Hiking In Massachusetts

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

27 Jun 2007 12:35 PM

Nothing says summer vacation than a day spent in the outdoors. Our family has spent many summers hiking through various national parks. We enjoy bird watching, exploring and just spending time together in nature. The state of Massachusetts offers many places to spend a pleasant afternoon in the woods. Here are four spots worth exploring:

Pocumtuck Ridge

Whether you love hiking or mountain biking the Pocumtuck Ridge offers spectacular views and well-marked trails. The 200 million-year-old ridge is located between Deerfield and Greenfield and provides scenic views of the farms and homes tucked in the valley below. Most of the hiking and mountain biking done on the ridge is contained to a roughly three-mile stretch between northern Deerfield and North Sugarloaf Mountain. The path changes terrain through hardwood and evergreen trees and is considered a moderately challenging hike.

Questing

Located in Massachusetts' southwest corner is a 435-acre forest called Questing. It's named for a snake-headed monster from the legends of King Arthur. The area also offers views of open meadows and ancient stonewalls. Questing is accessible from New Marlborough Hill Road. You should allow about two hours to walk the fairly short and easy trail. One warning: the path that leads to the ruins is quite narrow in places and you may have to navigate through some overgrown ferns, but the views of the magnificent oaks and maples being choked by thick vines is worth the effort.

High Ledges

The trails at High Ledges wind past twisted roots, low-lying ferns and around a boggy area before taking you up rocky cliffs and under a canopy of towering evergreens, maples and oaks. Consider hiking along Lady's Slipper Trail to get views of the pink and yellow flowers that lend their name to the path. Among the other fragrant flowers that call the trail home: orchids, ginger and yellow violets. The Massachusetts Audubon Society owns the 600-acre site so you can count on a well maintained trail system. The village of Shelburne Falls and the Deerfield River are also visible from the trails.

Mount Tom

Mount Tom consists of a 2,000-acre forest with a 20-mile network of trails that sends you past trickling streams, through towering trees, and ends with an unparallel vantage point of the most expansive vistas in western Massachusetts. To get access to the trails pull into the Route 5 entrance of the Mount Tom State Reservation. Head out on the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, the long-distance trail stretches from Connecticut to New Hampshire and offers breathtaking views of the valley below. For even better views climb up Goat Peak where you can snap some incredible pictures from the nearby tower that was built for viewing the annual autumn migration of hawks.

Related Articles:

Hiking With Children--Basic Safety Tips

Fun Fall Family Travel Destinations-Part 3: Hiking Trails

"Take A Hike"---On The Appalachian Trail

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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