ASHLEY RESERVOIR LOOP TRAIL:
WEST HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: February 17, 2025
Length: Ashley Reservoir Loop Trail; 4.2 mile Loop
Ashley Reservoir Loop Trail and Spur Trails combined; about 6 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Mostly flat, Stone-dust trail.
Directions:
Starting from the Whitney Ave Gate [Eastern Side]; Take exit 12 off of I-91 to Lower Westfield Rd and travel west. Take your 2nd right on Whitney Rd. Pass by the Elks parking lot and come to a 2nd parking lot, next to some sports fields. The trail begins at the end of Whitney Ave past the gate.
The Ashley Reservoir was constructed in 1897 and is part of the West Holyoke Water Works. The Ashley Reservoir Trail Loops around Ashley Pond, along its Southern Section and Wright Pond, along its Northern Section. This is a very scenic trail with plenty of water fowl, turtles, lily pads and reeds. There are a total of 4 Gates leading into the reservoir, but only the Whitney Ave Gate has parking.
Ashley Reservoir Loop Trail; Eastern Side:
Starting from the Whitney Ave Gate [Eastern Side]; Follow Old Whitney Ave North, for 0.4 miles, to a causeway and *Intersection between Wright Pond on your right and Ashley Pond on your left.
Note; Straight, West, Old Whitney Ave takes you another 0.4 miles to the Western Side of the reservoir.
Continue right, North, along a causeway through Wright Pond. Enter the woods and come to another intersection, next to 2 water towers, at 0.8 miles.
Note; Straight, East, Rockcut Road takes you 0.2 miles to the Rockcut Road Gate.
Continue left, North, through the woods and quickly come to an intersection next to a brick wall that reads Holyoke Water Works 1907. This is the Northern End of the reservoir.
Note; Right, North, quickly takes you to the Old Westfield Road Gate.
Ashley Reservoir Loop Trail; Western Side:
Continue left, South,
along Old Westfield Road and you'll cross
another causeway between Clear
Pond is on your right and Wright
Pond on your left. After you reach land, a slight hill will take you up
past two water tanks and an intersection at 1.4 miles.
Note; Left, East, Old Whitney Ave takes you 0.4 miles to the Eastern Side of the reservoir, where you can return to the Whitney Ave Gate after a 2.4 mile Loop.
Continue straight, South, past the brick building along Old Westfield Road. The trail is briefly paved here before you enter the woods. Return alongside Ashley Pond, passing by a spillway and bear left up a side trail to check out the stone building built in 1897. We saw lots of ducks, geese and other birds here. This is the Southern End of the reservoir at 2.5 miles.
Ashley Reservoir Loop Trail; Eastern Side:
The trail now travels North, back along Ashley Pond following
Old
Lower Westfield Road. Lots of turtles sunning themselves here. You
briefly follow some railroad tracks
along your right. You cross a short causeway, followed by a 2nd between Connor
Reservoir along your right. This brings you to another intersection at 3.2 miles next to a grove of dying Red Pine trees.
