The mountain is a very cool place with the BEST marked trails and map I've seen so far. As someone…read morewho frequently goes the wrong way when hiking it was a huge relief to know exactly where I was on the mountain. The visitor center staff was helpful and parking plentiful. There are many trail options from wide and easy to narrow and more challenging. None of it was tough. I'd say this is a great choice for those who don't hike often, or like a fun over a hard climb. We did a 6 Mile loop to the reservoir on top of the mountain and back down along the Rose Ledge trail.

Northfield Mountain is a great place to go for recreation, education, or just to relax. It is not…read moreonly a recreational/conservation area but also a pumped storage hydroelectric facility (meaning that it has a man-made pond of sorts at the top of the mountain that is used for hydroelectric power when the towns and cities in the area need it...they have free tours to check it out!). There are also a lot of outdoor activities including hiking trails, education programs, canoing, and the list goes on (check out their website). The scenery is incredible, its a very quiet place to go and take in some nature. I was there recently for an environment education program which was a lot of fun and very well organized. I've actually been going to place since I was a kid.

Also known as Recreational Area Otter Brook Lake, this picturesque park was a perfect hike to enjoy…read morethe fall foliage. Technically, the park is closed for the season, but foot traffic is allowed. There is a small amount of parking near the entrance and we walked into the park from there. A map shows the layout of the park and where dogs can roam on and off leash. Otter Brook is lovely with babbling water flowing over large rocks. The leaves on the trees were brilliant shades of red and yellow. White bark of the birch trees framed the forest. There is a bridge over and along the Brook. Picnic tables, grills and pavilions are available when the park is open for the season. Further back, we found Otter Brook Lake, created by the Army Corps of Engineers. The lake is sparklingly with reflections of the trees. There is a beach on the lake, but swimming is not currently allowed. There are two restroom facilities and more parking, that were closed for the season. Paved and unpaved trails wind around the lake. There was no charge to enter the park (10/24). Lovely and quiet make the park a win in my book.

What a surprise. A NH state park, Chesterfield Gorge has well marked trails, hand laid wooden…read morebridges, a cute gift shop, is conveniently located & the grounds are well maintained. The gorge itself has picturesque views throughout the canyon. Our visit was October so between the fall foliage and crisp air, we really couldn't have asked for a better day. Because of the low water level we were actually able to walk up through the water itself which provided amazing views both up & down the rocks. Be careful of slippery rock surfaces & steep drops in some places.

Zoar Picnic Area located on Zoar Rd. in Charlemont is one of our favorite places to go during the…read moresummer. This picnic area has a ton of different benches and grill. The other great part about this park is the fact that it has easy accessibility to the river which is great when it come to swimming on a hot day. Yearly we make it a point to bring our water resistant chair and plop in the water for hours. Overall, the park is pretty basic but it is definitely a go to for us.

This is a great place to just grab a tube and go all on your own for free. Life jackets should be…read moreworn for younger kids .Its a great time with a 45 minute lazy river ride and great scenery .Some areas have higher rapids but for the most part pretty safe just have to hang on when going through rapids (best part is the rapids) so enjoy the ride .I've been coming here since I was like ten .I have great memories.

I have hiked A LOT of mountains in New England but I had never hiked the mountain it seemed like…read moreeveryone I knew had hiked. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to change that and now I can see what all the hubbub is about. What a great mountain with fantastic views. After doing a bit of homework, I realized it was in my best interest to make a park reservation so that I could secure a parking space for the day at the start of the trailheads I was eyeing for the next day. As one of the most hiked mountains (in the world?), this park reports hosting a massive number of visitors each year and from first hand experience, I can attest that it is a busy one. The $15 was worth the peace of mind and my ability to pull right in and hop onto the trail. I had a hard time locating their "opening hours" but I arrived shortly after 8am with about 20 cars there ahead of me. I really appreciated the park ranger that checked me in for my reservation at the Poole Road entrance. Incredibly welcoming, inquisitive about plans, quick to offer advice for the best experience, and even shared a weather update (30 mph+ winds at the summit that day) before I was on my way. Supplied with a paper map and an idea which trails would be least busy and most scenic, I felt well-prepared for an enjoyable morning on the mountain. I opted to start out on the White Dot Trail. For less crowds, I branched off to the Cascade Link, then hooked a left onto the Red Spot Trail which delivered me to the summit. Gaining elevation at a slow and steady pace, I found the whole climb quite enjoyable. I rejoined the crowd at the summit but still with plenty of room for photos of the scenery and some quiet time to enjoy a snack. Wide open, bald summit with views for days. I would have stayed longer if not for the strong winds. After nestling in between the rocks away from the air currents to enjoy a brief snack, I was on my way down the mountain via the White Cross Trail. There were even glimpses of Boston in the distance! Each trail was clearly marked by it namesake (literally white dots, red dots, and white crosses) which made wayfinding a breeze. That said, I still came across a party or two that had gotten turned around. Do your homework, connect to a trail app if you have the means, practice your map reading skills, and heed the recommendations of the rangers and you should have the basic tools you need to keep you on track and still smiling. So many trails and options that can keep you coming back for more. The visitor center at this entrance was a welcome amenity, restrooms, and all. I cannot comment on the park store because it was closed for lunch when I was finishing up. All in all I got in just under 5 miles using the route that I did. Beautiful peak, beautiful day. Highly recommend.

Great day hike and not for those with weak ankles! Took the white dot trail up and used the white…read morecross trail to come down. Forgot the bug spray which would have kept the critters at bay with much of the trail having slow or puddled water. Parking wasn't too crowded, $15 for access to park. Snack and gift shop in the lot and the headquarters building just up the trail. Great restroom facility to use prior to starting the hike as well. Very rocky terrain all the way up, clearly marked with white dots (crosses as well for the return). Enjoyed the fact there were multiple volunteer guides hiking or positioned at locations (one steady at fork for dot/cross) if needed. Had low reception all through the hike for emergencies as well. Beautiful views towards the top and of course 360 once on the summit. Definitely worth the time spent. Pack in pack out, bring water and snacks along with the spray (both bug and sun)! Enjoyed a quick snack on the top with the views and a quick tsp of the marker before heading back down. Time to get up to the peak, what are you waiting for?!

Very short hike to witness beautiful waterfalls. If you are in the area, it's worth a stop.read more

Beautiful walk into nature and waterfalls. We went in the fall and it was absolutely beautiful.read more

This afternoon while walking in downtown Greenfield we decided to walk down to Energy Park for the…read morefirst time. When we got to the park we were surprised to see how large it was and how unique it was as well. This park has an old train caboose which is used as an exhibit, has a cute playground area for children, and also has the towns old train station platform which is now used as a stage for performances during the summer. The park itself is fairly large and it has a great layout. It has multiple stone benches and picnic tables. It was great to walk around the park but at this time it was really dirty. During the winter the park isn't maintained and seems as though it is a haven for people to go to and drink. There was a ton of empty alcohol bottles as well as trash. In the park there was also a few people who seemed a bit out of place, but they didn't bother us as we walked around and enjoyed the fresh air. This park seems as though it is a great place to hang out when the weather is nice. From what it says on their website it seems as though it hosts some great celebrations during the summer and fall as well. The only thing is that it seems like a place where you should be cautious of going during off peak hours or during the night. This park has great potential, and we can't wait to go back when the weather is warmer!

Wwe visited Poets Seat Tower while we were in the area for a weekend of music at the Franklin…read moreCounty Fairgrounds. There is parking right at the base of the tower, and the stairs leading to the tower's topmost level are sturdy and easy to climb. The view from the top is expansive, and we could see thunderstorms approaching from several miles away. The tower is pretty cool, but there is quite a bit of graffiti and trash in the area. I felt safe here with our group during the daytime, but it does seem kind of isolated, so not sure if I would come here alone or after dark. Glad we visited, though, and the view from the top was pretty awesome!

Nicely constructed tower in honor of a greenfield resident poet, nice view that I will include a…read morephoto of. Hike or drive to the top. Perfect for sunsets! While I have been here, 4 cars have driven up, sat in their car with a modest view through their dirty windshields and then left after a few spare minutes. Strange way to take it in. I recommend ascending the tower or at least getting out of your car ; )