Kilburn Pond 
 in Pisgah State Park

Chesterfield, New Hampshire 03443

In Pisgah State Park, Southwest Corner of NH, near Connecticut River 

Location: Junction of Kilburn Road and Route 63
    3.8 miles south of Chesterfield Center on NH Rte.63 on the left
    3.1 miles north of Hinsdale Center on NH Rte. 63 on the right
Rating:  Easy walk through the woods to forest pond and trails
Minimum:  1 hour, no resting.
Maximum:  hours and hours of linked trails throughout Pisgah State Park 

Note:  I hiked for 2.5 hours taking pictures, eating lunch overlooking the pond and using the Leaf-Snap app on my cell phone camera--cell coverage was available at different points. 

Children:  Might be good for kids who enjoy strolling and being in the woods. Landscape is gentle rather than dramatic. Lots of woodsy things to point out. 

Last hiked:  9/9/14

Map site: Kilburn Pond Map 

The idea for where to go in the maze of possibilities came from Joe Adamowicz's book Hiking the Mondanock Region   published by New England Cartographics.
The trailhead is on Kilburn Road (dirt) with parking available. The path begins as a dirt road and then becomes more trail like as you move further along. It connects with the Kilburn Loop, a 5 mile loop that  continues to the right. This is the first sight of Kilburn Pond.

You can explore the pond, its reflections and granite outcroppings on the many short paths that lead down to it.

  Hiking books about NH
At the junction, turn to the left keeping the pond on your right.  Walk about 10 minutes until you reach a path that veers off to the right towards the pond and leaves the main road.  Follow this path as it winds around the lake, with small side trails to explore.  You will arrive at a granite overlook where you can enjoy a view of the pond.  This side of the lake is higher and so reaching the water is more difficult than when the pond was first sighted.  You can turn around at any time to return to the parking lot or continue on the many interlinking trails that run through Pisgah State Park.

Kilburn Pond reflections (©wsstern)

The Quarry Via Mountain Park

Mountain Park Road, Holyoke, MA  01040

Difficulty:  Easy with lots to see
Hike Time:     
      Minimum:  1 hour

      Maximum:  As long or as short as you wish--the trail links up with all the Mt. Tom trails  (Mt. Tom Map & Info) as well as the 3 mile Whiting Street Reservoir circuit.( Whiting St. Reservoir)
       Good for kids but adult supervision for 'safe exploring.'
       
Parking:  There are no fees associated with this entrance for hiking. However, this is the entry road to Mountain Park (an outdoor concert venue)  as well as and the Whiting Street Reservoir, a jogger's delight.
       Mt. Park itself, has a long, interesting history (Mt. Park)  including, an amusement park, a ski area (Sking at Mt.Tom), and summer water park. It is currently a fenced in outdoor concert venue. My advice:  avoid this entrance when a summer concert is planned!  

This is a fun, easy and exciting hike, round trip of about 1 hour if you don't stop. But you'll want to stop. Also, this route hooks up with all the other Mount Tom routes as well as the 3 mile Whiting Street Reservoir circuit, so you could hike for hours--depending on what you want to do. But plan for 2 hours and if it's a nice day, bring a picnic. Lots to see and great for kids.

Park at the end of Mt. Park Road, about a mile off Rte. 5.  You'll know when you've reached the end--gates will stop you.  Walk up the left hand road  for a hundred yards or so (following the fence) until you get to a large iron gate which is the beginning of the Holyoke Reservoir property.  Instead of going forward past the Whiting Street Reservoir gates to follow. the road, take a sharp right turn onto a foot trail that follows the fence. Continue along the fence trail for about a quarter of a mile following it as it curves softly to the left away from the fence and down to where the foot path joins the dirt road around the reservoir. Bear to the right on the road. You'll see the reservoir at this point. (Quite beautiful) and follow it several hundred yard until the road begins to curve clearly to the left.  At this same point you will see another path/trail going up the embankment to the right.  Take the short trail up the embankment.  You will emerge at a paved road and an electrical substation. Bear left and continue down the road.  You will pass the old ski and water park area on your left, and tall wall of granite on your right.  Go to the end of the road (about 10 minutes) to a gate and a very wide open, flat gravely area. Go through the gate and approach the end of the flat gravel area.  It is here that you will see the entrance to the enormous quarry--an almost moonscape shock upon first site. (Holyoke Quarry)

There is also a sign that points to a hikers trail--The Bray Loop Trail.  It by passes the quarry and enters the other Mt. Tom trails. 

Mt Tom Ridge Walk

Mt. T

Rock Scramble  ©wsstern

Mt. Tom Ridge Walk

Easthampton, MA 01027

©wsstern

Reservation Road, Easthampton, MA 01027

or Christopher Clark Rd., Easthampton, MA.

Hike time: As long or as short as you wish--Trail goes for miles and hooks up with other trails.
      Difficulty:  Moderate with terrific views
      Minimum:  1 hour round trip for views
      Maximum: hours and hours of linked trails throughout the park
      Good for kids with experience
Note: Park closes at 8 pm summer or 6 pm before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Yes, they close the gates! There are places to park outside the gates if you so desire.      
Last hiked: September 2014 

$2.00 entry fee between Memorial Day and Labor Day, or Life Time Senior Pass for MA residents to all state parks available for $10.00 at Reservation Rd. entry

Ridge Overlook  © wsstern

Mt. Tom is a well known Massachusetts state park along the Connecticut River. I'd hiked it years ago as a  new-comer. It's so close to home I ended up ignoring it, thinking I'd 'seen it all' in previous walks. What a mistake! Of the many trails available, the Ridge Walk (Metacoment-Monadnock Trail)   is one of my all time favorites anywhere in the world. And you don't have to do a lot of work to get to the magnificent scenery all along the 2 miles of stunning ridge views.

I've found using the M&M Trail access (Metacomet and Monadnock Trail) from the parking lot off of Christopher Clark Road is the easiest access--but not the only one by a long shot.

If you have Google Maps on a smart phone, you can find the trails marked on your mobile app.  The park provides a trail map which I suggest you carry. There are a variety of other ways to access the ridge, but this I have found to be the fastest way to hiker 'heaven.'

© wsstern

© wsstern

The ascent to the 2 mile-long ridge takes about 15 minutes. Then you pop up onto a trail packed with views and scrambles, climbs and rest stops. On one section of the cliffs parasail-ers take running leaps off the cliffs to float towards the valley floor hundreds of feet below.

©wsstern

How is this for kids? It's terrific for a somewhat seasoned young hikers who love to scamper and scramble over things but also have a sense of respect toward danger. Yes, you can fall over the side--no fences or bars to hold you back.

Mt. Warner Reservation, Mt. Warner Rd., Hadley, MA 01035

Mt. Warner Reservation, Hadley, MA  01035 

Statistics: 
5.8 miles from 'home.' (Northampton)
Mt. Warner: Trustees of Reservations Property
Last visited:  10/21/14
Website for details:  Trustees of Reservations Mt. Warner

Mt. Warner is a quiet walk through the woods on rambling hillsides 5.8 miles from the Northampton/Hadley MA line.This new, 500 acre Trustees of Reservations property
sits near Lake Warner and the Connecticut River, but does not link up to either body of water. The land is beautiful, with ups and downs. There is no specific ‘scenic’ site.

A single main loop trail of approximately 2 miles took me 1 ¼ hour to complete. There are a number of side trails that are for authorized access only and can be somewhat ‘confusing’ in terms of following the official loop. However, signage is placed at appropriate intersections. I found this important in explaining the side tracks versus the main loop.

I enjoyed the afternoon walk so close to home and with the sunlight filtering through the fall colors.  However, since I also walk with energetic and sometimes restless children, I would not pick this as a walk that might keep the kids from complaining, “Are we there yet?” I also would be hesitant to have them “run on a bit ahead” because of the evident side tracks that can resemble the regular trail too much. I actually got sidetracked myself. This is more what I would term a meditative walk for those who love outdoor beauty close to home. 

Directions:  Take Route 9 from the Coolidge Bridge over the Connecticut River into Hadley MA. (Exit 19 off I 91 north).  Follow it to Hadley center (about 2 miles), turn left at the light (Route 47--River Drive). Follow Rte. 47 to stockwell Rd. (about 5 miles), Turn right, go to the end, turn right again onto Mt. Warner Road.  You will see the Trustees of Reservations sign about 1/4 mile up the road on the left.  Turn left into the parking area which holds about 8-10 cars.   

W. Sydney Stern