YMCA Camp Mountain Laurel
Campground
Campground · 3.9 mi from the trail
Connecticut · Hiking · Near Middletown
Van Epps Trail
Photo: Morrowlong, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.4 mi
- one way
- 171 ft
- climb
- 608 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- Apr–Oct
- best months
Van Epps Trail is a short, easy hike in Connecticut, about a mile from the town of Straitsville. The route is 0.41 miles long, with a one-way climb of 171 feet from a low point of 396 feet to a high of 608 feet. The steepest stretch comes early, at about 0.14 miles in, with a 21% grade. 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, while July averages about 85°F. That station sits roughly 400 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. The Naugatuck Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Whittemore Trail and Tibby's Trail are within half a mile. For climbing, CT Bouldering is about 3 miles off.
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 · 13 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: MConradWard, CC0 (commons)
More in MiddletownBest time to go · Apr–Oct
Best time to visit Van Epps 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, 7.1 mi away at 180 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
