Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Palmer, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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.
Assabet is a 5 mile or so paved trail in good shape. We started at 72 Jefferson St. in Marlborough, MA where there was plenty of parking spaces and a path to the trail. The Assabet is pretty much a city/suburb experience with a few road crossings that need to be executed with care. Just recently it has been joined in Hudson by the 7 mile spanking brand new Hudson to Sudbury Trail (part of the Mass Central Rail Trail system). Then, in Sudbury the Bruce Freeman trail joins making for all sorts of possibilities for some great rides. My wife and I plan next time to park in Sudbury at the spot where the Bruce Freeman and Hudson to Sudbury connect (there's parking near) and make our riding choices from there.
From EBBP over mostly dedicated path or protected bike lanes:
Over Washington Bridge thru India Pt Park;
Under I-195 along S. Water St. crossing Wickendon St. onto bike path along Providence River;
Cross Michael S. Van Leesten Memorial (pedestrian) Bridge over river then head west uphill along Ship, Chestnut then Clifford Streets;
Clifford St over I-95 bridge, onto Friendship St downhill then left onto Broad;
Along Broad then right onto Peace St (next to St. Joseph's Med Ctr);
Peace turns into Waverly. Waverly left onto Cranston St.;
Cranston St. (unprotected) under Rte10 then left onto Depot St.;
Arrived!
Cranston St is very busy with moving and parked cars and peds. An alternative bypass: along Peace St as above, but at Dexter St crossing where it turns to Waverly, turn left onto Dexter. Then right onto Waldo St, down to the second side street left onto Brattle St; this tees into Potters Av (busy!), quick dogleg right/left onto Homestead Av, (which tees into) turn right onto Huntington Av. A few blocks later, you reach Cranston St. at the Rte 10 underpass; then continue as before. Note: the northbound Huntington Av here is a quiet side road after it splits from the main northbound side Huntington Av highway.
0.8 miles of this trail now consists of crushed gravel
Great ride. First time on a gravel surface and found it pretty easy going with a few rough spots. It rained the night before and early morning, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Trail was damp but no big puddles. I took in 28 miles of the 40 out and back. Will do it again and try to get the whole distance.
Rode Simsbury down to Plainville. Simsbury to Avon was full of tree root bumps, and lots of branches & trail debris. It's almost as if Simsbury wants to keep cyclists out. ¿ However, Avon and Farmington were great rides, as was Plainville.
Trail was asphalt and exceptionally well maintained. At intersections, drivers in cars were most courteous I'd ever seen. Cars stopped to let bikers across; sometimes even when light was green. Heading West is a slight uphill, which makes return trip exceptionally easy. My daughter and I enjoyed many bridge crossing. Stopping at one bridge we encountered a resident feeding turtles off the bridge; carp on the Pawtuxet river took some meant for turtles. There were many nice graphics at stops explaining Coventry and other industrial towns along the way. Many beautiful old brick mill building were seen also. We passed three ice cream places, General store, and a tavern. Ride was quite beautiful and treed.
I started in Acton and went up to Chelmsford. Plenty of parking and clean bathrooms—bonus! I really enjoyed this trail and look forward to doing the southern half soon.
Lot's of stops along the way to enjoy the sites. It's a very well maintained small trail
I'd ridden this trail a couple years ago, doing it in small sections, and had found it to be a nice ride with a decent surface, quite reasonable for my older hybrid. I only did about 6 miles today, from Keene southward before turning back, and those couple of detours noted in another review are still in place - taking you out onto the road for short stretches likely to avoid power line work being done.
Rode from Avon, CT to Westfield, MA. Mass section in great shape. CT section is awful. Pavement is split, constant 'ka-thunk', pot holes not marked, just horrendous condition. Where is the CT DOT and our tax dollars? Stay away.
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