Barnum Loop
- 0.6 mi
- loop
- 160 ft
- climb
- 959 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- Apr, Jul–Oct
- best months
Barnum Loop is a short, easy hike in Connecticut, about 0.8 miles from the town of East Kent. The route is 0.6 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 160 feet, and it is rated easy. The loop starts at about 943 feet and reaches a high point of 959 feet before returning to a lower point of 780 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.42 miles into the hike, with a grade of 16 percent. The whole trip takes about half an hour. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Falls Village show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 75°F, with July the warmest month at about 85°F. That station sits roughly 400 feet lower than the loop, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. Nearby, the Waramaug Trail and Meeker Trail are both about 3.7 miles away, and the Lower Ledges climbing area is about 3.7 miles off. Caleb's Peak Trail is about 4.2 miles away.
Best time to go · Apr, Jul–Oct
Best time to visit Barnum Loop
Best months: April and July–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.
Jan
35° / 14°
10 wet
Feb
38° / 15°
9 wet
Mar
47° / 23°
11 wet
Apr
60° / 33°
12 wet
May
72° / 44°
13 wet
Jun
80° / 53°
13 wet
Jul
85° / 58°
12 wet
Aug
82° / 57°
11 wet
Sep
75° / 49°
10 wet
Oct
63° / 38°
11 wet
Nov
51° / 29°
11 wet
Dec
40° / 20°
12 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Falls Village, CT, 15.7 mi away at 550 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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