norwottuck rail trail

This is a very pleasant walk that can be entered at several points (with parking available). One can walk from one end of Amherst MA through Hadley and then through Northampton MA and beyond. It is a bike trail, but has plenty of walkers. Previously it had glass chips in the surface (that could give problems to tires), but this surface has now been replaced and the bumps caused by roots removed. The walk across the Connecticut River at the Northampton-Hadley boundary is especially nice. In that part of the trail across an old railroad bridge, one is in the treetops for part of the walk and at the right time of day the birds are all around.

We used this trail on our bike tour for two different days and loved it. Great pavement, access and scenery.

This nearly 9-mile bike path is incredibly scenic, exceptionally well marked, has lots of access points near to services and has just (summer of 2014) been resurfaced, so the riding is without a bump. The bridge over the Connecticut River alone is worth doing, but if you have a bike or enjoy a nice walk, spend a longer time on the trail.

I've been biking on the Norwottuck Rail Trail for the past 3 years and enjoy going every time. I find it peaceful and very scenic passing by farms, wetlands, and through beautiful towns. Just recently this year, it went through a major reconstruction which makes riding even that much better. The big bridge that you have to cross provides beautiful scenic views as well.

We bike 25 miles on these connecting trails. Made for a great memorial day outing. The bridge over the river is so cool!

Many parts of the trail are beautiful and there are paths leading off to explore. I use it for exercise, running and biking, and for getting to other places. People on the path are pleasant, often exchanging greetings. I suspect that is because they are happier than people on the regular streets, just because they are on the bike path. The ride from Northampton to Easthampton is especially recommended.

Beautiful, recently repaved bike trail. Many miles along Connecticut river, through farmland, many New England towns and small cities.

The trail passes thru farms, college campuses, restaurants, malls, beaver ponds and just great scenery of the mountain ranges in Hadley as well. If you want to take a break Maple Farm Foods at the intersection of rt 116 is a great place to stop for lunch or ice cream, The market has outdoor and indoor seating as well as bike racks. A great place for a nice quick snack or a full lunch. The bridge over the CT river is currently closed, you can go around this bridge by using RT 9 and get to the other part of the trail but RT 9 is a very busy road. Enjoy your bike ride!

We rode the Amherst Connector from UMass to the Norwottuck Rail Trail (about 1.5 miles), then the Norwottuck Trail west to the Connecticut River (about 7 miles), then back again. It's a really nice ride. You are never far from civilization, and you do see buildings and roads, but you also pass by many farms and fields, a golf course, wetlands, etc. Very nice views of the Holyoke Range in some sections of the trail. It's nicely shaded, and this time of year it was really nice with the foliage colors. Some posters have mentioned the bumps in the trail. It's true that there are some bumps. They are highlighted with red paint, but it was hard to see that today with all the leaves on the pavement. However, the bumps really aren't that bad. We had no problem with them. And the last few miles towards the river are newly paved and perfectly smooth. The only negative is that the long RR bridge across the Connecticut River is blocked off, so you have to detour across the auto bridge. There is a sidewalk, but it is still unnerving with the cars flying by. Once you get across the river, you can get back on the bike trail and continue west (though we didn't do this part, we turned around and went back). There is a dock on the west side of the river that is a nice spot to take a break. I'm not sure why the bridge is blocked off. It looks fine, but there must be some work being done on it. Also, I'm not sure how wide this bike path is. It seems that it might be a little narrower than some others that we've been on. It is wide enough for travel in both directions, though.

this is a gem. a fantastic and interesting walk from the historic town of northampton to hadley. you will relax and enjoy the beautiful countryside

My family and I enjoyed going to both Look Park and to Southampton on the trail on different days. Quite a few road crossings but a well maintained and pretty trail with a lot of shade. If you go to Southampton, eat at the Tandem Bagel Company!

We walked two sections of the trail. Another portion is currently closed for upgrade. What we found was a lovely paved path with a few cyclists and fewer walkers. The walk was very easy and peaceful, and we even saw a rabbit and a snake, but not together.

There is an ethic to bicycle to work and to enjoy it for recreation. The rail trail takes you through the best towns and cities in western MA. There are great places to stop along the way. You can cross the CT River on the trail (using the old railroad bridge).

I go on this bike path weekly. Love the views, minimal traffic, friendly people, and good exercise. Connects for miles.

As of mid-summer 2013, the Norwottuck trail is in bad shape, especially for those with high pressure tires. Parts of it will be closing soon for widening and repaving. Will be a wonderful ride again when it is done (2014?).