Ward Hill Trail
Photo: daveynin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.1 mi
- one way
- 211 ft
- climb
- 1,160 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Ward Hill Trail is a short, easy hike on county land in New York, about 1.1 miles long with a total elevation gain of 211 feet. The trail rises from a low point of about 956 feet to a high of about 1,160 feet, and it is a point-to-point route rather than a loop. The steepest stretch comes at about the 1-mile mark, where the grade reaches roughly 9%. Late spring through early fall is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 67°F in May to about 78°F in July, with September easing to around 71°F. The Eternal Flame Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Orienteering Trail and Boy Scout Trail are both within about a mile and a quarter. Boston County Forest Park Hiking Trails lies roughly 6 miles off.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Ward Hill Trail
Best months: May–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.
Jan
31° / 15°
Feb
33° / 14°
Mar
41° / 21°
Apr
54° / 32°
May
67° / 44°
Jun
75° / 52°
Jul
78° / 57°
Aug
77° / 55°
Sep
71° / 49°
Oct
59° / 40°
Nov
47° / 30°
Dec
37° / 22°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Colden 1 N, NY, 4.4 mi away at 1,025 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Eternal Flame Trail
Next door
0.54-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 166 ft gain
Photo: btwashburn, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Erie Canalway Trail (Buffalo Harbor State Park to Hertel Avenue)
~20 min drive
7.98-mile point-to-point trail from Buffalo Harbor State Park to Hertel Avenue
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Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail
~28 min drive
Flat 23.96-mile point-to-point rail trail through rural western New York.
Photo: amerune, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Orienteering Trail
~2 min drive
2.6-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 831 ft elevation gain
Conservation Trail (FLT)
~20 min drive
5.12-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 1,050 ft elevation gain
Photo: Carrotflower Productions International, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Boy Scout Trail
~2 min drive
2.18-mile out-and-back hike in New York with 364 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Gorge Rim Trail
~12 min drive
2.53-mile out-and-back hike in New York with 916 ft of elevation gain.
Green Blazes Trail
~18 min drive
2.48-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 564 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Erie Canalway Trail (Hertel Avenue to Tonawanda)
~31 min drive
9.44-mile point-to-point trail on the Erie Canalway in New York.
Mossy Point Red Trail
~19 min drive
0.78-mile out-and-back hike in New York with 239 ft of elevation gain.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors