The Israel River (also called "Israel's River") in the White Mountains arises in Jefferson Notch, in Low and Burbank's Grant, New Hampshire, running 24 miles (38 km), generally northwest along U.S. Highway 2, traversing the towns of Jefferson and Lancaster, New Hampshire before joining the Connecticut River. It is named for an early hunter and trapper and surveyor of the area, Israel Glines. Another nearby river, the Johns River, is named for Israel's brother John. Johns River runs through the town of Whitefield.

The Israel River drains the northwestern slopes of Mt. Jefferson (the so-called "South Branch"), northern slopes of the Dartmouth Range and the southern slopes of the Pliny Range, through several tributaries. Among the larger contributors are: The Mystic on Mount Adams in Randolph, New Hampshire, Castle Brook, Stag Hollow Brook, Stanley Brook, Priscilla Brook, Alder Brook (also called Crawford Brook), Red Brook, Mill Brook, Garland Brook (which still turns a working saw mill) and Otter Brook.

Major highway bridges over the river include New Hampshire Route 115, U.S. Highway 2 and New Hampshire Route 115A in Jefferson, and U.S. Highway 3 on Main Street in Lancaster. A number of smaller bridges are provided for snowmobile trails, and there is an old covered bridge on Mechanic Street in Lancaster (closed in 2004 for major repairs).

References

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Julyan, Robert and Mary (1993). Place Names of the White Mountains (revised ed.). Hanover: University Press of New Hampshire. p. 77. ISBN 0-87451-638-2.

USDA Forest Service (1993). White Mountain National Forest (Map).

Museum of Science, Boston (Rev. 6/98). Mount Washington and the Heart of The Presidential Range (Map, 3d Ed). Boston: Globe Pequot Press, Inc. ISBN 0-910146-96-9. ("Israel's River").

Rivers of New Hampshire