Monthly Archives: October 2014

Western Mass, Site 51: Peaked Mountain

This map is intended to be used in conjunction with the site profile text in the TRAIL RUNNING Western Massachusetts guidebook (Kimball 2015, UPNE).

Site 51 Map: Peaked Mountain icon_pdf

Suggested Route Distance: 4.5 Miles for both loops

Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Typical section of singletrack trail at Peaked Mountain in Monson
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Vista ledge along the Valley View Trail at Peaked Mountain
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2020)
Running along the ridge just below the summit of Peaked Mtn.
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
The Forest Loop Trail at Peaked Mountain’s Miller Tract
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Lunden Pond at Peaked Mountain’s Miller Tract
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Lunden Pond at Peaked Mountain’s Miller Tract
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Temple Brook Loop trail at Peaked Mountain’s Miller Tract
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Temple Brook Loop trail at Peaked Mountain’s Miller Tract
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2020)
Running up the rugged patch along the Valley View Trail just below the summit of Peaked Mountain
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Ruth’s Mountain Road trail on Peaked Mountain
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
The West Rock Trail at Peaked Mountain
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2020)
Running along the ridge just below the summit of Peaked Mtn.
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2020)
Typical section of wide doubletrack trail at Peaked Mountain in Monson
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2020)
Sandy section of trail about half a mile from the summit of Peaked Mountain

To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher). Or better yet, pick it up at a locally-owned bookseller!

All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.

Western Mass, Site 50: Minnechaug Mountain

This map is intended to be used in conjunction with the site profile text in the TRAIL RUNNING Western Massachusetts guidebook (Kimball 2015, UPNE).

Site 50 Map: Minnechaug Mountain icon_pdf

Suggested Route Distance: 5 Miles

Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Southwestern view from Goat Rock
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Along Bob’s Trail at Minnechaug Mountain
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Minnechaug Mountain Conservation Land sign
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
West-facing vista at the top of Minnechaug Mountain
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Along Kathy’s Trail at Minnechaug Mountain
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Along Algonquin Trail at Minnechaug Mountain
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trail sign at Minnechaug Mountain
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Along Bob’s Trail at Minnechaug Mountain

To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).

All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.

Western Mass, Site 49: Robinson State Park

This map is intended to be used in conjunction with the site profile text in the TRAIL RUNNING Western Massachusetts guidebook (Kimball 2015, UPNE).

Site 49 Map: Robinson State Park icon_pdf

Robinson east side inset map icon_pdf

Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Typical winding singletrack trail at Robinson State Park in Agawam
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trail through dry upland forest on the flat, higher terrace at Robinson State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Playground of trails and bridges by a brook in Robinson State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Swooping singletrack at Robinson State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Afternoon shadows along a trail above the Westfield River at Robinson State Park (East Side) in spring
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Section of trail beneath powerlines at Robinson State Park

To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).

All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.

Western Mass, Site 48: Stanley Park

This map is intended to be used in conjunction with the site profile text in the TRAIL RUNNING Western Massachusetts guidebook (Kimball 2015, UPNE).

Site 48 Map: Stanley Park icon_pdf

Suggested Route Distance: 3 Miles

Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Woodland trails of Stanley Park
Floating trail bridge at Stanley Park
Woodland trails of Stanley Park
Woodland trails of Stanley Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Late afternoon on the winding trails of the Frank Stanley Beveridge Wildlife Sanctuary in Westfield, MA
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
On the trails at Stanley Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Boardwalk section of trail at Stanley Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Riverside trail at Stanley Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Along the River at Stanley Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trail bridge at Stanley Park
copyright 2021 by Ben Kimball
Stanley Park trails

To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).

All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.

Western Mass, Site 47: East Mountain

This map is intended to be used in conjunction with the site profile text in the TRAIL RUNNING Western Massachusetts guidebook (Kimball 2015, UPNE).

Site 47 Map: East Mountain icon_pdf

Suggested Route Distance: 4.5 Miles

Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail (M-M Trail / NET Trail) along the crest of East Mountain in early May
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trail system entrance sign at Holyoke Community College
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
A rare east-facing view along the M-M Trail on East Mountain
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trolley Trail just west of the Holyoke Community College campus
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trolley Trail near the intersection with Hellgate Trail
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Ridgetop vista along the Hoco Co Express Trail
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Along the Fraidey Kat Trail
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
M-M Trail on East Mountain in Holyoke
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Glacial erratic boulder along the M-M Trail on the crest of East Mountain

Bonus Site (borders the southern end of site 47)
Ashley Pond area (Holyoke/West Springfield)

To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).

All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.

Western Mass, Site 46: Chicopee State Park

This map is intended to be used in conjunction with the site profile text in the TRAIL RUNNING Western Massachusetts guidebook (Kimball 2015, UPNE).

Site 46 Map: Chicopee State Park icon_pdf

Suggested Route Distance: 4.5 Miles

Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trail along Cooley Brook at Chicopee Memorial State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Singletrack trail rising along the bank above the brook on the west side of Chicopee Memorial State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trail along Cooley Brook at Chicopee Memorial State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Pond and beach at Chicopee Memorial State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Singletrack trail through the pines at Chicopee Memorial State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Typical width of the singletrack at Chicopee Memorial State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Typical character of the winding singletrack trail at Chicopee Memorial State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Trail bridge over the upper reaches of Cooley Brook in the northern part of Chicopee Memorial State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
“The Desert”; a sandpit in the somewhat remote northern part of Chicopee Memorial State Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Entrance sign

To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).

All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.

Western Mass, Site 45: Quabbin Park

This map is intended to be used in conjunction with the site profile text in the TRAIL RUNNING Western Massachusetts guidebook (Kimball 2015, UPNE).

Site 45 Map: Quabbin Park icon_pdf

Suggested Route Distance: 3+ Miles

Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
View from the south shore of the Quabbin Reservoir
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Old Enfield Road at Quabbin Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trail along the north side of Quabbin Hill
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trail along the south shore of the Quabbin Reservoir
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
The view from Enfield Lookout at Quabbin Park
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Trail on the east side of Quabbin Hill
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Grassy woods road at Quabbin Park

To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).

All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.

Western Mass, Site 44: Batchelor Street

This map is intended to be used in conjunction with the site profile text in the TRAIL RUNNING Western Massachusetts guidebook (Kimball 2015, UPNE).

Site 44 Map: Batchelor Street icon_pdf

Suggested Route Distance: 3+ Miles

Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
A hairpin turn along the upper section of Roller Coaster
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Dark forest along the lower section of the Roller Coaster trail at Batchelor Street
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Beneath conifers on the start of Entrance Exam at the Batchelor Street trails
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Swooping singletrack along the lower portion of the Serpentine Trail at Batchelor Street
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
At the Lower Access / Upper Access trail split, about a quarter mile north of the parking area
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Junked car remains at the unmarked start of IMBA Access Trail (left) just north of the Lower Access / Upper Access split
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Along a flattish section of upper Roller Coaster
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
A particularly pleasant section of the Private Investigations trail.

NOTE: In the “Nearby” text of the profile for this site, several unofficial trail names are given. The Private Investigations trail should be added to that list.

To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).

All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.

Western Mass, Site 43: Mt. Norwottuck

This map is intended to be used in conjunction with the site profile text in the TRAIL RUNNING Western Massachusetts guidebook (Kimball 2015, UPNE).

Site 43 Map: Mt. Norwottuck icon_pdf

Suggested Route Distance: 6 Miles

Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Rattlesnake Knob in the late afternoon
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Recently re-routed section of the M-M/Robert Frost Trails beneath powerlines near The Notch in the Holyoke Range
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Wintertime view from ledges near the summit of Mt. Norwottuck in the Holyoke Range
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
The Robert Frost Trail gently rises and falls as it traverses the north slope of Mt. Norwottuck
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Multiple trails, each marked with a different colored blaze, share the same route for about a quarter of a mile just east of The Notch
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
A tight squeeze where the M-M Trail passes though the Horse Caves on the east side of Mt. Norwottuck

To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).

All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.

Western Mass, Site 42: Earl’s Trails

This map is intended to be used in conjunction with the site profile text in the TRAIL RUNNING Western Massachusetts guidebook (Kimball 2015, UPNE).

Site 42 Map: Earls Trails icon_pdf

Suggested Route Distance: 6.5 Miles

Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Singletrack through a forest cove at Earl’s Trails
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Typical stretch of trail at Earl’s Trails, with bridge
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
A fairly standard swoopy trail at Earl’s Trails
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
The fenced-in bunker below Bare Mtn.
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2014)
Flat portion of doubletrack trail along an old road near the Hadley Reservoirs
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Through the woods at Earl’s Trails
Photo by Ben Kimball (copyright 2015)
Pathside wildflower orchid at Earl’s Trails

To purchase either a hardcopy or ebook version of the Trail Running Western Massachusetts guidebook (May 2015), please visit a local bookseller or click here (Amazon), here (Barnes & Noble), or here (the publisher).

All photos copyright 2014 by Ben Kimball unless otherwise noted.