Hiking trails can be fragile. The following regulations are intended to prolong the life of these trails while allowing a variety of appropriate uses. Note that motorized vehicles are prohibited from all trails.

The following trails or sections of trails are off limits to horses and mountain bikes because of seasonally wet conditions or fragile soils:

Eastman Brook / Norman Cousins (Kestrel Trust) and access trail to Cousins Area from Leverett Road / Upper & Lower Mill River / Podick & Katharine Cole / Mt. Castor
Upper Fort River / Lower Fort River / Plum Brook North, Central, and South / Cider Mill Pond & King’s Reserve / Elf Meadow / Larch Hill & Larch Hill North / Hop Brook
Wentworth Farm / Brickyard (northern link to Norwottuck Rail Trail) / Gralenski Farm
Houston & Gage Parcels (Shutesbury)
Robert Frost Trail: Lawrence Swamp Section, Amherst Woods Section, Echo Hill Section, Mill River Section, Eastman Brook Section
KC Trail: Amherst Woods Section, Mt. Castor Section, Shays Street to Middle Street Section

The following trails or sections of trails are open to horses and mountain bikes with the precaution that during wet conditions horses and mountain bikes stay off until trails are dry again:

Wildwood / Atkins Flats (Well No.4 Road and woods road to Warren Wright Road)
Mt. Holyoke Range / Amethyst Brook / Plum Springs / Leslie Farm / Brickyard (southern link to Norwottuck Rail Trail) / Sweet Alice / Fortier / Pulpit Hill
Robert Frost Trail: Holyoke Range Section, Harkness Brook Section, Amethyst Brook to Pratt Corner Road Section, Mt. Toby Section, Montague Wildlife Corridor Section
KC Trail: Plum Springs Section, Mt. Holyoke Range Section

The following areas have no formal trails but are generally dry enough for horse or mountain bike use:

Mt. Pollux / Haskins Meadow / Gull Pond

The following areas have no formal trails and are not appropriate for horse or mountain bike use because of wet conditions or other reasons.

Cushman Brook / Hawley Swamp / Longley Swamp / Salem / Bayberry / Hart Farm / Simmons Farm / Steigner / Gulliver Meadow / Rolling Ridge / Cherry Lane (Robert K. Patterson Area) / High Point Drive / Applewood

Additional trail notes: If you encounter a horse and rider on a trail, announce yourself by simply saying “hello” to the rider. This will ensure that the horse is aware of your presence. Do not pat a horse without first asking the rider’s permission.

We encourage trail users to call the Conservation Department at 256-4045 to report any trail maintenance needs they may encounter.