Long-Distance Trails

Rail Trails

Farmsteads

Mountain Trails

Campsites

Wetland Boardwalks

Portage Trails and Boat Ramps

Driving

Indigenous Connections

Urban Links

Trailside Habitat Restoration

Conservation Areas and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Mount Tom

Outward Connections

Long-Distance Trails

Miles of well-marked hiking trails connect the various parks, towns, and other sites throughout the Network, maintained by groups such as the Appalachian Mountain Club alongside private landowners.

Rail Trails

Dozens of miles of abandoned railroad speak to the region's rich industrial history. Though no longer in use for trains, they still serve as valuable links between cities.

Farmsteads

Farmers who opt into the NHA program open their farms for tours, events, and overnight lodging. Expect to see many farmstands dotting the trails along your journey.

Mountain Trails

A network of well-travelled mountain trails suitable for biking as well as hiking make up the core of the NHA, on and around Mount Holyoke Range and Metacomet Ridge.

Campsites

Visitors can pitch tents at any of the dozens of sites on public land maintained by groups like the Appalachian Mountain Club and Pioneer Valley Hiking Club.

Wetland Boardwalks

Critical ecosystems are protected by elevating the trails above them, giving visitors an up-close, but not too close, experience of local flora and fuana.

Portage Trails and Boat Ramps

Many municipal boat ramps dot the navigable Connecticut, Chicopee, and Swift rivers, connected by wide, flat portage trails.

Driving

Infrastructure for RV parking and many road connections, including multiple Scenic Byways, ensure that visitors can also experience the Trails from the comfort of their vehicles.

Indigenous Connections

Various sites along the Trails hold significance to local Indigenous groups or are owned and operated by them. The NHA gives Indigenous organizations a voice, an opportunity to interact with tourism how they see fit, and a means to use it to benefit their communities.

Image via Lampson Brook Farm.

Urban Links

While more rural than other parts of New England, cities and towns such as Holyoke still exist within the NHA. Visitors can explore bustling downtowns just as easily as they can forests and farms.

Trailside Habitat Restoration

The trails provide an opportunity to plant native species that restore crucial pollinator and animal habitats which have been harmed by industrialization and commercial farming.

Conservation Areas and Wildlife Sanctuaries

Visitors can learn about and interact with local wildlife in a safe and educational way.

Mount Tom

At 1,202 feet, this is the highest peak in the Pioneer Valley. A rugged but popular and well-kept trail brings hikers to the summit in 1-2 hours.

Via National Park Service on X (Twitter).

Outward Connections

The Trails connect directly to other long-distance trail and road networks such as the New England National Scenic Trail, Mohawk Trail, and Metacomet-Monadnock Ridge.

Image by Shannon Rooney.