Connecticut · Hiking

Refuge Trail

Refuge TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.3 mi
one way
135 ft
climb
479 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr, Jun–Oct
best months

Refuge Trail is a short, easy hike in Connecticut, about a third of a mile long and rising about 135 feet from its starting point. It is a point-to-point route, with the high point at 479 feet and the low at 389 feet, and the climb is steady rather than steep, with the steepest stretch at about 0.24 miles in. The nearest town is West Granby, about 1.2 miles away. The trail is open to horses, and bikes are not allowed. The trip takes about half an hour, so it works well as a quick outing or a link between other trails in the area. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Barkhamsted show May highs around 70°F and September highs around 75°F, with July the warmest month at about 84°F. Several other trails sit close by. Boundary Trail is about 0.2 miles away, Holcomb Connector Trail about 0.3 miles, and Laurel Loop Trail about 0.4 miles. Climbers can find Diamond Ledge Bouldering roughly a mile off.

  • Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Refuge 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.

    1. Jan

      34° / 14°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 15°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 24°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      59° / 35°

      11 wet

    5. May

      70° / 45°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      79° / 55°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 60°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 58°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 51°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 40°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      50° / 30°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      39° / 21°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Barkhamsted, CT, 7.2 mi away at 710 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Holcomb Connector TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Holcomb Connector Trail

Next door

0.30-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 227 ft gain.

Laurel Loop TrailPhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Laurel Loop Trail

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A short point-to-point woodland walk through Connecticut forest.

Meadow TrailPhoto: dddaag, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Meadow Trail

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Easy point-to-point meadow walk through Connecticut grasslands.

Summit TrailPhoto: dddaag, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Summit Trail

~2 min drive

0.31-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 100 ft gain.

Werbitzkas Loop TrailPhoto: dddaag, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Werbitzkas Loop Trail

~2 min drive

0.75-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 194 ft gain.

Creek TrailPhoto: dddaag, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Creek Trail

~2 min drive

0.32-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 85 ft of elevation gain.

North TrailPhoto: dddaag, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

North Trail

~2 min drive

North Trail is a 3.54-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut.

Spring Pond TrailPhoto: dddaag, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Spring Pond Trail

~2 min drive

0.42-mile point-to-point trail with 127 ft gain in Connecticut

Pine Cone TrailPhoto: pedrik, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Pine Cone Trail

~3 min drive

1.23-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 465 ft gain

Eddy TrailPhoto: ianml, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Eddy Trail

~4 min drive

2.77-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 582 ft gain

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors