YMCA Camp Mountain Laurel
Campground
Campground · 4.2 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown
Gooch Trail
- 0.3 mi
- one way
- 86 ft
- climb
- 592 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Gooch Trail is a short, easy hike in Connecticut, about 1.1 miles from the town of Bethany. The route is 0.31 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 86 feet, and it rises from a low point of about 490 feet to a high of about 592 feet. The climb is back-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 0.21 miles in, where the grade reaches 8 percent. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Carmel show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, while July averages about 85°F and January highs sit near 38°F. That station sits roughly 400 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. The trip takes about half an hour. The trail is a point-to-point route, and horses are not allowed. Several other trails lie within about 1.7 miles, including Woodward Trail and Northrop Road Trail. For climbing, Naugatuck State Forest is about 2.6 miles away, and Hop Brook Lake Recreation Area offers camping about 6.8 miles off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsMConradWard, CC0 · Wikimedia CommonsMeriden Historical Society Museum & History Center
Museum
On your way back · 14 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: MConradWard, CC0 (commons)
More in MiddletownBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Gooch 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
38° / 20°
10 wet
Feb
41° / 22°
9 wet
Mar
48° / 28°
11 wet
Apr
60° / 38°
12 wet
May
71° / 48°
11 wet
Jun
79° / 58°
10 wet
Jul
85° / 64°
10 wet
Aug
84° / 62°
9 wet
Sep
76° / 55°
9 wet
Oct
64° / 43°
9 wet
Nov
52° / 34°
9 wet
Dec
42° / 26°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mt Carmel, CT, 6.1 mi away at 180 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Woodward Trail
~3 min drive
0.81-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 62 ft gain.
Photo: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Naugatuck Trail
~4 min drive
5.25-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 840 ft gain and 1,295 ft loss.
Photo: bellemarematt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Mission 22 Trail
~7 min drive
Challenging 13.79-mile point-to-point trail across Connecticut.
Photo: bellemarematt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Northrop Road Trail
~3 min drive
Northrop Road Trail is a 0.50-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut.
Photo: Aldon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Quinnipiac Trail
~8 min drive
A 19.6-mile point-to-point trail following Connecticut's Quinnipiac River valley.
Photo: bellemarematt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)White Birches Trail
~3 min drive
0.48-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 135 ft gain.
Photo: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Beaver Trail
~3 min drive
0.59-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 154 ft gain.
Photo: bellemarematt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Tibby's Trail
~3 min drive
0.57-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 230 ft gain.
Photo: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Van Epps Trail
~4 min drive
Van Epps Trail is a 0.41-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Cabin Trail
~4 min drive
Cabin Trail is a 0.38-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
