WHITING STREET RESERVOIR LETTERBOX:
HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Planted: April 3, 2008
Length:
Loop Trail from
Whiting Street Reservoir parking area to Letterbox; 0.6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate for kids biking. Stone-dust trail with a few small hills.
Directions:
Take exit 17 off of I-91 to Route 141.
To start from the Mt. Park Road
parking area; Head
east on Route 141to Route 5. Turn left onto Route 5 north and keep an eye out
for
To start from the Whiting Street Reservoir parking area; Head west on Route 141. Just after you pass the entrance for the Wyckoff Golf Course, take a left onto Old Easthampton Road. I didn't see a street sign for it however. Park near the "East Mt. Wildlife Area'" sign. To your right will be two stone pillars. Pass through these old pillars and you'll come to Route 141. Across "busy" Route 141 is the entrance to the reservoir via the old Whiting Street Reservoir road. This stone-dust road takes you a ½ mile down to the reservoir loop trail, where you head right. See clues. Note; to reach the reservoir trail, you travel downhill a ½ mile, which means you must return back uphill a ½ mile. Not recommended for kids on bikes.
In constructing the Whiting Street Reservoir in the 1890's, the City of Holyoke turns 5000 acres on Mt Tom into protected watershed. In 1895, work begins on Mountain Park, a "trolley park" at the base of Mt. Tom. It is to be operated by the Holyoke Street Railway Co. In 1897 the Holyoke Street Railway Co. opens up the Mountain Park amusement park as well as their house on the summit of Mt Tom. The summit house features a restaurant, constant entertainment, and a spectacular view. The project changed hands several times until its closure in 1988 when competition from larger amusement parks gradually sapped business away what had become affectionately known by locals as "The Queen of the Mountain." Remnants of the park are still visible today. For more information concerning the history of Mt. Tom Reservation visit; MT TOM RESERVATION . Another trail runs from the Mt Park Road parking lot up to the summit of Mt Tom. See; Mt Tom Railroad Trail .
Starting from the
Note; For a shortcut to the Letterbox, head left along the trail.
I headed right, however, so skip ahead in the clues starting from the Whiting Street
access trail.
Heading right takes you
around the northern end of the reservoir at 1 mile. Your now traveling along the
west side of the reservoir. You'll come right alongside the reservoir at 1.8
miles. At 2 ½ miles, you come to the southern end of the reservoir and a fork
in the trail.
Note; Right takes you a ½ mile uphill to the
Whiting Street
Reservoir parking area.
Head left back along the eastern side of the reservoir. You'll cross over Whiting Street Brook and spot the Wyckoff Golf Course along your right side. Notice that the terrain on your right starts out flat, then rises along a boulder filled knoll. This is about the 2.7 mile mark. Look for the boulders that are closest to the trail. Just to their left will be 2 trees side by side. From these trees spot 2 more trees side by side just to their left and farther back. One will be a hardwood and the other a Hemlock tree with a rock next to them. Again, from these trees spot a 3-trunked tree just to their left and farther back. On their right is a pile of boulders. Go to the lowest boulder, ground level and remove a small rock just under the ledge. Behind this rock is the WHITING STREET RESERVOIR LETTERBOX. Please replace the rock I put on top of the box. This helps to protect it. Continue along the trail until you come to the dam. After crossing over the spillway, you'll come back to the brick house on top of the dam. Just head right to return to the Mt Park Road parking area. About a 4 mile round trip.
HH
LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED
JULY 3, 2009
TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING