Rock Hopper Way
Photo: oinonio, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 0.3 mi
- round trip
- 244 ft
- climb
- 96 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Rock Hopper Way is a short, easy out-and-back hike in Connecticut, about 0.4 miles from the town of South Lyme. The trail is 0.66 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 244 feet, and it starts and ends at roughly 36 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.05 miles in, where the grade reaches 10 percent. The route is rated easy, and it works well as a quick stop. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 80°F with lows near 65°F, while winter highs stay in the upper 30s. Rocky Neck, a climbing area, sits about 0.7 miles away. The Green Trail, White Trail and Blue Trail are each about 1.2 miles off.
- Rocky NeckRock climbing0.7 mi
- Green TrailHiking1.2 mi
- White TrailHikingPhoto: oinonio, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)1.2 mi
- Blue TrailHikingPhoto: oinonio, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)1.2 mi
- Orange TrailHiking2.8 mi
- Oswegatchie HillsRock climbing3.5 mi
Balancing RockRock climbingPhoto: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)6 mi- Keeny Road BouldersRock climbingPhoto: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)6 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- White TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: oinonio, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Moore TrailHiking · ~14 min drivePhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Richard H. Goodwin TrailHiking · ~12 min drive
- Blue TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: oinonio, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Niantic BoardwalkHiking · ~5 min drivePhoto: jjbers, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Yellow TrailHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: oinonio, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Balanced Rock TrailHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Orange TrailHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Casey's TrailHiking · ~20 min drivePhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Witch Hazel TrailHiking · ~21 min drivePhoto: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Best time to visit Rock Hopper Way
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° / 23°
9 wet
Feb
40° / 25°
8 wet
Mar
47° / 31°
9 wet
Apr
56° / 39°
10 wet
May
65° / 49°
12 wet
Jun
74° / 58°
11 wet
Jul
80° / 65°
10 wet
Aug
79° / 64°
10 wet
Sep
74° / 57°
9 wet
Oct
63° / 46°
9 wet
Nov
53° / 37°
9 wet
Dec
44° / 29°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Groton New London Ap, CT, 10.6 mi away at 10 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
