Mount Hale - 4,054'
Hike Statistics
Total Distance: 4.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,250 feet
Hiking Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Season: Summer
Hiking this peak in winter? Click here!
Hike date: 07/20/2019
Description: Mount Hale’s summit, which used to be bare and had a fire tower, has now been overtaken by growing trees and no longer has any views. There is a huge cairn at the summit. The route described below is a simple in and out that ascends steadily to the summit and makes for a nice and easy hike. Using the below route, you will have the opportunity to hike along Hale Brook and enjoy the large cairn at the summit.
Trails Used: Ascend via Hale Brook Trail to the summit of Mount Hale. Descend by turning around and going back the same way you came.
Trail Summary: This is a very straightforward, quick, and simple hike. The route below is an in-and-out route to the summit of Mount Hale using the Hale Brook Trail. The trailhead is near the end of Zealand Road – you will see a sign and a parking lot on your right. The trail is one of the easiest and most gentle in the White Mountains, offering moderate grades and good footing the entire way. The trail is mostly small rocks and roots, along with dirt/gravel, so it is never too hard on your feet like some trails. We were shocked by how much elevation we gained so quickly since we could not really feel it due to how easy/moderate the trail is. From the parking lot, the trail ascends steadily. At approximately 0.8 miles, you will cross the Hale Brook; this water crossing is easy. The trail continues to climb steadily and crosses the Brook again in another 0.5 miles. We were really thankful for all the water because we did this hike on a very hot and humid day… Splashing cold water on our faces and arms was so refreshing! The trail continues to climb steadily and uses some switchbacks. After another 0.4 miles, you will cross a small brook. From here it is only another 0.5 miles to the summit! The trail begins to offer some restricted views through the trees as you get near the summit (the only views of the day). When you come to the grassy clearing with a HUGE cairn, you’ve reached the summit! To get back to the car after enjoying lunch/snacks, simply turn around and retrace your steps. The descent is very easy going and quick. While Hale has a reputation of being a miserable peak since there are no views, we actually really enjoyed the hike. The trail terrain is very easy and the forest you walk through is really pretty.
The sign on Zealand Road, where the trail starts
Crossing the Hale Brook… These are easy water crossings
Typical terrain and incline on the Hale Brook Trail
More typical terrain on the Hale Brook Trail. Very easy ascent
You can tell how hot it was this day by the sweat on our bodies!
Grass clearing at the summit of Mount Hale; some remains of the old fire tower
The big cairn on Mount Hale… the only highlight of the wooded summit
Alternative routes:
We have not yet done any alternative routes to the summit of Mount Hale. This page will be updated once we have!
Hiking Mount Hale in the winter
This was our first time doing a winter backpacking trip! The first day, we went over Mount Hale and then spent the night at Zealand Falls Hut. The next day, we went over Zealand and the three Bonds (West Bond, Bond, and Bondcliff) and then headed out via Lincoln Woods. Due to their remoteness, Zealand and the three Bonds are almost always done together in a single day or as an overnight trip. These peaks are no joke in the winter given how isolated they are - there are not many bailout options and you are truly on your own!
We have a complete blog post on our experience winter hiking Mount Hale, Zealand Mountain, and the three Bonds, which you can check out by going here!
Questions? Comments? Want to share your take on this hike? Get in touch with us using the contact page!
As experienced hikers, we always make sure that we are hiking with The Ten Essentials which include navigation, a headlamp, sun protection, first aid, a knife, shelter, extra food, water and clothes. Overtime, we have discovered some items that we always bring on our hikes and consider them to be our personal, expanded ten essentials.