Camp Shalom
Campground
Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown
Brookside Trail
- 1.2 mi
- loop
- 62 ft
- climb
- 172 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Brookside Trail is a short, easy hike in Connecticut, about a mile from the town of Birchwood. The route is roughly 1.2 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 62 feet, and it is rated easy. The trail rises from a low point of about 85 feet to a high of 172 feet, with the steepest stretch coming at about 0.64 miles in, where the grade reaches 6 percent. The total descent is 183 feet, so the trail is not a climb in the traditional sense. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Hartford show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 76°F, with July the warmest month at about 85°F. The hike takes about half an hour, and the Rainbow Reservoir Trail is just 0.4 miles away. Within a few miles you'll also find Ernie's Run for mountain biking, the Michael F. Gragnolati Conservation Trail, and Stony Brook for canoeing.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Mahaney's
Fast food
On your way back · 1 mi
If it rainsDaderot, Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsA. Everett Austin House
Museum
On your way back · 8 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Daderot, Public domain (commons)
More in MiddletownBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Brookside 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.
Jan
35° / 19°
11 wet
Feb
39° / 21°
10 wet
Mar
47° / 28°
11 wet
Apr
60° / 38°
12 wet
May
72° / 48°
12 wet
Jun
80° / 58°
12 wet
Jul
85° / 63°
11 wet
Aug
83° / 62°
10 wet
Sep
76° / 54°
9 wet
Oct
64° / 42°
10 wet
Nov
51° / 33°
10 wet
Dec
41° / 25°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Hartford Bradley Intl Ap, CT, 2.6 mi away at 190 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
