Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown

Steep Climb Trail

0.7 mi
one way
317 ft
climb
860 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Steep Climb Trail is a short, easy hike in Connecticut, about 2.6 miles from the town of East Bristol. The trail is a point-to-point route of roughly 0.7 miles, with a total elevation gain of 317 feet from a starting point at about 549 feet to a high point of 860 feet. The climb is steepest near the 0.4-mile mark, where the grade reaches about 58 percent. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Burlington put May highs around 70°F and September highs around 75°F, with July the warmest month at about 84°F. That station sits about 355 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The hike takes about half an hour. The Steep Climb Connector Trail and the Tunxis Trail both start within about 0.4 miles, and the Compounce Connector Trail is about 0.9 miles away. Paddlers can reach the Quinnipiac River about 2.8 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Bear Creek Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 1.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Beach Bar

    Bar

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Staib, CC BY-SA 3.0 (commons)

More in Middletown
  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Steep Climb 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.

    1. Jan

      36° / 17°

      10 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      39° / 18°

      9 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      47° / 26°

      10 wet · 2 snow

    4. Apr

      59° / 36°

      11 wet

    5. May

      70° / 47°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      78° / 57°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 62°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 60°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 53°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      63° / 41°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      52° / 32°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      41° / 24°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Burlington, CT, 11.3 mi away at 505 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

White TrailPhoto: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

White Trail

~11 min drive

White Trail is a 0.46-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 23 ft of elevation gain.

Hancock Brook TrailPhoto: H. Morrow Long, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hancock Brook Trail

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2.58-mile loop trail in Connecticut with 1,391 ft elevation gain.

Purple TrailPhoto: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Purple Trail

~11 min drive

A short point-to-point trail ideal for quick Connecticut hikes.

HIKE

Tunxis Trail

Next door

A 45-mile point-to-point Connecticut trail through forests and highlands.

Whitestone Cliffs TrailPhoto: H. Morrow Long, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Whitestone Cliffs Trail

~11 min drive

1.36-mile loop with 372 ft elevation gain in Connecticut

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Blue-Yellow Trail

~12 min drive

8.78-mile point-to-point Connecticut trail through woodland terrain.

Yellow TrailPhoto: ragesoss, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Yellow Trail

~11 min drive

Quick point-to-point Connecticut trail under half a mile.

Nature CenterPhoto: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Nature Center

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2.52-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 489 ft gain and 526 ft loss.

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Steep Climb Connector Trail

Next door

0.53-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 62 ft gain and 376 ft loss.

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Compounce Connector Trail

~2 min drive

0.47-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 477 ft gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors