New York · Mountain biking

Explorer

1.4 mi
round trip
283 ft
climb
Singletrack
surface
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Explorer is a mountain biking route in Tug Hill State Forest in northern New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail is about 2.8 miles long and forms an out-and-back, with the low point at 1,172 feet and the high at 1,244 feet. The climb is moderate, with a total gain of about 283 feet over the whole trip, and the steepest stretch comes at about 1.2 miles in at roughly 11%. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Watertown show July highs around 80°F with lows near 62°F, while winter brings regular snow days, with highs below freezing from December through February. Several other routes start close by. Electric Loop, a mountain biking trail, is about 0.4 miles away, and Home Run and John Young are each about half a mile off. For a hike, Whiteway lies about 0.5 miles from the trail.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Explorer

    Best months: June–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

      29° / 11°

      18 wet · 12 snow

    2. Feb

      31° / 12°

      15 wet · 10 snow

    3. Mar

      40° / 22°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    4. Apr

      53° / 35°

      13 wet · 1 snow

    5. May

      67° / 47°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      75° / 57°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 62°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 60°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      72° / 52°

      12 wet

    10. Oct

      59° / 41°

      16 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 30°

      15 wet · 4 snow

    12. Dec

      35° / 20°

      17 wet · 9 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Watertown, NY, 9.8 mi away at 497 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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