Mount Hale via Hale Brook Trail
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Mount Hale Hike Overview
Mount Hale (4,055’) is one of the shortest 4,000 footers and is considered one of the easiest 4,000-footer hikes! This is a perfect beginner 4,000 footer even though there is no view at the summit.
Trail Details
Trail: Hale Brook Trail
Length: 4.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,250 feet
My Trail Time: 2 hours hiking; 2:30 hours total
Hike Overview
Hale Brook Trail is the most popular trail to Mount Hale, and it is a short and sweet hike. It gains about 2,200 feet of elevation, which is evenly distributed throughout along the entire trail. The summit does not have any views, making it the perfect hike to save for a moody day!
Mount Hale Hike via Hale Brook Trail Guide
August 25, 2019
**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.
Alex and I needed to do a short and quick hike, so we chose Mount Hale! We began our hike on a beautiful Saturday at 8:00 AM. It was a humid morning, but also chilly which was a great combination. As soon as we began on Hale Brook Trail, we began climbing! We knew this would be a consistent climb to Mount Hale’s summit, so we were mentally prepared.
Hale Brook Trail was pretty uneventful with a couple of small stream crossings, but it went by VERY quickly. It was a relentless climb to Mount Hale’s summit, but knowing it was only a short hike helped! Hale Brook Trail was filled with roots and rocks but none were loose. Our footing was steady through the entire ascent, so I would say this would be a great hike to accomplish on a rainy day.
Before we knew it, we arrived on Mount Hale’s summit at 9:00 AM! We aren’t ones to rush a hike and tend to take our time because we aren’t hiking for time, so we were shocked when we arrived at the summit so quickly! Mount Hale’s summit was wooded with a clearing and rock cairn in the middle, so it was easy to tell when we made it.
We had Mount Hale’s summit to ourselves which was very peaceful. Hale Brook Trail was overall very quiet because most people won’t hike to a summit with no views unless they are working on the 4,000-footer list, so we loved it! There were times we would stop hiking just to listen and heard… NOTHING. It was amazing!
If we were feeling adventurous, we could have hiked over to Zealand Mount which was 5.6 miles from Mount Hale’s summit, hike down another 5.6 to Zealand Road, and walk a short distance back to the car, but we were all set lol!
We enjoyed a quick snack on Mount Hale’s summit before we began our hike down Hale Brook Trail at 9:30 AM. We FLEW down the trail because the descent was a lot easier than the ascent. The entire descent was a blur lol! Before we knew it, we arrived at the car at 10:30 AM! We have never hiked a mountain so quick, but it was exactly what we needed: quick and short.
I would highly recommend the hike to Mount Hale as a beginner 4,000-footer hike. Even though it has no views, it is a great introduction to the wonderful 48 4,000-footer journey!
Have you hiked Mount Hale? Do you agree it is one of the easiest 4,000 footers?
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!