New York · Hiking

Yellow Trail

0.3 mi
one way
12 ft
climb
792 ft
high point
Point to point
route
May–Jun, Aug–Oct
best months

Yellow Trail is a short, moderate hike on Shaupeneak Ridge in New York, managed by a non-governmental organization. The route is a point-to-point walk of about 0.3 miles, rising roughly 12 feet from a low point of 753 feet to a high of 792 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.23 miles in, with a grade of about 4 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, while July peaks near 86°F and January highs sit around 37°F. That station sits well below the ridge, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The trail network around here is dense. Blue Trail is about 0.2 miles away, Orange Trail about 0.3 miles, and Green Trail about 0.4 miles. Hyde Park Boulders, a climbing area, lies about 5 miles off.

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 Yellow Trail

    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, 7.3 mi away at 301 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Yellow TrailPhoto: kenner116, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Yellow Trail

~3 min drive

0.68-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 168 ft gain

Red TrailPhoto: kenner116, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Red Trail

~4 min drive

0.61-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 39 ft gain

Hudson Valley Greenway Trail (Kingston)Photo: New York Public Library, No restrictions (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hudson Valley Greenway Trail (Kingston)

~9 min drive

6.57-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 639 ft elevation gain.

Blue TrailPhoto: kenner116, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Blue Trail

~4 min drive

0.59-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 251 ft gain.

HIKE

Orange Trail

Next door

1.38-mile out-and-back trail in New York with 1,880 ft gain.

Vanderbilt Overlook trailPhoto: kenner116, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Vanderbilt Overlook trail

~6 min drive

0.78-mile out-and-back trail in New York managed by the National Park Service

HIKE

Ridge Trail

~5 min drive

0.90-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 221 ft elevation gain.

Top Cottage Trail (green)Photo: Ron Cogswell, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Top Cottage Trail (green)

~12 min drive

2.02-mile out-and-back hike in New York with 306 ft elevation gain

Farm RoadPhoto: New York Public Library, No restrictions (via Wikimedia Commons)

Farm Road

~12 min drive

0.43-mile point-to-point trail in New York with 178 ft gain

Eleanor's WalkPhoto: Ron Cogswell, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Eleanor's Walk

~12 min drive

0.83-mile loop trail in New York with 88 ft elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors