NORTHAMPTON BIKE PATH:
NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Planted:
Length: Northampton Bike Path; 4 miles
Look Park Loop Trail; 1.5 miles
Norwottuck Extension Trail; 1 mile
Northampton Connecting Trail; 0.9 miles
Manhan Rail Trail Extension Trail; 0.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Paved trail with slight grade one direction.
Directions: From I-91.
Northbound; Take exit 19 and continue straight off the ramp across Route 9 onto Damon Road. This is where the parking lot for the beginning of the Norwottuck Rail Trail is located. You may park here at Elwell State Park to access the Northampton Bike Trail via the Norwottuck Extension Trail. Continuing along Damon Road, you travel under I-91 and come to Routes 5 & 10 (King St) at the light. To start from King Street; Turn left on King St and follow until you come to the Stop & Shop Kingsgate plaza on your right. Turn right into the plaza. A spur trail runs through the parking lot and connects to the trail. To start from Look Park; Continue straight onto Bridge Road which ends after 2 ¼ miles at Route 9. Look Park is straight ahead of you.
Southbound: Take exit 20 to Routes 5 & 10 (N King St) south. To start from King Street; Continue straight on King St and follow until you come to the Stop & Shop Kingsgate plaza on your right. Turn right into the plaza. A spur trail runs through the parking lot and connects to the trail. To start from Look Park; Turn right onto Bridge Road which ends after 2 ¼ miles at Route 9. Look Park is straight ahead of you.
Note; A parking lot is located on your right just before the entrance booth to Look Park. As there is a fee to enter the park, you may use this lot for the bike trail, fee free.
The Northampton Bike Path follows an abandoned portion of old RR bed. The RR bed was originally constructed in 1868 as part of the New Haven & Northampton Railroad which later was acquired by the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad—most commonly known as the New Haven Railroad (NH). This became its Williamsburg Branch. It runs from the east side of King St (Routes 5 & 10), where the Northampton Connecting Trail and Norwottuck Extension Trail all intersect, north past Look Park and out to Leeds Village. Future plans call for continuing the trail north to Williamsburg. The Norwottuck Extension Trail takes you out to Elwell State Park and the very popular Norwottuck Rail Trail. See; Norwottuck Rail Trail Letterbox. The Northampton Connecting Trail connects you to downtown Northampton and the Manhan Rail Trail Extension Trail, which will soon connect to the Manhan Rail Trail. See; Manhan Rail Trail Letterbox . For more information visit; NORTHAMPTON TRAILS .
Northampton Bike Path:
Starting from King Street; From the intersection of the Northampton Connecting Trail, Norwottuck Extension Trail and Northampton Bike Path just east of King Street, take the paved trail east out to King Street. Turn left and use the cross-light to cross King St to the trail as it travels alongside the Stop & Shop Kingsgate plaza.
Note; An intersecting trail on your right at 0.2 miles is a Spur Trail that travels through the Stop & Shop Kingsgate plaza and back out to King St.
The trail begins a bit of an assent as it travels alongside the Barrett Street Marsh on your right. You'll travel underneath the Jackson Street bridge at 3/4 miles and come to the first of several low volume road crossings via Prospect St at 1 mile. You travel along a high berm and cross two more streets before coming to an adobe bench under a wooden lean-to. Here you'll find an air pump for public use, as well as, a pay phone. A sign indicates their is a "Lending Library" here as well. Just after crossing Chestnut St, look to your left to spot an old RR Semaphore Arm. The trail levels out as you come to Maple St at 2 miles near downtown Florence.
Note; Heading left brings you out to Route 9. Places to shop and eat.
After traveling along a medium sized berm you come to Bridge Street. A map board is located here. The old rail bed continues across the street, but head left along the sidewalk to N Main St (Route 9). Use the cross-walk to take you over to the entrance for Look Park. An opening in the iron gate leads to the Look Park parking lot at 2.7 miles.
Note; Look Park is a great park for kids. Open year round during daylight hours with reasonable entrance fees and picnic site fees. Visit; LOOK PARK for more information on fees and amenities such as pedal boats, bumper boats, miniature golf, water spray park and even a mini train that runs inside the park. A mile and a half paved trail loops through the park connecting all areas together. At the entrance to Look Park is a parking area you may start from, unless you plan on visiting the park, in which case the loop trail within the park will bring you back to this parking lot.
The trail travels past the gatehouse and into the park passing by the miniature golf course. When you reach the road, the trail turns right. Straight takes you along the parks trails. The trail skirts the park before turning right and heading back out of the park and back to the paved rail trail at 3 miles.
Note; If you head right, the trail brings you back out to N Main St where I believe that future plans call for connecting back into the main trail along the undeveloped rail bed across the road.
Head left along the trail as it travels above N Main St on your right and the park on your left. You'll cross over two wooden bridges, the second over Arch St and head back into the woods. You'll spot the Mill River below on your left. A cross-walk gets you over Mulberry St. Down to your left is a nice old brick mill building along the river in Leeds Village. The trail travels only a short distance before the pavement ends at 4 miles. On your left is an old stone dam across the river. Waterfall created by the spillway. Be sure to check it out. The trail continues along the river, but consists of a stone-dust base. At 4.3 miles a paved spur trail takes you uphill to Grove Ave, a residential dead end road. The trail continues north alongside the river to Williamsburg. Future plans call for paving this section, but as of October 2009, have not been completed.
Norwottuck Extension Trail & Northampton Connecting Trail:
Starting from King Street; From the intersection of the Northampton Connecting Trail, Norwottuck Extension Trail and Northampton Bike Path just east of King Street, head south along the paved trail.
Note; To access the Norwottuck Extension Trail, you need to travel north alongside the active RR tracks, however, as of October 2009 this section, which needs to cross over or under the active RR tracks, has not been constructed. Instead you need to follow the Northampton Connecting Trail south along the paved trail.
The trail travels south alongside the active RR tracks and comes to a wooden bridge over North Street. After crossing the bridge at 0.2 miles, you'll come to a paved trail on your right.
Note; To access the Norwottuck Extension Trail, follow this path down to North St and travel right underneath the bridge and railroad tracks. Although you may think North St ends at the intersection, it actually bears left and so do you. When you come to Woodmont Road, take a left and this will bring you to the paved Norwottuck Extension Trail. The trail then takes you through residential Northampton, underneath I-91 and across Damon Street via a cross-light to Elwell State Park and the beginning of the Norwottuck Rail Trail after 1 mile.
Continuing south alongside the active RR tracks you cross a bridge over Main/Bridge Street (Route 9) alongside the B & M Line trestle bridge. This section is referred to as the William Nagle SR. Walkway. The trail then passes by the old Union Station, now "Spaghetti Freddy's" at a 1/2 mile. You come to Pleasant St (Route 5) where a cross-walk takes you over to the trail as it turns westward.
Note; You can detour right out to Main St and downtown Northampton. Lots of shops and places to eat.
After traveling over a small bench lined berm you'll encounter a large parking area as you come to Old South St. Cross this road and follow the trail into the Roundhouse parking lot.
Note; Over on your right is the old Gas Works building (the Roundhouse), which was used as a gas holder when it was constructed in 1856.
Continue straight and travel underneath South St (Route 10) and you'll come to the paved Manhan Rail Trail Extension Trail after 0.9 miles.
Manhan Rail Trail Extension Trail:
Starting from the Roundhouse parking lot; Travel southwest underneath South St along the paved trail, passing by a skateboard park and alongside West St (Route 66). Smith College is just to the north. A parking lot is located just before you pass by the Felt building at 0.3 miles. Next you'll cross a wooden bridge over the Mill River. Check out the scenic red horse stables on your right. The trail currently ends after 0.8 miles at the intersection of Earle & Grove Streets. Future plans call for continuing the trail south where it will intersect with the Manhan Rail Trail in Easthampton. Construction is slated to begin in the Fall of 2009 to complete this connection.
HH
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BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING