Sanford Alternate Trail
1.62-mile out-and-back trail in Connecticut with 549 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 1.6 mi
- round trip
- 776 ft
- climb
- 613 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Best time to visit Sanford Alternate 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, 3.9 mi away at 180 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Sanford Alternate Trail is an easy hike in Connecticut, about 1.4 miles from the town of Mountaincrest. The trail is an out-and-back route that covers roughly 3.2 miles round trip, with a total climb of about 776 feet. The one-way gain is about 249 feet, so the trail is a short, gentle walk rather than a steep climb. 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 peaks near 85°F and January highs sit around 38°F. The trail is on foot-only. Bikes and horses are not allowed. The Quinnipiac Connector Trail and Quinnipiac Trail both lie about a mile away. Roaring Brook Falls Trail is about 2.1 miles off, and CT Bouldering is about 1.8 miles away.
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