Mount Israel NH via Wentworth Trail
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, my blog may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Mount Israel NH Hike Overview
Mount Israel (2,630’) is a beautiful mountain along the Waterville Valley-Sandwich Range in the Southern White Mountains. It has stunning views overlooking the surrounding mountains, landing it on the 52 With a View List.
Trail Details
Trail: Wentworth Trail
Length: 4.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,750 feet
My Trail Time: 2.5 hours hiking; 3 hours total
Hike Overview
The Wentworth Trail is the most popular trail to Mount Isreal, gaining over 1,700 feet of elevation. The climb is steady without many breaks and travels over exposed rock near the summit. But the trail offers views of Squam Lake as it travels to the summit.
Once on the summit of Mount Israel, you get stunning views of the Sandwich Range. Although Mount Israel does not have 360-degree views, the mountain views do not disappoint on a clear day. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow, and it is a fun hike year-round!
Also, I highly recommend driving to the trailhead via NH-113 because many other roads close in the winter.
Looking to track your hikes while completing the 52 With a View List?
Whether you're chasing stunning summit views or documenting your adventures, this journal helps you track essential hike details, jot down memories, and reflect on your journey!
Each journal includes:
- individual pages for each mountain
- space to log stats about the hike
- sections to journal about your favorite moments
- completion tracker to celebrate your progress
- and fun extras like Hiking Bingo!
Mount Israel NH via Wentworth Trail Guide
December 10, 2022
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Mount Israel has been on my bucket list for quite some time, so I was so excited to hike it on a beautiful December day! We arrived at the trailhead later than usual, at 10:30 AM, because we wanted to avoid the freezing temperatures in the morning. The parking lot was almost full, and we grabbed one of the last spots!
The Wentworth Trail began at the Mead Base Conversation Center and wandered into the forest behind it. The trailhead had plenty of signage, so we knew which trail to take to get to Mount Israel.
The first half-mile was a steady climb, gaining almost 1,000 feet of elevation, and the trail passed over several small streams. None of the crossings caused any issues even with the water levels higher than normal, and we were able to easily rock hop our way across.
The second mile continued to be a steady climb to the summit with a few switchbacks along the way. Because the trees were bare, we had a sneak peek of the views along pretty much the entire trail.
We were also excited the trail was relatively snow and ice free at the beginning, but the second mile had a lot of ice. At first we managed to go around the ice patches, but soon enough they became unavoidable. Nothing our microspikes could not handle though!
At about 1.5 miles into the hike, we were rewarded with a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Squam Lake! The viewpoint was a short side trail and worth the quick break to enjoy the views.
As we approached the summit of Mount Israel, the trail flattened out and offered some beautiful views. We took our time here because we were enjoying the views!
Soon enough, we arrived at Mount Israel and quickly realized why the parking lot was full! We met a wonderful group of hikers hiking together for the day. They were so kind, and it was great to talk with them for a bit.
We had a bluebird day and could see all the beautiful mountains in the Sandwich Range near Mount Israel! I knew this was going to become one of my favorite hikes in the 52 With a View List.
The summit was much windier, making it very chilly, so we only stayed for a little bit before beginning our descent.
The descent was quick and easy! The ice patches are always a bit more sketchy descending, but our microspikes did their job well. And before we knew it, we were back at the Mead Base Conversation Center!
I really liked hiking to Mount Israel! The trail was the perfect amount of difficulty and had gorgeous views.
Have you hiked Mount Israel, or is it on your bucket list?
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!