The Emily Lane Mt Holyoke Entrance Trail in Belchertown, Massachusetts is an easy 0.2 to 1.1 mile out-and-back hike depending on the time of year. There is a small parking area, a very clear trail head, and the trail runs for about 30 yards before stopping at a beaver dam during warmer months. During the winter, if the weather has been cold enough for the ponds to freeze, this is an easy 1.1 mile out-and-back hike and technically leads into the far eastern section of the Mount Holyoke Range State Park.
I found this spot on the Belchertown Conservation site saying there was parking and access to Mount Holyoke Range State Park. I had previously mapped a trail that is close by and assumed that there would be the connection from this trail.
We hiked this in mid January, so luckily the dam and ponds were frozen over, so we continued across the dam to a the beaver pond to the other side. There did not appear to be any clear trail head to resume on. We followed the tracks and cut straight through some pine trees to a trail maybe 50 yards from where we left the pond. From here we proceeded West/Southwest until the trail ended then turned back the way we came. The trail did indeed connect at the bridge located on the Bay Rd Trail. I do not believe this to be a viable trail or entrance to the Mount Holyoke Range, the distance seems about the same to bridge as the Bay Rd Trail entrance.
I found this spot on the Belchertown Conservation site saying there was parking and access to Mount Holyoke Range State Park. I had previously mapped a trail that is close by and assumed that there would be the connection from this trail.
We hiked this in mid January, so luckily the dam and ponds were frozen over, so we continued across the dam to a the beaver pond to the other side. There did not appear to be any clear trail head to resume on. We followed the tracks and cut straight through some pine trees to a trail maybe 50 yards from where we left the pond. From here we proceeded West/Southwest until the trail ended then turned back the way we came. The trail did indeed connect at the bridge located on the Bay Rd Trail. I do not believe this to be a viable trail or entrance to the Mount Holyoke Range, the distance seems about the same to bridge as the Bay Rd Trail entrance.
