Massachusetts Just Broke Ground On Its Newest National Park
By Kim Falchek|Published January 10, 2024
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Kim Falchek
Author
Kim Falchek has been exploring the towns, trails, and hidden gems of Massachusetts since her college days in Boston. When not writing, Kim enjoys photography, going on road trips, and spending time at the beach. Kim has previously been a contributing writer for LA Family Travel, Global Munchkins, and Latched Mama. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts where she and her family embrace all things Halloween!
Do you enjoy visiting National Parks? Maybe you like to explore them when you visit a new place, or perhaps you strive to make them all part of your travel bucket list. Currently, there are more than a dozen National Parks across the state of Massachusetts. These include historical sites, heritage areas, and scenic river systems. I have already marked the Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site in Cambridge and the Cape Cod National Seashore off my list. Now it is time to add Massachusetts’ newest national park to my list. That’s right, the New England Scenic Trail in Western, MA has just been declared a National Park!
The New England Scenic Trail has been in existence for over 50 years but has recently been given National Park status. It is one of three new national parks that were added to the list in 2023. There are now 428 National Parks in total.
The path runs for 235 miles and includes the Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Monadnock (M-M-M) Trail systems. It travels through 41 towns and cities across Massachusetts and Connecticut. The trail system begins in Long Island Sound in Connecticut and ends at the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border in Royalston, Massachusetts.
The path is broken up into 40 sections. There are 19 sections within Massachusetts and 21 sections in Connecticut. Most sections are considered to be moderate or difficult. Each one is unique in terrain, completion time, and length.
The first Massachusetts section (MA NET Section 1) begins in the town of Southwick. This section spans just over two miles. It is one of the shorter sections of the trail system. Flowers, birds, and wildlife sightings are highlights of this part of the path.
Section 6 is a portion of the trail worth visiting. This section contains beautiful views, an observation tower, ruins, and possible hawk sightings. It runs for 6.8 miles through the towns of Easthampton and Holyoke.
MA NET Section 9
is a top-rated hike that runs through the town of Amherst. It is a difficult portion of the trail that runs for 2.6 miles and reaches an elevation of 518 feet.
There are scenic views, a pond, and a pretty little brook to see along the way.
The Massachusetts scenic trail ends in the town of Royalston. If you enjoy waterfalls, you are in for a treat! From here you can visit Royalston Falls, a stunning 45-foot waterfall.
Have you hiked any or all of the New England Scenic Trail? Which portion did you enjoy the most? More information on specific trails, including entrances and parking can be found at the New England Trail website. If you would like to enjoy National Parks all year round, be sure to display this 2024 Parks Project National Parks Calendar in your home.
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