Dyer Conservation Trail

The Dyer Conservation Trail at the Dyer Conservation Area in Hadley, Massachusetts is an easy 1.4 mile out-and-back trail that goes through a mixture of field, forest, and wetland habitat, leading to Mount Warner Road and its trails.

Route: This 1.4-mile out-and-back walk begins on Route 47 (the Connecticut River Scenic Byway), opposite the Porter Phelps Huntington Museum. The trail runs along the right side of the field to the far right (east) corner. The trail goes right through a short shrubby wetland area where you pass a multi-trunked maple tree on the left and a “stay on the trail” sign. Turn left here, proceeding through a red maple swamp with a thin line of trees along the border of a field on your right. Continue into the woods, and soon you come to a stream where you can build a cairn, dip your feet, and look for animal tracks. The stream remains on your right as the trail follows a woody hillside on the left. Another “stay on the trail” sign is posted at a trail junction. Take the right fork, which soon veers to the left of the hill as the trail ascends. As you proceed, notice the hemlocks shading the opposite bank of the stream. Follow the trail to the right. It continues through a flat, brambly stretch. You cross a wooden bridge and soon come to a few larch trees (deciduous trees with needles that turn bright yellow then drop in autumn). Go slightly uphill and the trail ends at Mt. Warner Road where a sign indicates, “trail to summit 600 ft.” You can proceed on the road to Mt. Warner’s trail system, or turn around and retrace your steps .7 mile back to where you began on Route 47.

Parking: Parking is available on the east- side shoulder of Route 47 at the entrance to a field where a Kestrel Land Trust sign is posted. Pull off the road fully onto the grassy area next to the sign.

Partner: This trail was submitted by our partner, Kestrel Land Trust. Kestrel Land Trust partners with other organizations to create, conserve, and care for lands to help everyone connect with nature. The conservation lands here are owned by Kestrel and Porter Phelps Huntington Museum with a Conservation Restriction monitored by The Nature Conservancy.