Suggested Day Hikes on the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail

These sections are listed from north to south.

Each day hike is described from south to north.


Mt. Monadnock, NH

Section 22

Rt. 124 to the Summit of Mt. Monadnock

Spectacular 360 degree vistas await you.


Royalston, MA

Sections 18-19

Richmond Road, MA to Greenwood Road, NH via Royalston Falls

Walk along Falls Brook to see: potholes, plunge pool, Rainbow Arch, Royalston Falls.


Mt. Grace - Warwick, MA

Sections 17-18

White Road to Highland Falls (or Richmond Rd.) via Mt. Grace.

A strenuous hike. Views from the lookout tower and a secluded waterfall.


Northfield - Warwick, MA

Sections 16-17

South Mountain Rd. to White Rd. via Crag Mountain

Panoramic views and a beautiful hemlock lined trail.


Erving (Farley) to Northfield, MA

Section 16

Rt. 2 in Farley to South Mountain Road

A 250 foot cascading brook, bird's eye views of the Millers River,
a glimpse of Crag Mountain, and a 19th century cemetery.

Side trip to Erving Castle-Hermit's Cave

Directions to Erving Castle-Hermit's Cave from the M-M trail

See the cave and the remains of the stoneworks and gardens of hermit John Smith,
who lived here from 1867-1900


Leverett-Wendell, MA

Wendell State Forest

Section 15

Ruggles Pond to Farley, MA

A wide variety of terrain. Downhill along rushing brooks, uphill to mountain vistas.



North Leverett Road to Ruggles Pond

Visit a popular swimming and picnicking spot in Wendell State Forest.


Leverett, MA

Section 14

Shutesbury Road to North Leverett Road

Travel back in time 200 years as you hike this section of the M-M trail.


Pelham - Shutesbury - Leverett, MA

Sections 12 & 13

North Valley Rd. to Shutesbury Road via the Pelham Hills

Views from Mt. Orient, Atkins Reservoir, the January Hills, old backcountry farm roads.


Pelham, MA

Sections 10 - 11

Packardville Rd. to North Valley Road

Highlights: Mt. Lincoln, Harris Brook, Buffum Falls Conservation Area.


Belchertown - Pelham, MA

Section 10

Route 9 to Packardville Rd. via Holland Glen

Climb beautiful Holland Glen and pass through an abandoned pioneer farming community.


Amherst - Belchertown, MA

Section 09

Harris Mt. Rd. to Route 9

Exit the Holyoke Range over a series of low hills.


Amherst - Granby, MA

Section 08 - Western Part

Holyoke Range State Park - From Rt. 116 to Rattlesnake Knob and Back

Climb the highest peak in the Holyoke Range.

Section 08 - Eastern Part

Holyoke Range State Park - Rattlesnake Knob to Harris Mt. Rd. via Bay Rd.

View, then climb Long Mt. - the last large peak of the Holyoke Range State Park.


South Hadley - Hadley, MA

Section 07

Joseph Skinner State Park - From Rt. 47 to Summit House and Back

Visit the Skinner House, airmen memorial and examine unusual erratic boulders.


The Holyoke Range - From Mt. Holyoke to Bare Mt.

A rugged hike along the crest of the Holyoke Range to Bare Mt.


Holyoke, MA

Section 06

Mt. Tom - Between Route 141 and Route 5

Breathtaking hike along a trap rock ridge. Wonderful views, Eyrie House ruins.


Holyoke, MA

Section 05

East Mountain - Holyoke Community College - Between Route 202 and Cherry Street

See the balancing boulder and nice views of the Berkshires.


West Springfield - Holyoke, MA

Section 04

Massachusetts Turnpike to Route 202 via East Mountain

A hike of moderate difficulty. Highlighs include: Barnes Airport, FAA Beacons, Snake Pond, Views of the Berkshires, Hampton Ponds, and the Holyoke Reservoirs.


West Springfield, MA

Section 03

Westfield River to the Massachusetts Turnpike via East Mountain

Highlighs include: the Westfield River, the huge Lane Quarry complex, and an alpaca farm.


Southwick - Agawam - Westfield, MA

Section 02

Rt. 57 to the Westfield River along Provin Mountain

Something for everyone.
A working quarry, broad vistas, WWLP broadcasting complex,
a covered reservoir, talus slopes, suburban farms, and the Westfield River.


Suffield, CT and Agawam - Southwick, MA

Section 01

Connecticut State Line to Rt. 57 along Provin Mountain

A path through a bog and a pleasant hike along a ridge through some very pretty woods.


The 9th edition of the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail Guide is now available from:

New England Cartographics
P.O. Box 9369
North Amherst, MA 01059.

Link to additional information and to download an order form.

Note from Chris Ryan -- Editor of the M-M trail guide - 8 June 1999

"The 9th ed was just printed a few days ago and now costs $8.95 plus $1.50 p&h. I've been busy delivering backorders of about 300 copies to area book and outdoor shops. EMS just faxed me a purchase order for 100 copies. It will take them a week to put them in their stores as I'm shipping to their Peterborough HQ. I dropped off copies in NOHO to Beyond Words, Broadside, Mtn Goat, Don Gleasons, as well as numerous locations in Amherst/Hadley. Backpacking Etc. in Agawam has them too."

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