YMCA Camp Mountain Laurel
Campground
Campground · 5.5 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown
North Summit Trail
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.8 mi
- one way
- 391 ft
- climb
- 546 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
North Summit Trail is a short, point-to-point hike in Connecticut, about 0.8 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 391 feet from a low point of 139 feet to a high of 546 feet. The nearest town is Paynes Corners, about 1.7 miles away. The trail is a compact climb, and the steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.12 miles in, with a grade of 22 percent. The total descent is 639 feet, so the route works well as a short outing rather than a full-day hike. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Carmel show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, with July the warmest month at about 85°F. The trail sits close to several other routes and climbing areas. The Purple Trail is about 0.3 miles away, the NEMBA Trail about 0.5 miles, and Kyle's Slabs and God's Country are both within a mile.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsROY KLOTZ M.D., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: ROY KLOTZ M.D., CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)
More in MiddletownBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit North Summit 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, 4.2 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: katerina_simons, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Purple Trail
Next door
1.05-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 206 ft gain.
Photo: ethan.long, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Regicides Trail
~4 min drive
Historic 6.85-mile point-to-point trail through Connecticut woodland.
Photo: ethan.long, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)West Rock Park Trail
~5 min drive
16.15-mile out-and-back hike in Connecticut with 1,327 ft gain.
Photo: katerina_simons, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)NEMBA Trail
Next door
1.59-mile out-and-back trail in Connecticut with 141 ft gain.
Photo: ethan.long, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)West Rock Trail
~4 min drive
6.45-mile out-and-back hike in Connecticut with 721 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Blue-Yellow Trail
~1 min drive
1.87-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 200 ft gain.
Photo: katerina_simons, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)West Rock Park Road
~2 min drive
0.43-mile out-and-back trail in West Rock Park, Connecticut
Photo: ethan.long, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Unblazed
~2 min drive
0.98-mile out-and-back trail in Connecticut with 173 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Cabin Trail
~3 min drive
Cabin Trail is a 0.38-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut.
Photo: olekinderhook, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Old Oak Nature Trail Loop
~4 min drive
Short point-to-point nature trail through Connecticut woodland.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
