Amherst Center is a hilltop on the eastern border of a ring of amazing ranges and monadnocks surrounding the flat plains that was once the glacial Lake Hitchcock. There are great trails for beginning to advanced hikers and climbers with conservation land trails like Amethyst Brook to the state park of the Mount Holyoke Range.
Western MA is a legendary destination for cyclists and Amherst is fortunate to be part of a hub for road, touring, and mountain biking. The legendary Earl’s Trails behind Hampshire College is a go-to for mountain bike rides. The Pelham-Shutesbury-Leverett loop is well-ridden daily by road and touring bike riders as well as cycling clubs featuring challenging hills, amazing descents and a nice side trip to Lake Wyola for a dip.
The Norwottock Rail Trail connects Belchertown to Williamsburg and is an easy, flat and paved bike path that connects with other trail networks.
