Mount Tom State Reservation

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 from itself.

This place is a favorite of both my dog and myself. Miles of trails with a huge variety of terrains. It is free admission during the week and a small entry fee on weekends. There are restrooms available in one of the public buildings. There are activity areas for each age group in the park. Fishing is allowed but not very good here, hunting is not allowed.

I love hiking in this park! I bring a picnic and my kids and we stay all day. We usually go to the route 5 side– I think it’s like 5 dollars or so to get in on the other side.
We picnic by the little lake and have a blast. The trails can get a bit tricky though– some markings are a bit old so it may be daunting for the novice hiker. They do, however, have an educational children’s trail that’s a great choice.
On the way out, check out the dinosaur footprints just down the street!

I’ve been going to Mt. Tom on and off for most of my life, but it’s only been recently that I’ve really stated hiking it and learning the whole area. There is always something new to find. Whether you’re after a great hike (there are SO MANY trails to choose from, and all are well marked), an amazing view (again, LOTS to choose from! The lake or the summit or the watchtowers or just driving along the road from the watchtowers back to the main road), time spent with friends or family (the lake is a great spot for a picnic), or just a neat thing to see (the ruins of the old Eyrie House are VERY cool, and make sure to stop and read the sign outlining the history!), I guarantee you’ll find something to spark your interest. Mt. Tom is one of my very favorite things about living in western MA.

Great moderate effort trail! Big tip: BRING BUGSPRAY. You will be eaten alive. No joke.
Shady woodsy area. We took the M&M And beau bridge trails per park ranger. Went up goat’s peak tower and had a beautiful 360 view including Connecticut!
Some signs could have been marked clearer so bring a good navigator — a random trail might present itself and lead you off path a little…
Just bring some bug spray.

Wow! We recently came here during the weekend to spend some time in nature and have to say that we had a blast here. When we drove into the park we weren’t quite sure what to expect since the driveway is through a residential area. When we got to the gate we also weren’t expecting the reservation to be so large. This place was huge and had a little bit of everything in it.
When we were driving to the viewing tower which is towards the rear end of the park, we passed by a ton of great picnic and grilling areas. We also passed by their awesome pond and playground area which was packed with people having a great time. When we got to the viewing tower we picked a table, whooped out our mini grill, and spent a few hours hanging out and enjoying the sounds of nature.
Overall, this is a great park with a ton of activities and hiking trails. The next time that we stop here we are going to take some time to walk the trails before taking a dip in the water.

Pretty awesome hiking in Western Mass.
The hike to Mt. Tom is not too difficult and offers sweeping views of the valley below. During autumn the bathrooms are closed but the colorful foliage makes it worth the post-​season trek. If you wander off and do some extra trails you can get a decent amount of mileage in.
If you go during the season, there is a small entrance fee. I’m not sure when they stop charging, but I’m sure it’s around the same time that the facilities close Also, be prepared to be out of the park by 4pm in the off season, as the park closes early.
It is a beautiful park and offers several different options for outdoor-​sy fun. It’s well worth the drive from the Providence area for a lovely day trip.

The hike to the summit of Mount Tom is on the less strenuous side, offering excellent views, and few crowds. The trail starts out a bit steep, but evens out to mainly easy, gentle areas that skirt the edge of the mountain. Due to the sheer drop of the rock face, the Metacomet-​Monadnock trail offers many great vistas, overlooking the city of Holyoke.
There is minimal trash on the trail, and I only encountered one broken bottle. There is some stagnant water in spots, so be prepared for bugs. The trail is covered in scree at many points, giving it a real mountain feel. Rare for a mountain, the summit is the only disappointing feature. It’s covered in deteriorating cement structures and radio antennae. Still, the view from up top is great. It’ll only take you about an hour to make it to the top, and about half an hour to get back down; making this four mile hike a quick getaway.
It costs $ 2 to drive into the park, and the road is a little beat up in spots. If you don’t feel like hiking anywhere, there are a few pulloff spots which offer nice views. Also, be careful pulling back out onto the main road. It can be a little sketchy.

The views are spectacular, but the trails can be a little difficult to follow at times, did I mention the views are amazing!

Growing up Mt. Tom had been one of the greatest places to visit for a young guy from Holyoke, MA.
You can no longer ski, visit Mountain Park, or ride the alpine slide, but you can still enjoy the gorgeous landscape of the reservation. My personal favorite place to visit on the mountain is the ruins of the Summit House.
The nightlife here is awesome! The sky opens up to hundreds of stars, satellites, and countless meteor showers! Don’t forget the bug spray or you’ll get eaten alive.
Important: «Give A Hoot, Don’t Pollute!!!»