The Pinnacle

At 1,647 feet, The Pinnacle is a summit in Connecticut. The The Pinnacle Trail covers 10.8 miles round trip (out-and-back) with about 600 feet of elevation gain — gentle grades, but the mileage is what makes it a Hard outing.

The Route

Most of the climbing comes early — the first half of the route does the bulk of the work before the grade eases. The steepest stretch arrives around mile 0.38, gaining roughly 800 feet per mile — expect a slow, deliberate pace through here. From the trailhead at about 1,083 feet, the route tops out near 1,647 feet. Along the way the route passes a hut (Mohawk State Forest Camping Shelter No. 1) near mile 1.34, a hut (Mohawk State Forest Camping Shelter No. 2) near mile 1.62, a hut (Mohawk State Forest Camping Shelter No. 3) near mile 2.76 — useful checkpoints for judging your pace.

Getting There

The trailhead is at 41.85355, -73.29924 (tap for driving directions). It's roughly 35 miles west of Hartford, Connecticut. Arrive early on weekends — trailhead lots at popular peaks fill quickly, and cell service is often unreliable once you leave the highway.

When to Go

Spring through fall is the main season. Conditions change fast in the shoulder months — check a point forecast for the summit, not the nearest town, before you commit.

Know Before You Go

The Hard rating comes from the National Park Service difficulty formula, which weighs total distance against elevation gain. Most hikers should budget about 4.0 hours of moving time; add margin for breaks, photos and the descent. Download the GPX track from this page before you go — cell coverage is unreliable in the mountains and a saved route works offline in any GPS app. Conditions change: verify current access, closures and weather with the official land manager before you go. Trail data is sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Looking to link objectives or plan a weekend? Nearby summits include Mohawk Mountain, Red Mountain and Sedgwick Mountain — each has its own guide on this site.