Mineral Hills Conservation Area
Fifteen minutes from downtown Northampton exists a special place that seems a world apart from the nearby bustling cultural center. The Mineral Hills is a hilly forest with dramatic ridge-top views, wetlands, beaver ponds, and an abandoned rock quarry. There is an extensive wooded trail system here marked by signs and numbered intersections thanks to the Friends of the Mineral Hills. The trails pass by rock outcroppings and provide several different views of the large quarry, both from the bottom where you can peer into the rocky pools and a dramatic cliff-edge view from above. From the upper quarry edge, you can see the Mount Holyoke Summit House on a clear day. This is a great place for wildlife tracking, as porcupines are among the creatures who are likely to show their presence.
The conservation lands here are owned by the City of Northampton and portions are monitored by Kestrel through a Conservation Restriction. The Friends of Mineral Hills maintains the trails.
What You Can Do There
What to Look For
- Abandoned rock quarry with view of Mount Holyoke
- Porcupine dens in the rocks
This is a Great Place For
- Hikers
- Birders
- Families
You Should Know
- Parking is available at the end of Turkey Hill Road marked by a Mineral Hills Conservation Area sign
- Open dawn to dusk, year round
- Please keep dogs on leash and pick up after your pet
- Respect adjacent private property by staying on the trail
Contact for More Information
City of Northampton, Office of Planning & Sustainability
Phone: 413-587-1262
Email: wfeiden@northamptonma.gov
Friends of Mineral Hills
Email: rsproull@umass.edu
