As Autumn advances and ushers in cooler, crisper weather, 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.

Join us for our fourth and final Hiking for Health event of 2021 to get your blood flowing and enjoy a “peak” experience in a conservation area close to home. This 3-hour trek will be to the summit of Mount Norwottuck (elevation is 1,106 feet) on Saturday, November 6 from 9 am to noon.

Kestrel Land Trust’s Stewardship Manager, Stu Watson, will lead a 4.5 mile loop hike that will include the New England Trail (Metacomet-Monadnock Trail) and Robert Frost Trail with stops along the way to see the views from Rattlesnake Knob and the dramatic Horse Caves.

Mount Norwottuck, an iconic point on the Pioneer Valley landscape, is the highest peak of the Mount Holyoke Range and offers sweeping views of the valley. Norwottuck is the Algonquian name for the area that is now Northampton and Hadley.

Please Note: Participants must be able to climb steep slopes and navigate uneven ground. For the safety of our community, all participants are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Because space is limited to 10 participants, registration will be made available first to anyone who has not yet participated in our Hiking for Health series, so as many as possible can experience it!