(WWLP) – Hiking is a healthy activity and especially enjoyable in the summer months. Many enjoy hiking with their dogs. Here is a list of hiking spots in western Massachusetts great for dogs to join their human hikers.
For example, Tim Fenton, a western Massachusetts resident, said about Peaked Mt. in Monson, “There’s a pond trail and the mountain trails. Easy to do both in a morning.” Paths are not always well suited for a dog but western Massachusetts has a plethora of options ranging in length, duration, and spanning in difficulty.
Here is a list of local trails available to owners and their dogs :
| Trail Name | Location | Trail Length | Estimated Hike Time |
| Mount Tom Traverse | Holyoke | 3.4mi | 1hr40min |
| Bear Hole Reservoir Road Loop | Watershed Land Park | 2.6mi | 56min |
| Mount Tom via New England Trail | Mount Tom State Reservation | 3.9mi | 2hr9min |
| T. bagg, NeT/MM and Keystone Trail | Mount Tom State Reservation | 5.2mi | 2hr46min |
| Bray Lake Loop Trail Rice Nature Preserve Trails | Mount Holyoke Range State Park | 1.9mi | 50 min |
| Goat Peak Lookout Trail | Mount Tom State Reservation | 1.5mi | 42min |
| T Bagg Trail | Mount Tom State Reservation | 1.4mi | 50min |
| Southwick Rail Trail | Westfield | 6.6mi | 2hr1m |
| Manhan rail trail: Millpond to East | Northampton | 4.8mi | 1hr27min |
| Grace A. Robson Sanctuary Trail | Westfield | 3mi | 1hr39min |
| Westfield River Trail | Robinson State Park | 5.6mi | 2hr6min |
| Chumbawumba and Bear Hole Reservation | Watershed Land Park | 7mi | 2hr41min |
| Mount Marcy Trail | Wilbraham | 1.5mi | 49min |
| MA NET: Section 5 | Holyoke | 4.3mi | 2hr5min |
| Small Waterfall Trail | Robinson State Park | 2.9mi | 1hr3min |
| Rice Nature Preserve Trails | Rice Nature Preserve | 3mi | 1hr 43min |
| Chesterfield Gorge | Chesterfield | ||
| Peaked Mt. | Monson | 2mi | 1hr4min |
| Goat Rock Trail | Hampden Memorial Park | 2.6 mi | 1hr23min |
| Roller Coaster Loop Trail from Batchler Street | Mount Holyoke Range State Park | 3.0mi | 1hr 10min |
| Bear Mountain | Mount Holyoke Range State Park | 1.1mi | 49min |
| Mount Hitchcock, Summit House | Mount Holyoke Range State Park | 13.5mi | 6h28min |
| Mount Norwottuck | Mount Holyoke Range State Park | 2.3mi | 1hr25min |
| Mount Holyoke Summit | Skinner State Park | 1.9 mi | 1h12min |
| Summit House via Taylor’s Notch Trail | Skinner State Park | 2.2mi | 1hr23min |
| Rattlesnake Knob via M and M trail (White) | Mount Holyoke Range State Park | 3.9mi | 2hr22min |
| Rock House Reservation Trail | Rock House Reservation | 2.1mi | 55min |
| Buffumville Lake Loop | Charlton | 6.7mi | 2hr6min |
| Contant Brook Reservoir | Monson | 3.3mi | 1hr7min |
| Manhan Rail Trail: Ferry to Southampton | Easthampton | 5mi | 1hr31min |
| Dufrense Loop Trail | Granby | 2mi | 45min |
| Robinson State Park Extended Loop | Robinson State Park | 10.2mi | 3h44min |
| Dinosaur Footprints Trail | Holyoke | .2mi | 4min |
| Chicopee Paved Trail | Chicopee Memorial State Park | 2.6mi | 57min |
| Alton’s Way, White Cedar, Coleman Cove | McDonald Nature Preserve | 4.4mi | 1hr20min |
| Thayer Brook Conservation Area | Thayer Brook Conservation Area | 2.5mi | 1hr2min |
| Cold Spring Trail | Herman Covey Wildlife Management Area | 2.7mi | 1h7min |
| Koala Trail Loop | Facing Rock Wildlife Management Area | 4.2mi | 1hr38min |
| Keystone Extension Loop via Quarry Trail | Mount Tom State Reservation | 1.5mi | 33min |
| Facing Rock and High Hill Loop | Facing Rock Wildlife Management Area | 8.3mi | 3hr21min |
| Jefferson Peak Loop via Bridle Road | Facing Rock Wildlife Management Area | 3.4mi | 1hr16min |
| MA MET: Section 3 | West Springfield | 3.2mi | 1h22min |
| Columbia Greenway Rail Trail | Westfield | 6.1mi | 1hr52min |
| Twelve Mile Brook Recreation Trail | Twelve Mile Brook Conservation Area | 1.9mi | 42min |
| Flynt Quarry Trail | Monson | 2.1mi | 57min |
| Crane Hill Loop | Twelve Mile Brook Conservation Area | 2mi | 1hr1min |
| Facing Rock Loop | Facing Rock Wildlife Management Area | 7.2mi | 2h43min |
| Universal Access, Kay Bee, Keystone | Mount Tom State Reservation | 3.8mi | 1hr49min |
| Oakland Trail Walk | Wilbraham | 1.1mi | 22min |
| Little Tom Mountain via Woodland Trail | Mount Tom State Reservation | 1.3mi | 37min |
| Mount Vision Loop | Hampden | 1.7mi | 1hr4min |
| Fountain Park Trail | Fountain Park | 1.7mi | 32min |
| Thayer Brook Easy Loop | Thayer Brook Conservation Area | .5mi | 12min |
| Tekoa WMA and Westfield Reservoir Trail | Tekoa Mountain Wildlife Management Area | 4.4mi | 2h9min |
Some of these trails have water, making them great for dogs. The most important piece to remember about hiking with a dog, each trail is in nature, making it a healthy hobby for both parties.
