YMCA Camp Mountain Laurel
Campground
Campground · 3.4 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown
Tower Trail
Photo: ethan.long, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.5 mi
- one way
- 290 ft
- climb
- 732 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Tower Trail is a 1.5-mile point-to-point hike in Connecticut, about half a mile from the village of Mount Carmel. The trail climbs from a starting elevation of 238 feet to a high point of 732 feet, with a total elevation gain of 290 feet. The steepest stretch, a 56% grade, comes at about 0.35 miles in. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Mount Carmel show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 76°F, with summer highs in the mid-80s. The hike takes about half an hour. It links easily to other outings in the area. Nature Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and The Neck and The Chin climbing areas sit about 0.2 mile off. Judge Cook's Oxen Trail is about 0.3 mile away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsMConradWard, CC0 · Wikimedia CommonsMeriden Historical Society Museum & History Center
Museum
On your way back · 9 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: MConradWard, CC0 (commons)
More in MiddletownBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Tower 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, 1.1 mi away at 180 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: ethan.long, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Dickerman Carriage Road
~1 min drive
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Photo: Aldon, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Quinnipiac Trail
~7 min drive
A 19.6-mile point-to-point trail following Connecticut's Quinnipiac River valley.
Photo: ethan.long, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Red Trail
~3 min drive
Red Trail is a 1.18-mile loop in Connecticut.
Photo: aggray, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Banton Quinnipiac Trail
~4 min drive
2.74-mile point-to-point hike in Connecticut with 271 ft gain
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Blue Trail
~4 min drive
0.56-mile point-to-point trail in Connecticut with 56 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Red Trail
~4 min drive
A 1.40-mile point-to-point trail through Connecticut woods.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Yellow Trail
~4 min drive
Short point-to-point trail under 1 mile in Connecticut.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Brooke Blue Trail
~6 min drive
0.96-mile loop trail in Connecticut with 147 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Brooke Yellow Trail
~6 min drive
A short point-to-point Connecticut woodland walk.
Photo: Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Sanford Alternate Trail
~6 min drive
1.62-mile out-and-back trail in Connecticut with 549 ft of elevation gain.
Route details
- Distance
- 1.5 mi
- Climbing
- About 290 ft
- Summit
- 700 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- About 1 hour
Other routes up Mount Carmel
Questions about this route
How long is the Tower Trail on Mount Carmel?
About 1.5 mi.
How much elevation gain is on the Tower Trail?
About 290 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Tower Trail?
It is rated easy.
How long does the Tower Trail take?
About 1 hour round trip.
How many routes go up Mount Carmel?
2: Dickerman Carriage Road and Tower Trail.
Conditions and forecast on Mount Carmel
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
