Mount Tom State Reservation protects a long traprock ridge on the west side of the Connecticut River, straddling Holyoke and Easthampton across Hampden and Hampshire counties. The reservation covers roughly 1,967 acres and rises to an 830-foot summit, with high basalt cliffs, mixed-hardwood forest, and Lake Bray tucked into the lower slopes.
The reservation carries roughly 22 miles of trails, including the New England Trail (the former Metacomet-Monadnock) that runs north along the ridgeline from here toward the Holyoke Range. Most routes are moderate: rolling ridge hiking with short scrambles to the overlooks rather than sustained climbs.
Hawk watching
In mid-September through October, Mount Tom is one of the East Coast’s best hawk-migration lookouts. Broad-winged, sharp-shinned, Cooper’s, and red-tailed hawks, plus bald eagles and the occasional peregrine, ride the ridge thermals south. Mass Audubon lists it within the Mount Holyoke / Mount Tom / East Mountain Important Bird Area.
What to know
- Bring water. The ridge is exposed and can be hot in summer.
- Dogs are welcome on leash on the trails.
- Lake Bray has picnic areas, a playground, and warm-weather fishing.
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter; DCR lists park gates open daily 8 AM-4 PM and the park itself open sunrise to sunset.
- DCR lists 2026 daily parking fees from May 23 through October 12: $5 for Massachusetts-plated vehicles and $20 for out-of-state vehicles.
Sources
- Mount Tom State Reservation — Mass.gov
- Mount Tom State Reservation — Wikipedia (acreage, elevation, coordinates)
- Mount Holyoke/Mount Tom/East Mountain IBA — Mass Audubon