One of the best things about living in Western Massachusetts is how quickly you can get away from civilization. Even if you live in the middle of a large city like Springfield, Holyoke or Northampton, drive twenty minutes in almost any direction and you’ll find woodland trails that make it easy to leave the real world behind. And your fitness and ability level don’t matter that much, either. The options are seemingly endless, with plenty of challenging hikes for the die-hards and pleasant strolls in a New England forest if that’s more your speed. These three trails, ordered in increasing levels of difficulty and challenge, can get you started.
Easy: Norwottuck Rail Trail , 446 Damon Rd., Northampton, MA.
The Norwottuck Rail Trail is part of the Connecticut River Greenway State Park . The Rail Trail follows an 11 mile stretch of the old rail bed of the Boston & Maine railroad. Originally built as a bike path that links Northampton, Hadley and Amherst, the Rail Trail sees a fair amount of foot traffic, particularly at the Northampton end where the trail goes over the Connecticut River on the old railroad bridge. The Rail Trail is paved along its entire length, making every mile of it handicap accessible. The views over the river are by far the best, but don’t count out the simple pleasure of walking along a level path through some of the nicest farmland in Western Massachusetts.
Hard: Metacomet-Monadnock Trail to Mt. Tom, Rt 141, Holyoke, MA.
Mt. Tom State Reservation is one of the best places to hike in the Pioneer Valley. Mt. Tom itself dominates the skyline in this part of the state. Rising about 1000 feet above the valley floor, there are fantastic views from the summit in almost every direction, multiple radio towers and the remains of an old observation deck. In spring and fall, the ridge is a favorite viewing point for migrating hawks. There are multiple routes to the top, but the best and fastest way to climb is from the south. The M&M Trail crosses Rt. 141 not far from the Log Cabin Restaurant. From any one of the parking areas on the side of the road, follow the white blazed trail north. After about a half mile, the trail goes directly up the steep slope. There are numerous places to rest on the way up, and thankfully it’s a 400 foot climb over less than a half mile, so it’s over quickly. And the views are worth it.
Challenging: The Seven Sisters, Skinner State Park , Hadley, MA.
Across the Connecticut River from Mt. Tom State Reservation is Skinner State Park. The range is divided into two parks, Skinner State Park and the Mt. Holyoke Range State Park . Skinner is closest to the river, and boasts the only remaining “Tip Top” house in the Pioneer Valley. Hotels and resorts were once common on the tops of Western Massachusetts hills, but now only the Summit House remains. The Summit House is now a small museum, and is normally open during the summer season. There is an auto road to the top, so you can opt to skip the hike. There are two ways to walk to the top of Skinner Mountain, if that’s all you want to do. But for a real challenge, hike the Seven Sisters. The Seven Sisters are a series of seven minor peaks, stretching between Skinner and Bare Mountain, west to east. From the Summit House, it’s a seven mile hike round trip (along the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail ) to Bare Mountain and back. If you start at Rt. 47, the hike is closer to twelve miles. The terrain is rugged, with multiple ups and downs. If you walk the entire length, your total elevation gain and loss is approximately 3700 feet, which is nearly the equivalent of climbing to the top of Mt. Washington. If you attempt this hike, be prepared to spend most of your day out in the woods.