Trip/Event Location: Chesterfield, Mass., MA
Trip Leader(s): TomKerner
Max # People: 10
Trip Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Meet at parking lot; walk along trail next to the gorge until the trail meets the road. Walk on dirt road about 4 miles downstream. Have lunch next to the Westfield River, then
Take Route 9 west from Northampton about 5 miles past the VA Medical Center.
Just past the village of Williamsburg, take a left on Route 143 (Chesterfield Road). Follow 143 about 7 miles.
In West Chesterfield immediately after crossing the bridge over the Westfield River take a left onto Ireland St.
After about a mile take a left into the parking lot of Trustees of Reservations property.
From the Trustees of Reservations parking lot we took the path next to the gorge downstream until it connected to the dirt road; then continued downstream past the second (flatwater) gorge; there the road ran next to swampy river bottom with hordes of mosquitoes, so we decided to head back upstream for lunch break at a small promintory overlooking the river; afterward, we headed back up to the parking lot & dispersed from there.
Total miles: about 9 3/4 along gently sloping road with minor elevation gains.
The road runs about 7 miles from Chesterfield Gorge to Knightville Dam with minimal motorized traffic - perhaps a venue for a future bicycle ride.
Outdoor Fitness Level: Easy to Moderate
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous
Outdoor Fitness Level: Easy
