The best places to see fall foliage in Western Mass!

CHICOPEE, Mass. (Mass Appeal) - As the leaves are changing and the weather is cooling, what better way to enjoy the crisp weather and great outdoors than hiking, biking or driving around to see some of our beautiful local and regional treasures?

Wendy Sweeter, Community Conservation and Outreach Specialist from The Trustees in the Pioneer Valley , showed us some of the best places to see the fall foliage in each county this season.
 

Field Farm in Berkshire County

• Fabulous views of Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts’ highest peak
• Featuring four miles of foot trails, forests, farmland, and meadows and many miles of hiking trails which are so colorful at this time of year as well as two buildings-- the Folly, a Modern-style cottage built on the property in 1966, and The Guest House, one of the Trustees’ two B&Bs
• If you’re looking for a fun fall getaway, The Guest House – an Edwin Goodell, Jr. designed 1948 Bauhaus-inspired house --  offers an authentic contemporary art experience amidst a spectacular conserved landscape and features Scandinavian furniture, modern art, and international-style architecture

Peaked Mountain in Hamden County

• This beautiful 333-acre property offers a challenging hike, good workout and a pretty view
• The 1,227-foot summit offers spectacular views of undisturbed rural and forested landscapes in every direction: Connecticut's Shenipsit State Forest to the south, Mount Monadnock to the north, and Mount Wachusett to the northeast. The hike can be strenuous in places and is about 45 minutes each way
• For an easy hike or walk, the property offers 3.5 miles of trails through a variety of terrain, some road-width, others trail-width with a one-mile woodland trail looping around Lunden pond
• Wherever you go, the views are spectacular: In between the mountains and forests lies a sweep of rolling New England countryside with forested hills and ridges, valley farms, and small villages. The Valley View overlook provides views of nearby Boulder Hill and the City of Springfield to the west.
• What better way to enjoy the leaves and crisp fall weather than to join us this Sunday October 14th for The Trustees’ annual 9th Annual 7K Birthday Trail Race and 1.5 Mountain Fun Walk at 10 am. Race entry fee is $25 day of the event.  For walk participants, entry fee is $5 day of the event.  To register, please call 413.532.1631 x14.

Bryant Homestead in Hampshire County

• With beautiful panoramic views of the Westfield River Valley, this is lovely spot for a visit, a picnic and a scenic walk through history and time
• A National Historic Landmark and former home of William Cullen Bryant, a famous poet and newspaper editor who in 1865 converted his boyhood home into a summer refuge, this property is a place to get inspired. You can follow Bryant’s footsteps on this 195 acre pastoral estate, pondering how the landscape portrayed in his poetry 150 years ago remains largely unchanged. 
• You can walk along the same maple tree allee’ planted by the Bryant family, gaze out over the rolling hills from the Victorian cottage, explore the old growth forest on the Rivulet Trail, and the sugar bush used by Bryant and his brothers that contains trees almost 200 years old.
• The property offers 2.5 miles of moderate hiking trails and lots of scenery, including a historic red barn

Bullit Reservation in Franklin County

• One of 13 Trustees properties located in the Pioneer Valley, this beautiful property was once a poor farm, and then later part of the country retreat of first U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union William C. Bullitt and his daughter Ann
• The 262 acre properties offers eye-pleasing blend of fields and farm buildings, mixed woodlands, and streams forms a crucial link in almost 3,000 acres of protected land in the area
•  It offers a beautiful view of the rolling PV hills and a trail with a nice overlook over a field and nearby hills
• The Trustees are designing trails to both showcase the reservation and connect to a larger network of footpaths in Ashfield and beyond that lace this lovely part of the Pioneer Valley
• The property also features one of The Trustees 4 Green Buildings – and home of the Hilltown Land Trust – which is a highly energy efficient building and a place where you can learn about how to restore your own home with these green features.
• If you love photography, we have a great Nature Photography session coming up on 10/20 and 10/27 where you can learn how to improve your nature and outdoor with this two-day mix of classroom and outdoor shooting. You will learn how to make the most of your available equipment, techniques for landscape and macro photography, and enjoy time wandering the scenic fields and buildings at Bullitt, taking photos and receiving feedback from the instructor, a professional photographer and experienced teacher.

For more information visit thetrustees.org .