Category Archives: Public Transit Hikes

Pioneer Valley Public Transit Hikes – #3: Mt. Tom Range

I’ve started a new series of hikes using public transportation leaving from Northampton, Massachusetts. Our third hike will be Saturday, April 15, 2017 – details below. You can also follow the series on the PVPTH Facebook page.

Mt. Tom Range from Rt. 141 to Rt. 5

Mt. Tom range from the Oxbow
Mt. Tom range from the Oxbow
  • Difficulty: Hard – steep climbs, long distance.
  • Distance: 6.5 miles.
  • Transit: PVTA R41 (schedule , map) & B48 (schedule, map) from the Academy of Music, 274 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060,  $1.25 each way.

Meet Saturday 4/15/17 to catch the 10 a.m. bus at the Academy of Music – we’ll take the R41 bus through Easthampton and get off on Rt. 141 at the top of the hill just after passing into Holyoke.  We’ll hike north on the New England/M&M Trail, up over Mt. Tom and along the ridge, heading down after Mt. Nonotuck to East St and then Route 5.  We’ll catch the B48 bus back into Northampton by late afternoon.

If you’re coming from Williamsburg, Leeds or Florence, you can catch the R42 bus which becomes the R41 at the Academy of Music.

Pioneer Valley Public Transit Hikes – #2: East Mountain & HCC Trails

I’ve started a new series of hikes using public transportation leaving from Northampton, Massachusetts. Our second hike was Saturday, November 14, 2015 – details below. You can also follow the series on the PVPTH Facebook page.

East Mountain & Holyoke Community College Trails

  • Difficulty: Hard – hcctrailshills with some steep climbs, navigating unmarked trails.  Also difficult to alert the bus driver to the right spot to be dropped off at.
  • Distance: About 4 miles.
  • Transit: PVTA R41 (schedule , map) from the Academy of Music, 274 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060.  $1.25 each way.

Meet Saturday 11/14 at 1 p.m. at the Academy of Music – we’ll take the R41 bus through Easthampton and get off on Rt. 141 in Holyoke across from the entrance to the Whiting Reservoir Trail Head.  We’ll hike south on the New England/M&M Trail, climb the northern end of East Mountain and connect to the Holyoke Community College (HCC) trail system, catching the bus back from HCC at 4:10 pm, arriving in Northampton by 4:50 pm.  Blaze orange is recommended as it is bow hunting season for deer.

Pioneer Valley Public Transit Hikes – #1: Mt. Nonotuck

I’ve started a new series of hikes using public transportation leaving from Northampton, Massachusetts. One of the great things about using transit to get to places to hike is that it’s easy to do one-way hikes – you can get off at one stop and take a hike to another stop, all without requiring shuttling two vehicles.  Our first hike was Saturday, October 31, 2015 – details below.  Also follow the series on the PVPTH Facebook page.

Mt. Nonotuck, Goat Peak and Lake Bray

The view from Mount Nonotuck
The view from Mount Nonotuck
  • Difficulty: Moderate – uphill on a carriage road, up and down along the ridge, then downhill on trails
  • Distance: 3.2 to 4.0 miles (1.1 on roads, 2.1 to 2.9 on trails)
  • Transit: PVTA B48 (schedule , map) from the Academy of Music, 274 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060.  Travel time is 10-15 minutes each way.  Runs 7 days a week, less frequently on Sundays.  $1.25 each way, or $3 for a day pass.
  • Hiking time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on speed and how much time you want to spend exploring the Eyrie House ruins

Continue reading Pioneer Valley Public Transit Hikes – #1: Mt. Nonotuck