-designated tent sites on both banks near the first crossing of the Rocky Branch. The first site on the east bank is where the trail turns to descend the bank before the crossing. There are a couple more sites nearby if you continue along the spur headed downstream on that side. On the west bank, the “tent” sign for the spur to the designed site is just a few yards south of the junction of the Rocky Branch and Isolation trails: while standing at junction trail sign, look left. The spur switchbacks up the hill then levels off in an area with several level spots for tents.
Traveling north from this junction, the next designated site is between the 3rd and 4th crossings of the Rocky Branch. From the “tent” sign, the spur makes a gentle climb to a mostly level area with spots for at least a couple of tents.
The next designed site is just before the Isolation Trail makes a sharp turn to the north toward its nearby junction with Davis Path. On the spur you’ll pass a couple of small level spots that are signed “REFORESTATION AREA”. The actual designed site is just over the small knob. There were three tents pitched on a nice weekend day when I came through, and perhaps space for another small tent or two. I was not successful in locating the “reliable stream that crosses the trail” before one reaches the spur to this site. The water in the “wet and rocky section” was standing, and I didn’t find any running water along the drier stretch before the spur to the designated camp site.
On the hike out, I shared the trail a couple of miles with a pair of friendly rangers on patrol. From them, I learned tha the new designated site near the Rocky Branch and Isolation junction was established to offer an alternative to the impacted sites less than 200 ft from the trail. The SSFS periodically checks on the designated sites and the impacted (non-designed) sites. Rangers are attempting to encourage use of the designated sites by clearing hazards such as snags, and discourage use of impacted sites that are within 200 ft from the trail (i.e. within the Forest Protection Area that lines the trails) by piling up brush in those spots.
I also inquired about USFS policy and possible plans for the degraded bog bridges on Davis Path between the Isolation Trail junction and the Isolation summit spur. Because it is a trail that sees significant traffic, the Forest Service has studied a range of options. It is very difficult for them to obtain permission to fly material into the designated wilderness in order to rebuild the bridges, especially when the bridges would only have a projected lifespan of 7 years. Reroutes have been scouted in consultation with hydrologists, geologists, and trail crew leads, but it was determined that any reroute in those areas would likely degrade within a few years to be no better than if nothing was done to improve the current route. Another option may be “corduroy”, which is what they call it when they lay a number of logs in parallel directly in the wet/muddy spots, either across or parallel to the direction of travel; this option has a longer projected lifespan than a traditional bog bridge, but getting materials to the location is still a challenge (I asked whether the damaged/dead trees in the microburst zones nearby could be used, but they weren’t sure).
Guess I have to rehike it soon. You wouldn’t want to take as tab at updating this trip plan would you? I can’t get out there until November at the earliest.