New York · Mountain biking

ZigZag

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

ZigZag is a short, easy mountain biking ride in Tug Hill State Forest in New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The route is an out-and-back of about 1.5 miles, with a total elevation gain of 178 feet from a low point of 1,236 feet to a high of 1,309 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.28 miles in, rising roughly 5 percent. 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, and the station sits well below the route, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. Winters are cold and snowy, with January highs near 29°F and about 12 snow days. Snowbird, another mountain biking route, lies about 0.3 miles away, and the Home Run and Whiteway hikes are within a mile. Paddlers can reach South Sandy Creek, about 3.3 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit ZigZag

    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, 10.8 mi away at 497 ft. The station sits about 800 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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