Camp Laurelwood
Campground
Campground · 0.7 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown
Shepherds Trail
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.8 mi
- one way
- 120 ft
- climb
- 325 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Shepherds Trail is a short, easy hike in Connecticut, about 0.8 miles long and rising about 120 feet from a start elevation of 303 feet to a high point of 325 feet. The trail is a point-to-point route, and the steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.05 miles in, with an 8% grade. The nearest town is North Madison, about 1.3 miles away. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mt Carmel show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, with July peaking near 85°F. The trail sits close to other outings. Bailey Trial North and the Hammonasset Reservoir climbing area are each about 0.1 miles away, and Summer Hill Trail is about 0.2 miles off. Paddlers can reach the Hammonasset River, about 2.3 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsJoe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsDavison Art Center
Gallery
In townUniversity art museum in Middletown, Connecticut
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)
More in MiddletownBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Shepherds 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, 15.5 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: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Bailey Trial South
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Photo: versageek, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Power Line Trail
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
