Connecticut · Hiking

East Summit Trail

East Summit TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
1.6 mi
one way
345 ft
climb
1,616 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Jul–Oct
best months

East Summit Trail is a 1.6-mile point-to-point hike in Connecticut, about 1.5 miles from the town of Grantville. The trail rises about 345 feet, from a start elevation of 1,414 feet to a high point of 1,616 feet, and is rated easy, so it makes a straightforward outing for a short climb into the hills. The route reaches its steepest stretch at about 0.9 miles in, where the grade reaches 16%. The climb is short enough to fit into a half day, and the trail ends at the high point, making it an easy choice for a quick trip to the top. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 78°F and September highs near 69°F, with snow common from December through March. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the summit run a little cooler. Pine Mountain Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and Billings Trail: Tait Section is about 0.8 mile off. Botelle Nature Trail and Crissey Trail are both within a few miles, so it's easy to string a longer hike together.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Oct

    Best time to visit East Summit Trail

    Best months: 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.

    1. Jan

      30° / 14°

      13 wet · 9 snow

    2. Feb

      32° / 15°

      12 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      40° / 23°

      13 wet · 7 snow

    4. Apr

      54° / 34°

      13 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      65° / 45°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      73° / 55°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 59°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      76° / 58°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 51°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 40°

      12 wet

    11. Nov

      45° / 30°

      12 wet · 3 snow

    12. Dec

      35° / 21°

      14 wet · 7 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Norfolk 2 Sw, CT, 2.2 mi away at 1,340 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Botelle Nature TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Botelle Nature Trail

~3 min drive

2.88-mile out-and-back hike in Connecticut with 586 ft elevation gain

Robert Ross TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Robert Ross Trail

~17 min drive

1.85-mile out-and-back hike in Connecticut with 1,099 ft gain.

Overlook TrailPhoto: feelsgoodlost, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Overlook Trail

~4 min drive

1.03-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 225 ft gain

HIKE

Norbrook Woods Roads

~5 min drive

Moderate 7.59-mile point-to-point woodland trail through Connecticut forests.

Crissey TrailPhoto: feelsgoodlost, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crissey Trail

~4 min drive

2.16-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 394 ft gain

HIKE

Norbrook Bike Trails

~6 min drive

8-mile point-to-point bike trail through Connecticut woodland.

Tamarack TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tamarack Trail

~4 min drive

0.46-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 82 ft gain.

HIKE

Number 4 Trail

~8 min drive

8.0-mile out-and-back trail in Connecticut with 1,347 ft gain and 1,615 ft max elevation.

Charcoal Pit TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Charcoal Pit Trail

~4 min drive

Charcoal Pit Trail is a 1.29-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 77 feet of elevation gain.

HIKE

Jesse Gerard Trail

~16 min drive

1.64-mile out-and-back trail in Connecticut with 887 ft of elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors