New York · Hiking

Electric Loop

Electric LoopPhoto: andyarthur, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.2 mi
loop
20 ft
climb
1,311 ft
high point
Loop
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Electric Loop is a 2.2-mile loop in Tug Hill State Forest in New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail is rated easy, with a total elevation gain of about 20 feet, so it's a low-effort outing for a walk or a ride on a mountain bike. The route is a loop that starts and ends at roughly the same point, with a high of about 1,311 feet and a low of about 1,231 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.84 miles in, where the grade reaches about 11 percent. That makes it a gentle climb for most of the way, with a short, moderate section to break up the flat. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Watertown, NY, show July highs around 80°F and lows near 62°F, while winter brings highs in the 20s and regular snow days from December through February. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the loop run cooler. Whiteway and the Home Run mountain bike trail both start about 0.1 mile away, and the Oak Rim and Zigzag hikes are within a mile.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Electric Loop

    Best months: June–September. 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

      29° / 11°

      18 wet · 12 snow

    2. Feb

      31° / 12°

      15 wet · 10 snow

    3. Mar

      40° / 22°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    4. Apr

      53° / 35°

      13 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      67° / 47°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 57°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 62°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 60°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 52°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 41°

      16 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 30°

      15 wet · 4 snow

    12. Dec

      35° / 20°

      17 wet · 9 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Watertown, NY, 10 mi away at 497 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors