Shinar Trail
- 0.9 mi
- one way
- 457 ft
- climb
- 774 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr, Jun–Oct
- best months
Shinar Trail is a short hike in Connecticut, about 1.8 miles from the town of Washington. It is a point-to-point route of roughly 0.9 miles, with an elevation gain of 457 feet. The trail is rated easy. The climb is back-loaded, with the steepest stretch near the end at about 14%, and the trail ends at a high point of 774 feet. The start is at a similar elevation of 772 feet, so the trail is nearly level at the beginning before the climb kicks in. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Danbury, which sits about 369 feet lower, show May highs around 72°F and September highs around 75°F. That station runs warmer than the trail's summit. Steep Rock Loop is just 0.1 mile away, and Clamshell Loop, Pinney Loop and Brinsmade Loop are all within about half a mile.
Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct
Best time to visit Shinar 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.
Jan
36° / 21°
12 wet · 8 snow
Feb
39° / 22°
11 wet · 6 snow
Mar
48° / 29°
13 wet · 5 snow
Apr
61° / 39°
12 wet · 1 snow
May
72° / 49°
13 wet
Jun
80° / 59°
12 wet
Jul
85° / 64°
11 wet
Aug
82° / 63°
10 wet
Sep
75° / 55°
9 wet
Oct
62° / 43°
10 wet
Nov
50° / 34°
10 wet · 2 snow
Dec
40° / 26°
12 wet · 5 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Danbury, CT, 15.3 mi away at 405 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Pedro Xing, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Clamshell Loop
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Photo: Pedro Xing, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Brinsmade Loop
~1 min drive
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Route details
- Distance
- 0.9 mi
- Climbing
- About 457 ft
- Summit
- 774 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 0.5 hours
Other routes up Steep Rock
Questions about this route
How long is the Shinar Trail on Steep Rock?
About 0.9 mi.
How much elevation gain is on the Shinar Trail?
About 457 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Shinar Trail?
It is rated easy.
How long does the Shinar Trail take?
About 0.5 hours round trip.
How many routes go up Steep Rock?
2: Shinar Trail and Steep Rock Loop.
Conditions and forecast on Steep Rock
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
