summit house

You can park near the bottom & walk up or pay $2.00 to drive up. We drove. Once at the top, you have incredible views of the river valley from the large decks around the Summit House. There are interesting displays in the Summit House about the history of the place and tours offered three times a day to the first 15 in line. The Summit House closes after Oct 13, so check the website for operating hours. Picnic tables and additional hiking trails are in the park.

My sister, our husbands, and I went up to the top of Mt. Holyoke. We had to drive because I'm in a wheelchair. Since we were there several years ago, a new ramp has been built to reach the incredible views from the railed porch, and the railings have all been replaced. The museum was closed the day we were there, but we were able to peek in the windows. Around the porch were maps indicating what one is viewing in the distance. The day we visited was perfect weather-wise; there were MANY hikers around.

My sister in law took us to the top of Mt. Holyoke- driving up. It was a little nerve racking for her on the way up and she totally baled as far as driving back down. The road is narrow and twisty. My husband had no problem with it. She was still a little nervous in the passenger seat. And I had no problem. If you're hesitant about it you might be nervous. I've seen way worse- but each to his own. Just a heads up. The drive on a clear day is definitely worth it. Gorgeous views, nice paths. The restored summit house is interesting to see. It was closed when we were there. Check ahead for times if it is something you're interested in seeing

You can drive up, but why? Wonderful trail from the bottom of the old elevated train that used to run to the top. The views from the top are just amazing, and the old building that was a hotel makes one think of the times back in the 1800s. This was closed for a few years due to the state replacing a few rotted railings and (surprise) it took them years and a lot of money as they got it wrong the first time (seriously) to do what could have been done by a few volunteers in a few weekends. Hey, it's Massachusetts where we like to spend a lot of money on delayed and over-budget public works projects. Just check out the potholes in Amherst! Frogs hatch in them in the spring (honestly). Seriously, don't miss the Summit House (actually, the potholes in Amherst are quite interesting as well--check out Station Road and Pine Street--take pictures for the folks back home--lots of talk about saving the planet here, but when it comes to the roads....)

I live in the local area and have been visiting the Mt. Holyoke Summit House for over 50 years. The long overdue reopening of the Summit House, the crown jewel of the Joseph Allen Skinner State Park, came in mid-June of 2014. It had been closed for about 3 years to replace the porch which had been declared structurally unsound, with the project delayed by the use of a wood product that would not hold paint. Although the lengthy closure was more than unfortunate, the ultimate improvements to the porch, restrooms, and handicapped access appear to have been very well done and perhaps worth the wait. Kudos with regard to the improvements!My only disappointment – and this was a rather extreme disappointment – after hiking up the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail to the summit was to find how limited the access to the Summit House interior has become. The best information that I could obtain (from two of the park rangers on duty) was that some sort of occupancy restriction for access to the upper levels has been imposed by the Town of Hadley. There were certainly hundreds of visitors at the Summit House during the short time when I was there on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in June, perhaps a total of a thousand or more during the course of the weekend.In my previous visits over the years, since the previous round of renovations, visitors were always welcome to take the stairs to the rooms in the upper levels to get the full Summit House experience. Access is now limited to guided tour groups of no more than 15 people, with only three tours per day, at 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00 o’clock. In between tours, the stairwell is roped off, with a sign indicating that the area is closed to public access. This means that a maximum of only 45 people per day are allowed to fully visit the Summit House, probably fewer than 10% of the total number of visitors.If this is in fact a restriction that has been imposed by the Town of Hadley, it is highly unfortunate and ill-advised. Public access to our parks should always be encouraged, never restricted in a manner such as this, except under the most extreme circumstances.That said, a visit to the Mt. Holyoke Summit House is still a grand experience that should not be missed by anyone visiting the Connecticut River Valley. Its history is amazing, and the views are outstanding, particularly on a clear day, with the Connecticut River and the fields in the Northampton meadows down below. The porch is phenomenal and even includes a few old-fashioned rocking chairs. On the day of my most recent visit, two hang gliders were performing an aerial ballet just beyond the cliffs.Although the best way to reach the Summit House is on one of the many park trails, there is also a paved access road for the elderly, handicapped, or those so inclined to hike. Adjacent to the house is a very nice picnic area with tables, grills, and equally outstanding views.

The Summit House sits atop Mount Holyoke and possesses a very impressive view from the wrap-around porch. There are a variety of paths for those who wish to hike up the mountain, and a paved road for those who don't. In the late 19th Century the Summit House was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, second only to Niagara Falls. The reason is simple: the view, the view, the view. There is a helpful Map to identify the many distant topographical features. There are also numerous picnic tables next to the Summit House where one can enjoy both meal and view. I strongly recommend you bring binoculars and/or a telephoto lens for your camera. Cell phones just won't do the job. Hopefully you will have a clear day with little humidity. The view warrants it.