New York · Hiking · Near South Burlington

Gary's Elbow Trail

0.8 mi
round trip
335 ft
climb
530 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Gary's Elbow Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in New York's Split Rock Wild Forest, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail is about 0.8 miles long and rises from 360 feet to 530 feet, with a total climb of 335 feet over the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.67 miles in, with a grade of 11 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Vergennes, Vermont, show July highs around 83°F with lows near 61°F, while September cools to highs around 73°F. That station sits about 334 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. The hike takes about half an hour. Lewis Clearing Bay trail and Split Rock Canyon are both about 0.6 miles away, and Cross-Over Trail and Barn Rock Trail are each about 0.9 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Button Bay State Park

    Campground

    Campground · 3.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Dogwood Bread Co.

    Restaurant

    Open after 6
  • If it rainsStorylanding, CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Shelburne Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 12 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Storylanding, CC0 (commons)

More in South Burlington

Local outfitters

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  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Gary's Elbow 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.

    1. Jan

      29° / 10°

    2. Feb

      32° / 10°

    3. Mar

      41° / 20°

    4. Apr

      55° / 33°

    5. May

      68° / 45°

    6. Jun

      77° / 55°

    7. Jul

      83° / 61°

    8. Aug

      81° / 59°

    9. Sep

      73° / 51°

    10. Oct

      59° / 40°

    11. Nov

      47° / 29°

    12. Dec

      36° / 18°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Vergennes, VT, 7.4 mi away at 196 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