New York · Hiking

Red Eft Loop

Red Eft LoopPhoto: Saucy Salad, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.7 mi
loop
190 ft
climb
618 ft
high point
Loop
route
May–Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Red Eft Loop is a short, easy hike of about 1.7 miles in the Bluestone Wild Forest in New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail rises from a low point of about 493 feet to a high of about 618 feet, with a total elevation gain of 190 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.95 miles in, where the grade reaches about 6 percent. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Rhinebeck show May highs around 73°F and September highs around 77°F, with July the warmest month at about 86°F. That station sits roughly 300 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the loop run a little cooler. The hike takes about half an hour. Pickerel Pond Loop and Blue Loop are both about 0.4 miles away, and Onteora Lake Loop is about 0.5 miles off. For paddling, Plattekill Creek is about 7.7 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Jun, Aug–Oct

    Best time to visit Red Eft Loop

    Best months: May–June and August–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

      37° / 11°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      40° / 12°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      49° / 20°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      62° / 31°

      11 wet

    5. May

      73° / 43°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 51°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 56°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 55°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      77° / 47°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      65° / 35°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      53° / 26°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      42° / 17°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rhinebeck 4se, NY, 12.9 mi away at 301 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