Fall is approaching and with it the start of New England’s brilliant foliage season! Here’s a chance to get out for a vigorous small-group hike led by a Kestrel staff member to a local peak and on a trail that may be new to you.

Get your blood flowing and enjoy this “peak” experience on Saturday, September 30 from 8:00 AM – Noon. This one-way, five-mile trek will take you from the southern terminus of the Robert Frost Trail (RFT) located at the Mountainside Trailhead on Route 47 in Hadley along the newly designated section of the RFT and over to the Notch Visitors Center located on Route 116 in Amherst. Cars will be stationed at both locations before the hike to provide transportation back to the parking area after the hike.

Passing through Skinner State Park and Mt. Holyoke Range State Park between Routes 47 and 116, this section of the RFT offers a varied and interesting alternative to the famously rugged New England Trail (NET) “Seven Sisters” route along the ridgetop. The route takes hikers over the top of the Range not once but twice, taking advantage of lower “saddles” in the ridge. The terrain is varied, including steep ascents and descents as well as gentler flat and rolling rambles. Hikers will experience both the northern and southern faces of the Range, portions of the famous ridgetop route, and the lovely Lithia Springs Reservoir.

Kestrel Land Trust’s Land Steward Luke Beeson will lead this new 5-mile hike.

Our 2023 Hiking for Health series features four sections of the Robert Frost Trail (RFT) that winds through the heart of Kestrel Land Trust’s service area east of the Connecticut River. The 42-mile RFT traverses a diversity of terrain, including rugged ledges and ravines; streams, ponds, and wetlands; expanses of forest; and farmland. Kestrel’s team is partnering with the Appalachian Mountain Club, the MA Department Conservation & Recreation, and other community members to improve and maintain this beloved regional long-distance trail.

IMPORTANT: Participants must be able to climb steep slopes and navigate uneven ground.

Space is limited and registration is required with a sliding-scale donation.

“Out walking in the frozen swamp one gray day, I paused and said, “I will turn back from here.

No, I will go farther – and we shall see.” – Robert Frost