YMCA Camp Mountain Laurel
Campground
Campground · 5.9 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown
Purple Trail
Photo: katerina_simons, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.1 mi
- one way
- 161 ft
- climb
- 566 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
The Purple Trail is a short, easy hike in Connecticut, about a mile long and rising roughly 160 feet from its starting point. It is a point-to-point route, and the climb is gentle enough to fit into a longer outing in the area. The nearest town is Paynes Corners, about 1.8 miles away. The trail starts at an elevation of about 490 feet and reaches a high point of about 566 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.6 miles in, with a grade of about 41 percent. The route also has a total descent of about 296 feet, so it works well as part of a loop with other trails nearby. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Mt Carmel show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, while July averages about 85°F. Several other trails and climbing areas sit within a short distance. The NEMBA Trail and North Summit Trail are each about 0.3 miles away, and Kyle's Slabs is a climbing area about 0.3 miles off. West Rock Park Road is about 0.6 miles away.
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 Purple 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, 4.4 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)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)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: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)North Summit Trail
Next door
0.78-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 252 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: katerina_simons, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)West Rock Park Road
~1 min drive
0.43-mile out-and-back trail in West Rock Park, Connecticut
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Blue-Yellow Trail
~2 min drive
1.87-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 200 ft gain.
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
~4 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
