Hiking in the Connecticut/Pioneer Valley
Living in the Pioneer Valley provides a wealth of opportunities to take great nature photographs. These are just a few of the places around here that I like to hike, there are many more and I’ll be adding to this list over time. The descriptions below are taken from each location’s official website and you can click on the headline to go to these websites.
An early morning on the Quabbin Reservoir in Shutesbury, Mass
Quabbin Reservoir is one of the largest unfiltered water supplies in the United States. Along with the Wachusett Reservoir and Ware River, it is the source of high-quality water for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority water supply system. The 412-billion-gallon reservoir covers 39 square miles with 181 miles of shoreline. Recreational activities are regulated and limited to protect 3 million people’s drinking water.
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
Sunrise at the Conte Wildlife Refuge
The 293-acre Fort River Division, located in Hadley, Massachusetts, is named after the major body of water flowing through it: the Fort River. This river is located in the eastern portion of the Pioneer Valley, drains a 35,830-acre watershed, and is the longest free-flowing tributary to the Connecticut River in Massachusetts. There are a variety of habitat types found within this division, including hardwood forest, floodplain forest, and grasslands. A one-mile long, fully accessible natural trail is located at the Fort River division. The trail is open to the public from sun-up to sundown, year-round. This division is open to the public for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, environmental education, and interpretation.
Doane’s Falls, Royalston, Massachusetts
For more than a century, The Trustees has been on the ground in communities across Massachusetts, working to protect special places, providing loving care of our reservations, building creative new programs to engage people, and sharing our expertise with neighbors and partners across the state.
Sweet Alice Pond, Amherst, Mass
In the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts, we’re fortunate to have so many special places to escape to, to recharge, to explore, to enjoy solitude or adventure. Browse this list of conservation areas and trails close to home.
Massachusetts Wildlife Areas – Connecticut Valley
Sunrise in the Herman Covey Wildlife Refuge in Belchertown, Mass
Wildlife Management Areas are public areas that are protected to provide habitat for wildlife and to give people a place to explore wild Massachusetts. These lands are free and open to the public for walking, hiking, hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife viewing.
The New England National Scenic Trail) is a 235-mile hiking trail route that has been in existence for over half a century. The NET travels through 41 communities in Connecticut & Massachusetts, and is comprised primarily of the historic Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Monadnock (M-M-M) Trail systems.
Lake Wallace provides for a unique way to experience a biodiverse environment. It incorporates an accessible design to help people with disabilities enjoy and learn about this space. Wide, sloping trails, signage that incorporates braille lettering, and a cable guide help everyone navigate the area. It is located behind the Belchertown Police Department and Recreation Buildings at 70 State Street. Map