New York · Hiking

Escarpment Trail (Yellow

1.3 mi
round trip
381 ft
climb
1,811 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Oct
best months

The Escarpment Trail (Yellow) is an easy, short out-and-back hike in New York's State Department of Conservation lands, with a one-way climb of about 375 feet over roughly 1.3 miles. The trail's high point reaches 1,811 feet, and the climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch starting just past the trailhead at about 15%. The full round trip covers about 2.6 miles, with the same total gain and loss of about 380 feet each way. For comfortable weather, late spring through early fall works well. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Grafton put September highs near 69°F with lows around 51°F, while July highs average about 78°F. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run a little cooler. The Waterfalls Trail (Blue) starts about 0.3 miles away. In winter, the East Flat and Mogul Twister cross-country ski areas lie about 5 miles off, and Kinderhook Creek offers canoeing about 6 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Oct

    Best time to visit Escarpment Trail (Yellow

    Best months: June–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.

    1. Jan

      30° / 14°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      32° / 16°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 23°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 35°

      13 wet

    5. May

      67° / 46°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      74° / 54°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 59°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 58°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 51°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 41°

      12 wet

    11. Nov

      45° / 30°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      34° / 21°

      13 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Grafton, NY, 11.8 mi away at 1,560 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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