WHITING STREET
RESERVOIR LOOP TRAIL:
MOUNT TOM RAILROAD TRAIL:
HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Directions:
Northbound:
Take exit
15A off of I-91 to Route 141. Head right to Route 5. Turn left, north and
travel 1.7 miles to Mt Park Rd on your left. Take Mt Park Rd
over I-91 and park by the gate or along the road.
Southbound:
Take exit
15 off of I-91 to Route 141. Head
left, back under the interstate to Route 5. Turn left, north and travel 1.7
miles to Mt Park Rd on your left. Take Mt Park Rd
over I-91 and park by the gate or along the road.
Whiting Street
Reservoir Loop Trail:
Last Updated:
June 02, 2026
Length:
Whiting Street Reservoir Loop Trail;
3.7 mile Loop
Difficulty:
Whiting Street Reservoir Loop Trail; Easy. Wide, stone-dust
trail with a few small hills.
In constructing the Whiting Street
Reservoir in the 1890's, the City of Holyoke
turned 5000 acres on
Mount
Tom
into protected watershed. The Whiting Street
Reservoir Trail Loops around the reservoir.
Starting from Mt Park Road;
My Mileage begins from the Mt Park Rd
Black
Gate.
Note; Straight ahead, past the brick columns
is the old Mt Park Rd (no access) and right is the old Mt Tom Ski Rd that led
to the former Mt Tom Ski Area site and start of the Mount Tom
Railroad Trail. See; Below.
Head left, South, past the Black
Gate and along an old paved reservoir access road. Pass a 2nd
black gate and travel downhill, passing by a Porto-Potty as you turn right, West,
which brings you to the Whiting Street Reservoir
after 0.4 miles. This is also where the Mileage
Markers begin (every ½ mile). In front of you are
some stairs that lead up to a brick Gatehouse on top of the dam.
Heading right, North,
the wide, stone-dust Whiting Street
Reservoir Loop Trail
takes you along the Eastern Side
of the reservoir. Open views. You then enter the woods at 0.8 miles, where the
trail loops South, along the
Western Side of the
reservoir at 1.2 miles. Wooded corridor. At 2.4 miles, you come to the Southern
End of the reservoir and an intersection.
Note;
Right, South, takes you 0.5
miles uphill, to the
Whiting Reservoir Road Gate.
Head left, North, crossing
a small stone culvert over Whiting Street Brook. The Wyckoff
Golf Course
is along your right as you follow a ridge line through the woods. Return back
along the Eastern Side of the
reservoir at 3 miles. You'll continue along the trail, crossing the dams
spillway and completing your Loop of the
reservoir at 3.3 miles. Head right
to return to the
Mt Park Road
parking area after a 3.7
mile Loop.
Mt Tom Railroad Trail:
Last Updated: June
02, 2026
Length:
Mount Tom Railroad Trail; 1.9 miles
Difficulty:
EXTREME. Paved road straight up a
21%
grade.
In1895, work began on Mountain Park, a "trolley park" at the base of Mount
Tom. It was operated by the Holyoke Street Railway Co. In 1897
the Holyoke Street Railway Company
opened the
Mountain
Park
amusement park, as well as, a rail line to the summit of Mount
Tom,
where the Summit House featured a restaurant, entertainment, and a
spectacular view. The project changed hands several times until its closure in
1988, when competition from larger amusement parks gradually sapped business away
what had become affectionately known by locals as "The Queen of the
Mountain." Remnants of the park are still visible today. The Mount Tom
Railroad was a cable-trolley-electric, modern mountain railway and had a 21% grade.
The Mount Tom
Railroad Trail follows the former rail bed up to the Mt Tom summit.
The For more
information concerning the history of Mount
Tom Railroad visit; MT
TOM RAILROAD .
Starting from the
Mt Park Road;
Note; Straight ahead, past the brick columns is
the old Mt Park Rd (no access) and left is the start of the Whiting Street
Reservoir Loop Trail.
See; Above.
Head right, North, past the Yellow
Gate and
travel along the old paved Mt Tom Ski Rd and then up a steep
grade before leveling out after 0.6 miles. Another 0.2 miles of up & down
hills brings you to an electric power station and Red
Gate on your left.
Note;
If you continue straight,
North, up the road you'll come to the remnants of the Mount Tom Ski Area.
Head
left, Southwest, past the Red
Gate and up the paved road. After turning a corner you'll come to
the old railroad bed, now buried under the road. Daunting! The road climbs
straight up at a 21% grade. I'd like to say we biked it, but we ended up pushing
our bikes up most of the way. After traveling about halfway up, you'll get a reprieve at
1.3 miles, as you check
out a memorial to the "Flying Fortress" B-17 bomber that crashed into
the side of Mount Tom in 1946, killing all 25 servicemen on board. Continue the
uphill trudge
and you'll reach the summit after 1.9 miles. To your right you'll spot the old
foundation for the Summit House as you come upon all the communication towers.
Great views of Easthampton. Use caution around the old railings, as some of the
foundations have collapsed over the years. Now come the fun part, returning straight
down the mountain. Make sure your breaks are in great
shape!
HH
CLICK HERE FOR
COMBINED MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE
SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER
OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT
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