Group Campsite
Campground
Campground · 1.7 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown
North Slope
Photo: bellemarematt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 0.4 mi
- one way
- 280 ft
- climb
- 583 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr, Jun–Oct
- best months
North Slope is a short, easy hike in Connecticut, about 0.44 miles long and rising 280 feet from a low point of 288 feet to a high of 583 feet. The route is a point-to-point trail, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.25 miles in, with a 16% grade. The nearest town is Beaver Head Corner, about 2.6 miles away. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Meriden run to highs around 70°F in May and 75°F in September, and the station sits about 480 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the slope run cooler. The hike takes about half an hour. Cooks Lane Trail is just 0.2 miles away, and the Mattabesett Trail and Lone Pine Trail are each about 0.8 miles off. Paddlers can reach the Coginchaug River about 3.2 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Hard Hat Tavern
Pub
On your way back · 3 mi
If it rainsJoe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsDavison Art Center
Gallery
In townUniversity art museum in Middletown, Connecticut
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)
More in MiddletownBest time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct
Best time to visit North Slope
Best months: April and June–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
37° / 19°
10 wet
Feb
39° / 20°
9 wet
Mar
47° / 28°
10 wet
Apr
60° / 38°
11 wet
May
70° / 48°
13 wet
Jun
79° / 57°
12 wet
Jul
84° / 63°
12 wet
Aug
82° / 61°
12 wet
Sep
75° / 54°
11 wet
Oct
64° / 42°
12 wet
Nov
52° / 32°
10 wet
Dec
42° / 24°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Meriden Markham Muni Ap, CT, 8.8 mi away at 103 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: bellemarematt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Cooks Lane Trail
Next door
0.69-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 28 ft gain.
HIKE
Mattabesett Trail
~1 min drive
59.16-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 4,516 ft elevation gain.
Photo: bellemarematt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Bridal Loop
~2 min drive
Bridal Loop is a 0.79-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 80 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: bellemarematt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Coginchaug Cave Trail
~6 min drive
1.23-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 165 ft gain and 241 ft loss.
HIKE
Lone Pine Trail
~1 min drive
4.14-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 830 ft gain.
HIKE
Etzel Trail
~2 min drive
Quick point-to-point woodland walk in Connecticut.
HIKE
Grandma Hall Trail
~3 min drive
Grandma Hall Trail is a 1.05-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut.
HIKE
Selectmen's Path
~3 min drive
Easy 1.21-mile point-to-point woodland walk in Connecticut.
HIKE
Houston Trail
~3 min drive
A short point-to-point trail in Connecticut perfect for a quick hike.
HIKE
Maria Schmidt Trail
~3 min drive
Short point-to-point woodland trail in Connecticut.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
