Take a hike! Escape to Western Mass. walking trails

Date: 8/3/2021

Western Massachusetts is known for having an abundance of great hiking and walking trails. From Franklin County to Hampden County, each area of Western Mass. boasts ways for individuals and families alike to connect with nature while also getting their steps in. While there’s no way to include every walking and hiking trail in existence, here are some you can enjoy.

Chicopee Memorial State Park
Chicopee

Chicopee Memorial State Park is a public recreation area in the Burnett Road neighborhood. It is located directly southeast of Westover Air Reserve Base. The park has trails for walking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing.

Chicopee Memorial State Park also offers amenities such as picnic areas, restrooms and a bathhouse. The pond is used frequently for swimming and fishing.

The walking trail is known as the Chicopee Paved Trail and it is a 2.6 mile loop. It is good for all skill levels and dogs are allowed on the trail with a leash. The trail is also fully paved.

It is an easier trail with an estimated grade of mostly 5 percent steepness or less. There are a few uphill sections and those with wheelchairs or mobility issues may need assistance in these steeper areas. Benches are also placed along the route for those who need to rest or recover.

In the summer months, the park is officially open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Minnechaug Mountain
Hampden

Minnechaug Mountain reaches a peak of 908 feet and has three miles of marked trails and some unmarked trails for the more adventurous. The 273 acres are managed by the Minnechaug Trust under the protection of the town of Hampden.     The trails are open to the public for passive recreation, including hiking, birding, horseback riding and, in the winter, cross country skiing.

Eight trails snake over Minnechaug Mountain – Old Coach Trail, Bob’s Trail, Tom’s Trail, Algonquin Trail, Kathy’s Trail, Wood Trail, North Trail and Billy Goat Trail. Each of the trails provides a different hiking experience. Kathy’s Trail and Old Coach Trail are flatter and easier for novice hikers, while the Billy Goat Trail and Algonquin Trail are more steep and challenging.

Hikers can access the trails from two locations in Hampden. Crossing the Scantic River over the footbridge at VFW Post 9397, 190 Main St., will lead people to the Algonquin Trail, which intersects with each of the other trails on its way to the summit. Coming from the other side of the mountain, the South Road access point puts people on Kathy’s Trail. This route meets up with Old Coach Trail, Wood Trail and ends at the Algonquin Trail. Both access points feature parking areas with maps and information. The trail system can also be found at the end of Old Coach Road, but there is no parking.

To learn more about hiking Minnechaug Mountain, visit https://minnechauglandtrust.org.

Western Mass. Hilltown Hikers
Hilltowns

The non-profit Western Mass Hilltown Hikers is a great resource for trail maps and group hikes throughout the hilltowns. The group was formed in 2015 by three friends, Elizabeth Massa, Karen McTaggart and Rachel Lewis, who liked to hike, discover and explore the Western Massachusetts region known as the Hilltowns.

Friends and family started joining them on these adventures, and then friends of friends. As photos and maps were posted on social media, more and more people became interested in joining them on group hikes, so they went public.

The Western Mass Hilltown Hikers incorporated as a non-profit in 2019, and is now a partner in activities with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, The Trustees, Hilltown Land Trust, Appalachian Mountain Club, Friends of the Keystone Arches, Berkshire Natural Resources, Westfield Wild and Scenic and more. The Hikers also helped to form the Hilltown Outdoor Stewardship Alliance (HOSA) to collaborate with other outdoor organizations to volunteer trail work and help protect the abundance of natural resources in the area.

Trail maps are available for many of their favorite hikes at www.westernmasshilltownhikers.com. The maps list trailheads and places to park, lengths of trails and hiking difficulty.  Blogs and photos also illustrate recent hikes and discoveries.

Photos and upcoming group hikes may also be found on the Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Facebook page of the same name and at the #hikethehilltowns YouTube channel.

Ashley Reservoir
Holyoke

The Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke is well-known throughout the region as a spot to enjoy nature while getting exercise. The 3.5-mile loop was constructed in 1897 and owned and operated by Holyoke Water Works.

Currently the reservoir serves as a source of drinking water for the city, and is made up of two ponds that host a variety of wildlife including ducks, birds, geese, snakes, rabbits, squirrels and more. The gravel path loops around both ponds and is frequently used by families, runners, bikers and wildlife enthusiasts. Due to the gravel nature of the path, it is stroller friendly and an easy walk for those with children.

Due to the reservoir serving as a water drinking supply, certain activities are prohibited. Such activities include allowing pets on the trail, smoking, fishing, horseback riding, camping, sledding and the use of unauthorized motor vehicles.

After numerous safety concerns and to protect the water supply, guardrails were installed in a parking lot along Route 202 that could formerly be used to access the trail. Those using the trail are now asked to park at the Elks Lodge on 250 Whitney Ave. to access the reservoir trails. Additionally, due to the nature of the trail, bugs are common and insect repellent is advised.

Appalachian?Mountain Club Noble View Outdoor Center
Russell

The Appalachian Mountain Club Noble View Outdoor Center at 635 South Quarter Road in Russell has 360 acres of woodlands, trails and abandoned farm fields to explore year-round.  The gate is open dawn to dusk

Trails are clearly marked with signs and lengths, and trail maps are accessible online and also at westernmasshilltownhikers.com.

The famous 50-mile view doesn’t require a hike through the woods, however, just a walk up the gravel path from the parking lot to the top of the hill for an easy look.

The Noble View Outdoor Center offers access to a variety of year-round outdoor activities including hiking, swimming, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Cabins and campgrounds are available to rent through the AMC homepage at www.outdoors.org, under volunteer camps and cabins, or the direct link at
https://www.outdoors.org/destinations/massachusetts-and-new-hampshire/noble-view/

Call 603-466-2727 or email amclodging@outdoors.org for more information.

Stanley Park
Westfield

Stanley Park is a privately owned 300 acre park across from Westfield State University on Western Avenue, open daily without charge from May to November.

The park, which was established in 1945 by philanthropist Frank Stanley Beveridge, includes rose, hydrangea and wildflower gardens, playgrounds, soccer fields, tennis courts, picnic areas, a duck pond, covered bridge, blacksmith shop and event pavilions. Every day, people walk and jog around the park, walk their dogs, and enjoy its beauty and many activities.

Behind Stanley Park in the Frank Stanley Beveridge Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary is a very different experience of being in the woods, an opportunity to explore 229 acres of managed hiking trails and land along the Little River that is heavily planted with native trees, wildflowers, ferns, and more. The sanctuary is a haven for area birds and wildlife.

All trails in the Wildlife Sanctuary are marked with signs, and there is a map available of the trails online at https://www.stanleypark.org/park-maps.html.  Stanley Park recommends not entering the Wildlife Sanctuary if it is becoming dark, and always travelling in pairs. Park rangers are available by cell phone to hikers.

Rice’s Nature Preserve
Wilbraham

Rice is a well-known name in Wilbraham. Aside from the bakery, ice cream and lunch spot, Rice Fruit Farm, people looking to enjoy the outdoors often head to the Rice Nature Preserve, a passive recreation area that was named for the same family.

Purchased by the town in 2006 as community preservation land, the 150 acres that make up the preserve are open for hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, educational studies, and nature observation.

There are nine trails throughout the preserve, with lookouts on the Rachael Phelps Trail, Tom Leary Trail and Sunrise Trail. The trails offer a variety of hiking terrain, from meadows and woods to steep, rocky paths. The preserve is a “leave no trace” area, meaning whatever people carry in, they must also carry out.

The preserve has two main access points, the trailhead at the end of Highmoor Drive with limited parking and a new access point with a parking area on Hollow Road. The Highmoor Drive entrance brings hikers along the Highmoor Trail and meets up with the Rachael Phelps Trail. From there, most of the trails branch off in various directions. For those entering from Hollow Road, it’s a steep hike through the Sunrise Peak Conservation Area to the 910-foot peak, the Sunrise Trail and Peak Road.

To learn more about the Rice Nature Preserve, visit https://min nechauglandtrust.org.