The Pioneer Valley has an incredible network of hiking and biking trails within a short distance of the College. Many trails offer spectacular views of the valley and the surrounding areas after only a short hike. Whether you want to stand on top of a mountaintop, cruise along on your bike, embark on a backpacking trip or just take in the beauty of the woods, the Amherst area is a fine place to do it.

The closest large-scale trail system is the Amethyst Brook area, located about two miles east on Main Street in the direction of Belchertown. The trailhead begins at a small pull-off on the left-hand side of the road.

This is a great area for both mountain-biking and hiking, with rocky, technical trails and a bubbling, trout-filled stream running alongside. These trails seem to go on forever; I have yet to ride or hike them all. If you follow the trail upward for three or four miles, you come to the top of a small mountain with an incredible view of the entire valley. Amethyst Brook is also a favorite running area for the cross-country team, and makes for an ideal training spot.

The famous Robert Frost Trail is also located in the valley. The historic trail goes all the way from the Holyoke Range through Amherst and into North Amherst. It is a pleasant and easy walking trail (no mountain bikes allowed) that meanders through meadows, over hills, under trees and by rivers and ponds. At the southern end, the trail traverses the Holyoke Range. It can be accessed at the Amethyst Brook trailhead.

The Holyoke Range is also a tremendous place to explore the outdoors. The Holyokes are the group of mountains and hills that are visible from Memorial Hill. On an Outing Club trip last fall, we traversed the Seven Sisters, a group of mountains heading west from Route 116. It's one of the most beautiful hiking trails I've ever encountered. Although it can be strenuous at times, anyone who is halfway fit should have no problem completing the hike. The Outing Club also organizes full-moon hikes in the Holyokes, embarking from the visitors' center off of Route 116. The visitors' center, with a large map and information about the area, is a good place to start a hike. You can also access the Robert Frost Trail from this point. One of the best hikes in the area rises from the visitor's center to the Notch, which is high enough to see the entire valley.

If you're interested in longer trips, consider a multi-day backpacking trip from Amherst. I am planning a trip for the spring from Amherst to Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey, N.H. on the M-and-M trail, a 180-mile hiking trail running from Connecticut to New Hampshire.

For more information

Contact Amherst Outing Club at outing@amherst.edu