New Jersey · Hiking

Purple Trail

2.71-mile out-and-back hike in New Jersey with 620 ft of elevation gain.

2.7 mi
round trip: 938 ft
climb: 1,261 ft
high point: Out and back
route

Best time to visit Purple Trail

Best months: April and November. 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
39° / 21°
11 wet
Feb
43° / 22°
10 wet
Mar
51° / 30°
12 wet
Apr
63° / 39°
12 wet
May
73° / 48°
14 wet
Jun
81° / 58°
14 wet
Jul
86° / 63°
14 wet
Aug
84° / 61°
15 wet
Sep
78° / 54°
15 wet
Oct
66° / 42°
14 wet
Nov
55° / 33°
11 wet
Dec
44° / 26°
12 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Somerville Somerset Ap, NJ, 7.3 mi away at 105 ft. The station sits about 1,200 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.

Purple Trail is a 2.7-mile hike in Hill and Dale Preserve in New Jersey, managed by a non-governmental organization. The trail is an out-and-back route that climbs from about 400 feet to roughly 1,260 feet, with a total elevation gain of 938 feet over the round trip. The one-way climb is about 326 feet, and the trail is rated easy. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 73°F and September highs around 78°F, while July peaks near 86°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. Several other trails start close by. The unblazed trail is about 0.1 mile away, the Blue Trail is about 0.2 mile away, and Hell Mountain Trail is about 0.4 mile away. For fishing, the South Branch Raritan River is about 4.7 miles away.