New York · Hiking

Virgil Mt. Loop

1.9 mi
one way
536 ft
climb
2,065 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Aug–Sep
best months

Virgil Mt. Loop is a 1.9-mile hike in James Kennedy State Forest in New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. It's a short, easy outing with a total climb of 536 feet, and it works well as a quick addition to a day spent exploring the forest's network of trails. The route is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch coming at about 0.4 miles in, where the grade reaches 14%. The high point is 2,065 feet, and the trail ends at a lower elevation of about 1,669 feet. That makes it a point-to-point route rather than a loop, so plan on a return trip or pair it with another nearby trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ithaca show July highs around 79°F with lows near 56°F, and the station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. Kuzia Cut-Off is about 0.7 miles away, and Dabes Diversion Loop is about a mile off. Lithuanian Loop Trail and Irish Loop Trail are both within about 1.6 miles.

  • Best time to go · Aug–Sep

    Best time to visit Virgil Mt. Loop

    Best months: August–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

      30° / 13°

      19 wet

    2. Feb

      32° / 14°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 22°

      17 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 33°

      15 wet

    5. May

      67° / 43°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 52°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 56°

      13 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 54°

      12 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 48°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 38°

      15 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 29°

      15 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 21°

      19 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ithaca 13 E, NY, 5.2 mi away at 1,228 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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