Blue Trail

Blue Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in Cole Hill State Forest in New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The route is about 1.2 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 11 feet, so it's a gentle walk that can be done in a single outing. The trail rises from a low point of 1,447 feet to a high of 1,472 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.48 miles in, with a grade of 6 percent. That makes it a low-effort outing, and the trail is open year-round. For comfortable weather, late spring through early fall works best. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 70°F in May to about 81°F in July, with September easing back to the mid-70s. That station sits roughly 12.5 miles away and about 500 feet lower, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. Ski Trail #2 is about 0.6 miles away, and the Orange Trail is about 1.4 miles off. Farther out, the Partridge Path and Loop 2 are both about 4.7 miles away.