Connecticut · Hiking

Atkinson Blue Trail

1.6 mi
loop
120 ft
climb
294 ft
high point
Loop
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Atkinson Blue Trail is an easy hike of about 1.6 miles in Connecticut, roughly 2 miles from Gales Ferry. The trail rises from about 190 feet to about 294 feet, with a total gain of 120 feet, and the steepest stretch comes early on at around 8% grade. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Groton run from highs near 66°F in May to about 74°F in September, while winter brings highs in the upper 30s and a few snow days a month. The hike takes about half an hour. The Atkinson Red Trail is just 0.2 miles away, and the Lester Blue Trail and Atkinson Yellow Trail are each about 0.3 miles off. Climbers can find Ghost Face and Grave Yard about 1.3 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Atkinson Blue Trail

    Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      39° / 24°

      11 wet · 3 snow

    2. Feb

      41° / 25°

      10 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      47° / 32°

      12 wet · 2 snow

    4. Apr

      57° / 41°

      12 wet

    5. May

      66° / 50°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 59°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 66°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      80° / 65°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 58°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 47°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 38°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      44° / 30°

      12 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Groton, CT, 4.7 mi away at 40 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Tri Town Orange TrailPhoto: terryballard, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tri Town Orange Trail

~6 min drive

2.32-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 433 ft gain.

HIKE

Pequot Trail

~7 min drive

8.57-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 989 ft gain

HIKE

Richard H. Goodwin Trail

~19 min drive

A 12.5-mile point-to-point Connecticut trail through woodland terrain.

Poquetanuck White TrailPhoto: terryballard, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Poquetanuck White Trail

~7 min drive

1.34-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 370 ft gain

Tri Town Yellow TrailPhoto: terryballard, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Tri Town Yellow Trail

~8 min drive

0.71-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 86 ft elevation gain

Groton X-Town TrailPhoto: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Groton X-Town Trail

~10 min drive

2.62-mile out-and-back trail in Connecticut with 366 ft elevation gain/loss.

Niantic BoardwalkPhoto: jjbers, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Niantic Boardwalk

~18 min drive

2.0-mile out-and-back boardwalk trail in Connecticut with 156 ft elevation gain

Narragansett TrailPhoto: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Narragansett Trail

~19 min drive

0.77-mile out-and-back trail in Connecticut with 96 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Atkinson Red Trail

Next door

Quick point-to-point woodland walk in Connecticut.

HIKE

Lester Blue Trail

Next door

A 2.55-mile point-to-point Connecticut woodland trail through mixed forest.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors