Ten family-friendly hikes in New England

Maria Fuentes
Mount Tom State Reservation
The conservation land covering more than 2,000 acres in the heart of the Pioneer Valley is home to 75 percent of the states reptile and amphibian species. It also houses more than 20 miles of trails to explore mature forests en route to striking clifftop panoramas.
Hike: Follow the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail 1.5 miles south. A steep climb over scenic Whiting Peak soon leads to dramatic traprock ledges near the summit of Deadtop watch your step! Parallel trails to the east offer slightly longer, more gradual return options.
Trailhead: Located on Smiths Ferry Road in Holyoke, 1.5 miles west of the reservations main entrance.
The conservation land covering more than 2,000 acres in the heart of the Pioneer Valley is home to 75 percent of the states reptile and amphibian species. It also houses more than 20 miles of trails to explore mature forests en route to striking clifftop panoramas.
Hike: Follow the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail 1.5 miles south. A steep climb over scenic Whiting Peak soon leads to dramatic traprock ledges near the summit of Deadtop watch your step! Parallel trails to the east offer slightly longer, more gradual return options.
Trailhead: Located on Smiths Ferry Road in Holyoke, 1.5 miles west of the reservations main entrance.