Mount Tom State Reservation — Attraction in Holyoke

Rising up just east of Ma. 141 and back down to earth just a half mile away where I-91 comes whizzing by, the mini-mountain collection called Mt. Tom is over as abruptly as it started after rising from up from the towns of Easthampton and Southampton. This truncated topography is in most dramatic evidence as you head south on 91 with Northampton in your rear-view mirror. Ahead of you lies the starkly elevated block of terrain that forms Mount Tom State Reservation. The hills are so abbreviated that you can't bring yourself to believe that 91 will be skirting the reservation's east flank, rather than brushing by on the west side as you size it up from as close as two miles away.

Should you take the time to pop into the park's grounds, however, you can spend weeks hiking its myriad, serpentine trails. And if you're feeling both rebellious and foolhardy you can attempt to scale and race down these footpaths on a mountain bike. Keep your hands poised at all times to depress the brake handles, however, for the drops can be both precipitous and severely rutted.

But if you're looking for a lovely, laid-back, ensconced-in-the-woods hike rather than a death-defying stunt, then you've very much come to the right place. There are trails which girdle the circumference of the hills and there are others which bisect the interior of the park to immeasurably shorten distances from one side to the other. Streams will frequently accompany your walks, with mini-waterfalls cropping up with unexpected regularity.

It's wonderful terrain to walk your dog, as the trails are never so challenging as requiring you to make a choice between letting go of your pup for an innocent instant or risk a limb-threatening tumble.

There are two entry points, one off 141, the other pretty much directly under 91. The 141 side features a wonderful approach on the shelf of the upper elevations. With crescent-shaped turnouts and viewing windows cut out of the canopy of hillside timbers, this sneak preview of the park bears more than a little in common with the Blue Ridge Parkway of Virginia.

The east side features an entrance scarcely less scenic, as you wind your way in a graceful curve around Lake Bray, the terminus for many of those brooks you'll encounter loping through the hills.

The trails are reasonably well-marked and none run so long that peril awaits you if you stray from your intended line of exploration. Remember, these hills spring up with no warning and they fall back to level ground just as quickly.

This fascinating little section of Massachusetts geography even made it to the NBC Nightly News a couple of summers ago when a microburst felled a significant volume of trees hugging the steepest slopes of the reservation. You know how the evening news loves those weather stories that can deliver visual thrills on a shoestring budget! Well, Mt. Tom got a walk-on part for one such report. The devastation, of course, is still visible today. As it will be until nature replenishes what it took...

Mount Tom State Reservation is one of my favorite places to go hiking, enjoy the scenery and relax on top of the mountain cliffs looking over beautiful Easthampton Massachusetts. if you ever get a chance to watch the sunset from the cliffs, I guarantee you will be coming back . Even though I was in the clouds today it was still beautiful. With a vast range of trails from challenging too easy you can have an adventure with the whole family, friends or if you just want to go for a nice little hike in the woods. the reservation also has an amazing Park and playground that my son loves to play on as well as a pavilion for parties. there are many different places you can visit in the reservation including the Erie ruins and the watch tower. I would encourage everybody to get outside and go visit Mount Tom State Reservation! the place is pretty awesome! and Hiking is good for your health ! ...

The trails are well maintained, some down trees but it makes for more fun hiking. There is a huge variety of trails that stretch miles around the mountain. Views from the top are spectacular, and relatively easy to access if you are able to climb hills and some very small and easy to navigate rock obstacles.

If you get to the park early enough I believe you can avoid the cost to get in but otherwise I believe it's $5. There are maps available at the entryway to a variety of trails. And you can access the park from both Chicopee and East Hampton.

I would caution hikers with children to keep them close, as you approach the summit the eclipse are easily accessible from the walkways and there are no warnings, ropes or barriers to prevent people...