Topping Farm Conservation Area

Topping Farm Conservation Area’s 220-acres was purchased primarily for aquifer protection benefiting the towns of Amherst, Pelham, and Belchertown. Encompassing forested slopes, open fields, Hop Brook, and expansive wetlands, the land nearly connects Lawrence Swamp and the Mt. Holyoke Range and provides scenic roadside views of a varied rural landscape. Parking areas give access for exploring old logging roads on the upland portions of the conservation area. There are three parking areas: one off Goodell St. and two off Orchard Rd. (east and west of Warren Wright Rd.).

• Hike
• Tailgate picnic in the eastern parking area off Orchard Rd.
• Bird-watching
• Nature photography

• A variety of birds in the fields, forests and wetlands, especially in spring
• From the eastern parking area off Orchard Rd., a logging road heads south, connecting to the New England National Scenic Trail (formerly M&M Trail) on Kestrel Land Trust property off Bay Rd.

• Hikers
• Birders
• Families with young children
• Cross-country skiers

• Open to the public from dawn to dusk
• Look out for poison ivy in summer
• Parking areas also provide access to the Lawrence Swamp portion of the Robert Frost Trail (short walk along public roads is needed).

Belchertown Conservation Commission
2 Jabish Street Belchertown, MA 01007
Erica Cross, Conservation Administrator
413-323-0405
ecross@belchertown.org