New England National Scenic Trail - NET

Next Saturday is National Trails Day! NTD was started by the American Hiking Society in 1993 to promote the benefits of hiking, highlight the importance of trails, encourage people to get outdoors, and advocate for trail service.

Our trail partners, Appalachian Mountain Club and Connecticut Forest & Park Association, are hosting events along the NET to celebrate the 33rd NTD! 🥳

We hope to see you out on the trail next weekend. ☺️

To find events in MA: https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UVX000000zW1N2AU/act00018734

To find events in CT: https://ctwoodlands.org/events/ct-trails-day/

📸Thank you to J. Koteen Photography and CFPA for capturing previous National Trails Day hikes and events!

Views From the New England Trail: MA Section 19 & Royalston Falls

This is MA Section 19 of the NET. It is the northernmost section of the trail and runs concurrently with the Tully Trail, protected by the Trustees of Reservations for over 70 years.

It can be accessed through parking on MA Route 32. This section of the NET descends into the Falls Brook area, which flows into the nearby Royalston Falls. It is a great spring hike, especially on a rainy day where you’ll see the brook and waterfall at their peak.

If you stay on the NET you’ll hike up to the New Hampshire state line, making your way onto the Metacomet-Monadnock trail, with 18 miles to the summit of Mt. Monadnock. If you keep down the Tully Trail, you will end up at Royalston Falls. The hike to Royalston Falls makes for a good in-and-out hike, with a round trip of about 1.5 miles. Dogs on leash are welcome as well.

For thru hikers, there is a lean-to shelter a mile into the section with four bunks and nearby water access. As with other overnight sites, reservations for the shelter are available via the NET website.

📸 Thank you to Benji van der Hulst, AMC NET Outreach Assistant, for these wonderful snapshots of Section 19 & Royalston Falls!

Views from the New England Trail: Massachusetts Section 9 📍

This is Section 9 of the New England Trail in Massachusetts! It is a 2.7-mile traverse through the forests and hills of South Amherst and Belchertown. The trail passes over hills, some steep, some smooth. Its changes in elevation adds challenge to your walk. You may be able to get a glimpse of the Mount Holyoke Range at some points on the way! Right now, the blooms on the trail are subtle, but you will see azure bluets popping up all around.

📸 Thank you to Benji van der Hulst, AMC NET Outreach Assistant, for these wonderful snapshots of Section 9!

The Trail celebrates a successful day in Critical Maintenance Training. 👷‍♂️👷👷‍♀️

On Saturday, May 2, the Appalachian Mountain Club’s New England National Scenic Trail - NET team gave new and returning volunteers alike a chance to learn hands-on skills in trail maintenance.

AMC staff members Audrey Fatone and Connor Piechota guided volunteers through Section 2 of the NET in Southwick, MA, where they demonstrated the function and proper handling of trail tools. Volunteers learned the basics of drainage building and management, corridor clearing, removal of fallen trees and what features make a trail sustainable. Open discussion allowed volunteers to give their insight on trail maintenance.

Thank you to all staff and volunteers for their participation.

This we are recognizing our Trail Adopters (MA) and Trail Managers (CT) for all they do to help preserve and maintain the New England Trail. With over 45 maintainers along the New England Trail, the efforts of this amazing crew do not go unnoticed. As stewards of the trail, the adopters and managers are responsible for clearing blowdowns, blazing sections, and overall, being advocates of the trail. If you are hiking along and see one of these folks, don't forget to say hello and thank them for all their work; our trail wouldn't be the same without them!

Thank you to all the volunteers and participants who attended the hike and bike event with Appalachian Mountain Club and All Out Adventures at Ashley Reservoir in Holyoke! The weather was perfect minus the bugs!

Participants and volunteers got to use various adaptive bikes, trikes, and hiking equipment around the reservoir. We are grateful to AOA for providing adaptive equipment and educating us on how to make the outdoors more accessible to everyone!

The NET Crew wishes you all a very Happy Earth Day!

As a National Scenic Trail, we are lucky to have amazing organizations like Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Appalachian Mountain Club, and National Park Service helping to maintain, protect, and conserve the New England Trail. Without these organizations, the NET would not be the same.

We hope you are able to today and take a moment to thank the Earth for everything it gives us 🌍

📸Thank you to Karl Fellenbaum for capturing this wonderful sunset over the NET from a few years ago ☺️

Attention NET enthusiasts, the MA Section 16 Cross Street lot is temporarily closed due to ground conditions/mud season. Additionally, parking is now prohibited in the Route 2 lot per landowner request on MA Section 16 as well.

Thank you for understanding! Be safe this weekend!

For updates on closures and notices, please see our website: https://newenglandtrail.org/closures-notices/

Wish we were here! We hope you find time this weekend to enjoy the warmer weather and longer days as we ease into spring ☺️

📸Thank you to Michael Campbell!
📍MA Section 13

Did you know that the Heublein Tower was once owned by the Hartford Times?

From 1943 to 1962, the newspaper used what they called the "Times Tower" to host parties and social events. Now, it is open to the public Friday to Monday, 10am to 4pm. Have you stopped in while hiking CT Section 17?

The Friends of Heublein have a virtual tour of the tower on their website: https://friendsofheubleintower.org/visit-heublein-tower/virtual-tour-of-heublein-tower/

📸Thanks to Zac "Ruffles" Stygar for capturing this great photo of the tower!