The ratings below have been submitted by visitors who have hiked the trails listed in Hiking in Massachusetts. To rate a trail, click on "Rate this Trail" on that trail's listing.
Number of ratings for this region: 15
15
Trail Name:Mount Greylock State Reservation I have hiked there: Several times I last hiked there in: August, 2005 Trails that I hiked: Hopper Trail, Appalachain Trail, Money Brook Trail, Mount Prospect Trail, Bellows Pipe Trail, Thunderbolt Trail, and Gould Trail Favorite trails: Thunderbolt Trail, Hopper Trail, and Gould Trail Best time to go: summer and fall Trail marking: Fair Trail maintenance: Fair Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: I like the layout of the trails and the agressive challanges of a few of them. Greylock trails seem to always be dark,(because of the tree canopee above),winding through some thick heavely wooded terrain. It's kinda spookey at times. The Thunderbolt Trail going up from Thiel Rd is an agessive hike but also beautiful and full of history. What I disliked: Some marks need to be repainted and a few more signs so as not to go on snowmobile trail or unknown blazed trail by mistake. Could spell diasterous for an inexperienced hiker. Additional comments: Greylock Trails take longer to dry after rains because the sun doesn't get through the tree canopies so well. So be carefull of wet slippery rocks, slippery leaves over rocks, etc. I reccomend hiking up the Hopper Trail to the AT Trail then catch the Gould Trail down to Gould Rd to Greylock Glen area wher the abandoned ski area is with the old lift equipment still standing. Then follow trail sign to the start of the Thunderbolt Trail and take the Thunderbolt all the way up to the AT Trail, and the AT Trail to the Summit. Then take AT to Hopper Trail all the way back down to where you first started. Wonderful hike. I do it 2 or 3 times a week when possible. Total time of hike ABOUT 8 hours. Submitted by: Doug Eaton from: Northampton,Ma. Date submitted: Aug 20, 2005
14
Trail Name:Warner Trail I have hiked there: Several times I last hiked there in: Apr, 2005 Trails that I hiked: Favorite trails: Sharon-Foxboro and Foxboro Wrentham sections Best time to go: Anytime Trail marking: Fair Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: It gives you a chance to get away via the state and town forests What I disliked: Construction makes following the trail difficult in the Wrentham Village, Wentworth Hills and Diamond Hill areas Additional comments: I can never seem to find the trail around Wrentham Village Mall. Submitted by: John W. from: Franklin, MA Date submitted: June 2, 2005
13
Trail Name:Mount Greylock State Reservation I have hiked there: A few times I last hiked there in: July, 104 Trails that I hiked: the AT trail from vermont to cheshire over the top of mt greylock Favorite trails: from the summit to cheshire Best time to go: spring falll summer Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: just the solitude What I disliked: nothing Additional comments: all the people were friendly and helpful just a
really good time and experience Submitted by: uncle buck from: sturbridge ma Date submitted: April 28, 2005
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Trail Name:Mount Greylock State Reservation I have hiked there: A few times I last hiked there in: July, 104 Trails that I hiked: the AT trail from vermont to cheshire over the top of mt greylock Favorite trails: from the summit to cheshire Best time to go: spring falll summer Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: just the solitude What I disliked: nothing Additional comments: all the people were friendly and helpful just a
really good time and experiance Submitted by: uncle buck from: sturbridge ma Date submitted: April 28, 2005
11
Trail Name:Metacomet-Monadnock Trail I have hiked there: Several times I last hiked there in: Mar, 2005 Trails that I hiked: My son and I have hiked 75 miles of the M&M up to now. Favorite trails: Section 1, Mt. Tom, The Holyoke Range, Section 15 Best time to go: Anytime, except when there is ice. Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: The difficulty varies, the closeness and the remoteness. What I disliked: Nothing Additional comments: Would be great if there were more dedicated sites/shelters for overnight camps and small groups (scouts). A trail users forum?(maybe there is and I don't know about it. A link from the website could be helpful.) Submitted by: Ray from: Monson MA. Date submitted: March 22, 2005
10
Trail Name:Midstate Trail I have hiked there: A few times I last hiked there in: Sept, 103 Trails that I hiked: The whole Midstate trail, twice. Favorite trails: The sections in Douglas State Park, Barre Dam area, and Crow Hills. But almost all the trail is good. Best time to go: Any time except winter Trail marking: Fair Trail maintenance: Fair Rating: 4 stars What I liked: The variety of the scenery and the continuity of the trail. What I disliked: Nothing in particular. Additional comments: Needs some maintenance and better marking in the Spencer area. Otherwise good throughout. Submitted by: Joe Gobbini from: Hudson, MA Date submitted: March 14, 2005
9
Trail Name:Wachusett Mountain State Reservation I have hiked there: Once I last hiked there in: August, 2004 Trails that I hiked: Pine Hill Trail, Old Indian Trail Favorite trails: Best time to go: Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: The trails were very well marked and easy to navigate. A lot of work was put into setting up these trails. What I disliked: nothing Additional comments: The Pine Hill Trail is a relatively quick hike from the visitors center. It is nicely marked. It is rocky and steep at several points. I had a 5 and a 7 year old with me and we were able to hike the summit with several stops. We came down the Old Indian Trail until it met the summit road. We then walked down the summit road back to the car. The Old Indial Trail was not as wide as the Pine Hill, but was easy to navigate with children. Submitted by: MS from: Mass Date submitted: Aug 31, 2004
8
Trail Name:Metacomet-Monadnock Trail I have hiked there: Several times I last hiked there in: May, 2004 Trails that I hiked: From Rt 47 to the Mount Holyoke Summit House. Favorite trails: The trail up the old Summit House tramway. Best time to go: springtime Trail marking: Fair Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: The view from the top of Mt. Holyoke is breathtaking, especially at sunset. What I disliked: Not much to dislike here. Additional comments: The old tramway trail is totally challenging, especially hiking down. There are some cliffs at the top that require a little bit of climbing and the rest of the trail is steep. You can pick it up near the Halfway House. Don't lose your footing! Submitted by: Nick Adams from: South Hadley, MA Date submitted: May 20, 2004
7
Trail Name:Skinner State Park I have hiked there: Several times I last hiked there in: Apr, 2004 Trails that I hiked: Aldrich Access Trail, Brookbank Trail, Bunker Link, Big Tree Trail, Cliff Side Trail, Conglomerated Rock Trail, Christmas Trail, Devil's Football Trail, Dakin Trail, Falling Bridge Trail, Forgotten Road Trail, Jacob's Ladder, Lithia Overlook Trail, Low Place Trail, Metacomet & Monadnock (M&M) Trail (this is the long main trail), Northwest Passage Trail, Other Swamp Trail, Robert Frost Trail (another main trail), Trolley Bed Trail, Taylor Notch Trail. Favorite trails: Metacomet & Monadnock (M&M) Trail (this is the long main trail) Best time to go: Spring and Fall Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Fair Rating: 4 stars What I liked: This is nearly my back yard What I disliked: Dogs and crowds Additional comments: Mount Holyoke Range - Skinner State Park
Main Trail; Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, M-M Trail, Robert Frost Trail, Ridge Trail
Located in central western Massachusetts, Mount Holyoke Range State Park, J. A. Skinner State Park, Mt. Tom State Reservation and Mt. Sugarloaf State Reservation. These parks and reservations offer about seventy-five miles total of marked and mapped trails, mostly a day hike if you don’t get lost. These are all wooded over woodlots and pastures, eroded from clear cutting and full of dumpsites, hard to tell if you don’t know what you’re your looking for. Some steep trails can be a bit tricky on foot. This area offers a good diversity of streams, ponds, wetlands, verticals and a variety of trees, mostly not indigenous. Trails can be swamp to solid with both jagged and smooth bedrock, broken rock, soil, sand, clay or other muck. The peeks and lookouts offer scenic views of the broad agricultural landscape, the Connecticut River and the Oxbow. Although rare, there is some wildlife including black bears, dear and cougars. The bird life includes some eagles, hawks, owls and other rare birds that are attempting to make a return. Fall foliage viewing is popular but please, don’t do your leaf peeping when driving. Hiking during hunting season is discouraged.
On the trails, you will find three different types of hikers, the indigenous New Englander, tourists and the hard-core environmentalist know to the locals as Eco-Nazis. The indigenous New Englander is mostly a shy and timid critter but when cornered, will offer plenty of hospitality. Tourists often feign to be indigenous, typically headed in the wrong direction and regularly seen tending to blisters along the trails.
Hazard warning; trails are sometimes blocked by the hard-core environmentalists in an attempt to keep the ATVs out and several times I have seen old barbed wire across the trails.
Rock climbing on Mt. Tom and Mt. Sugarloaf is gnarly, loose sandstone rock and other breakaways. Mountain Biking is at your own risk, carry a full first aid kit for not only for your bike but for your self as well, and a change of underwear for the surprise vertical sections.
You can find Indian arrowheads, small fossils and plenty ticks sometimes along the trails. Historic sites include; The Devils' Football, a magnetic boulder, The Summit House, a popular hotel in the 1800's, The Horse Caves, during Shay's Rebellion used as shelter, Eyre House ruins, A military plane crash and much more.
Being minutes from civilization and two major highways, it is a popular day trip for those looking to escape the concrete and asphalt. Overall, a good quick fix for the tailholic despite some rough spots or a good warm up for the longer trails to the north and west.
Submitted by: R C from: South Hadley Date submitted: April 13, 2004
6
Trail Name:Wapack Trail I have hiked there: Several I last hiked there in: Mar, 2001 Trails that I hiked: I have hiked the the entire length of the trail in segments. Favorite trails: Pack and North Pack Monadnock mts. Best time to go: Early Spring, late Fall Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: Surprisingly secluded trail in a fairly well populated part of the state. several beautiful vistas. What I disliked: The sothern terminus tends to get crowded on the weekends. Comments: Submitted by: JLT from: Philly, PA Date submitted: Feb 22, 2004
5
Trail Name:Mount Greylock State Reservation I have hiked there: Several I last hiked there in: Nov, 2003 Trails that I hiked: I have hiked every trail on this reservation and in the surrounding areas Favorite trails: the AT is especially nice, to the summit, also like Thunderbolt and Mt. Prospect Trails. Best time to go: Fall time for the foliage, but winter is also nice Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 3.5 stars What I liked: Scenery is always nice, these trails can be challenging also What I disliked: sometimes I wish there were other trails connecting to them so I could go on different hikes. Comments: Submitted by: Camp from: Pittsfield, MA Date submitted: Nov 28, 2003
4
Trail Name:Wachusett Mountain State Reservation I have hiked there: Few I last hiked there in: July, 2003 Trails that I hiked: Pine Hill Trail, Bicentennial Trail, Loop Trail, and Mountain House Trail Favorite trails: Pine Hill Trail (pretty steep) Best time to go: Autumn Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 3.5 stars What I liked: This is a very quick hike - maybe an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the hiker. Very nice view from the top. Trails are pretty well marked, on the whole. What I disliked: Nothing, really - this is a pretty straightforward hike. Comments: We found free parking at the Visitor's Center on the eastern side of the mountain. Submitted by: KWT from: Berlin, MA Date submitted: July 16, 2003
3
Trail Name:Warner Trail I have hiked there: Several I last hiked there in: June, 2003 Trails that I hiked: Warner, Harrington, Blue Hills Favorite trails: Moose Hill Bluff in Sharon Best time to go: Year Round Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: The connection of the state parks and the seclusion of private woodlands What I disliked: Comments: Submitted by: brianG from: Plainville, MA Date submitted: July 15, 2003
2
Trail Name:Metacomet-Monadnock Trail I have hiked there: Several I last hiked there in: May, 2003 Trails that I hiked: Sections 1-5 and section 7 Favorite trails: Section 1 has a plank path through a swamp that is very interesting. Section 4 was HOT once we came out to the ledges, but well worth the views. Sections 7 and 8 have beautiful views and history. Best time to go: Anytime Trail marking: Fair Trail maintenance: Fair Rating: 4 stars What I liked: The trails are actually segments of one long trail. I like the idea of completing the trails and spending the time with my son. His goal is to complete the M&M so Dad will bring him to the White Mtns. for a backpacking trip(thats the "carrot") What I disliked: Seeing areas that are littered such as the small imprompto dump near the begining of section 3 Comments: Provide and maintain camping areas for through hikers. Submitted by: Ray Foster from: Monson, MA Date submitted: May 12, 2003
1
Area name:Mount Greylock State Reservation Times hiked: Once Date last hiked: July, 1997 Trails hiked: The AT. Favourite trails: I've only done the AT over the top of the mountain. Best time to go: We were there in July. It was cool and rainy then. Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4 stars What I liked: The trail system is impressive. The park has trail information readily available. What I disliked: The bummer is the road/complex on the top of Mt. Greylock. It really takes away from the effort required to get up there on foot. Comments: Submitted by: pj from: Date submitted: June 2, 2002
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