Find the top rated dog walking trails in Belchertown, whether you're looking for an easy short dog walking trail or a long dog walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a dog walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This rider was going Northeast from Willimantic towards Hampton NOT Southwest from Willimantic to East Hampton. Having ridden both stretches I can say his description is completely wrong about the gorgeous and open riding Southeastern route and not completely wrong but somewhat overly harsh about his route which can get iffy for stretches.
Biked end to end on a beautiful summer day. An absolutely beautiful paved trail with lots of water features to see - lakes to the south, river further north, and views of the mountains. Nice trailside pub in Adams and other eateries, including ice cream. Well-loved, with lots of walkers and skaters, as well as riders. Benches and picnic tables aplenty. One of the best trails I've had the privilege to ride. The only way it could possibly be better is if it was longer.
Correction to someone else's review: trail goes gently downhill south to north (not north to south) from Cheshire to Adams.
Biked end to end today. Best described as two very different rail trails that are joined by a squirrelly connection.
Holliston (eastern) end is beautiful stone dust surface. It can be soft in places but is a terrific, well-maintained trail with excellent historical signage (think Casey at the Bat) and an unusually attractive short tunnel. Trail is long and straight and crosses several swampy water features chock full of flowers and wildlife. Sadly, the trail ends abruptly at the Holliston border with Sherborn with a short connector to a small parking lot.
The Holliston segment changes to pavement at the Milford town line and adds another mile or so to that segment. After that, there are a number of road crossings (some major) and sidewalks to make it to the main Milford rail trail.
The Milford segment is better described as a paved bike path that spends some time on a former railroad bed. The pavement is generally excellent, with only a few root heaves. It too is very attractive and an enjoyable ride as it winds through the woods and beside a lake. After an easier-than-expected crossing of the I-495 corridor, the trail continues north for another mile or so of rail trail until ending at the Hopkinton border.
All in all, each segment gets a 5 rating, each for very different reasons. The connection between the two is less interesting and makes the end-to-end experience less desirable. But credit where credit is due: Massachusetts drivers were invariably polite and respectful of the warning lights at all flashing road crossings. I'm not sure I could say the same about drivers in my home state.
If you are a dedicated mountain biker than this would be a 5 star. Don't do this trail if you don't have a mountain bike or those fat tires. I was on a mountain bike, and my son had a regular bike. The beginning of the trail is easy and lovely. Once you connect with the trail (beautiful water views) the trail becomes mostly rock with some sand. Passed 1.8 miles the trail is impassable with our bikes. Somehow we made it out and back without falls or bike damage. I have biked other ski trails that were more compacted sand and dirt with some rock. This is not that kind of trail.
Hubby & I went this morning for a trial run with my new e-bike! It was tons of fun!!!!
We rode this trail yesterday from the parking lot at Dunkin' Donuts in Moosup all the way to the Rhode Island border. The surface alternates between paved and stone dust/fine gravel and is very well maintained throughout. You can see where dirt bikes would have access coming through the trees down some of the steep banks but we did not see any, unlike the situation that other reviews have mentioned. Perhaps reinforcing an unfortunate state stereotype, immediately upon crossing over into Rhode Island where it is then called The Trestle Trail, after about 6 miles, the trail deteriorates significantly into a dirt trail and likely would be fairly muddy when wet with lots of deep puddles. I also noticed an immediate onslaught of bugs which was interesting. We turned around at this point as we only wanted to ride the Connecticut portion. I was very curious after reading all the reviews over the years about how bad this trail used to be. If you're looking for solitude this is your trail, as opposed to many of the Connecticut trails to the West. We maybe saw five or six people for our entire ride. The guy who owns the house in the quarry is super friendly, as is his German Shepherd Fiona, and offered us water since the day was fairly hot after seeing us from his porch. I highly recommend this trail if you're looking for a quiet, shorter 12-mile round trip ride. Only downside: zero porta potties along the route. You can hit the Dunkin' Do restroom before and after the ride.
Awesome trail. Smooth surface and great views. Also lots of different places you can join the trail. We started a little further north to skip the more industrial part of the trail.
Beautiful 1st ride on the Norwottuck Rail Trail. We parked at the Marshalls in Hadley (trail starts right behind the building) and road a little over 10 miles into EastHampton and back. It was a very easy ride (my 1st ride of this length) on asphalt.
Trail lacked any evidence of maintenance. Rode from Hinsdale to Winchester.
I haven't been on this trail for a few years so was disappointed to find there is still an issue with bumps from tree roots and small sink holes. I did not do the entire trail because of this. It is too bad because it is a nice trail.
The Northampton part, which is reallly the NORWATTUCK RAIL TRAIL is really 2 stars bc it's so confusing. Needs fundraising and signage. But the rest, Manhan Rail Trail, is really nice. 5 stars. We took photos to illustrate but I unfortunately deleted them by accident.
We had stayed at the Hotel Northampton & nobody could tell us for certain how to find the trail other than to mention the railroad tracks. We found a paved path by the tracks & headed left. We passed a stone that said <- BOS/NHV --> and that's all. (Couldn't imagine how Boston could be to the left or straight ahead.) Within about 20 minutes, that path ended by some really rundown stores. On an aerial Google map, it reads as NORWATTUCK RAIL TRAIL (& shows it as a hiking &rail trail on the east side of the railroad tracks) but there is no signage anywhere to guide you. So when we got to the end, we turned around & headed in the other direction (south). THIS NORWSTTUCK TRAIL definitely needs some help. (Or maybe some day to be extended.)
Back to where we started out & this time heading in the other direction the trail actually becomes nice & very well marked. It seems to become the NEWHAVEN AND NORTH CANAL RAIL TRAIL (BUT there are no signs to this effect).
Where you meet the MANHAN RAIL TRAIL the signage is very clear, even as you are going through a village center or crossing a street or road, & the trail is very nice. You're following the reservoir & get some nice riding in.
We just kept going until we reached Easthampton. There you can even pick up trail maps! Ride on, and by the Municipal Bldg there's a nice park & large pond where you can see Mt. Tom behind it. Lovely, relaxing, scenic.
Then the ride back to Northampton but this time we knew the trail well & just enjoyed it.
North of Ferry St., at Lower Mill Pond, the Manhan Trail branches off and follows the river, eventually reaching the Connecticut River & Mt. Tom State Reservation. Should be a lovely ride! (You can also turn off here when you're riding south from Northampton.
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