Camp Laurelwood
Campground
Campground · 3.0 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown
Purple Trail
Photo: versageek, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 0.3 mi
- one way
- 24 ft
- climb
- 154 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr, Jun–Oct
- best months
The Purple Trail is a short, easy hike in Connecticut, about 0.34 miles long and rising just 24 feet from its low point of 118 feet to a high of 154 feet. It is a point-to-point route, and the climb is flat, with the steepest stretch at about 0.09 miles in, where the grade reaches 4 percent. The nearest town is Podunk, about 0.8 miles away. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in New Haven show May highs around 68°F and September highs around 75°F, with July the warmest month at about 82°F. The trail sits close to several other routes. The Blue Trail is about 0.2 miles away and the White Trail about 0.3 miles. The Power Line Trail is about 0.4 miles off. For climbing, Hammonasset Reservoir is about 3.5 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsVersageek, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThomas Griswold House
Museum
Museum · 2.8 mi from Middletown
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Versageek, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)
More in MiddletownBest time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct
Best time to visit Purple Trail
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
38° / 23°
10 wet
Feb
40° / 24°
8 wet
Mar
47° / 30°
10 wet
Apr
58° / 39°
11 wet
May
68° / 49°
13 wet
Jun
76° / 59°
11 wet
Jul
82° / 66°
11 wet
Aug
81° / 65°
10 wet
Sep
75° / 57°
9 wet
Oct
64° / 46°
11 wet
Nov
53° / 36°
10 wet
Dec
44° / 29°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at New Haven Tweed Ap, CT, 12.2 mi away at 3 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: versageek, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Blue Trail
Next door
0.67-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 85 ft gain.
Photo: versageek, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)New England National Scenic Trail
~7 min drive
112.68-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 15,921 ft gain
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)White Trail
~8 min drive
6.07-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 853 ft gain.
Photo: versageek, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)White Trail
Next door
A short point-to-point Connecticut trail perfect for a quick woodland walk.
Photo: versageek, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Power Line Trail
Next door
0.88-mile point-to-point hike in Connecticut with 169 ft gain
Photo: Kristof Zyskowski & Yulia Bereshpolova, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Bear House Hill Road Trail
~2 min drive
A 2.11-mile point-to-point woodland trail in Connecticut.
Photo: versageek, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Blue Trail
~2 min drive
A short point-to-point Connecticut trail perfect for a quick hike.
Photo: versageek, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Ann Connover Nature Trail
~3 min drive
0.92-mile loop trail in Connecticut with 280 ft elevation gain.
Photo: versageek, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Yellow Trail
~4 min drive
0.67-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 202 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Bailey Trial South
~5 min drive
A 2-mile point-to-point Connecticut trail perfect for a quick outdoor walk.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
