We will be walking at Whiting Reservoir in Holyoke this week.
MEETING TIME AND PLACE: 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 1, 2024. Mountain Park Access Road, Holyoke, Mass. We will meet at the end of Mountain Park Access Road (which is a dead end street) just past the bridge over Interstate-91. While there is not a specific GPS address for the Whiting Reservoir, you can try and Google Whiting Street Reservoir Loop, Holyoke MA 01040. If the parking area on the west side of the bridge over Interstate 91 is full, you may have to park on the east side of the bridge and walk back to the meeting place.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: From the new roundabout on the south side of Northampton, where Pleasant Street, Conz Street, and Route 5 meet, proceed south on Route 5. Google Maps shows the mileage from this point to Mountain Park Access Road to be six miles. Make a right hand turn at the first traffic light (not including the traffic lights at Route 5 at the entrance to I-91). This is Mountain Park Access Road. Drive to the end of the road (approximately one mile) past the bridge over Interstate 91 where we will meet. As mentioned above, Mountain Park Access Road is a dead end, so you will not drive past the meeting place. Please park on Mountain Park Access Road. However, the number of parking spaces at the end of the road near where we will meet is limited, so you may have to park on the east side of the bridge over I-91 and walk to the meeting place (a few hundred feet).
DESCRIPTION OF WALK: Each person walks at her/his own pace and walks only as far as they wish. There is no obligation to complete the walk or walk a certain distance. We will be walking around the Whiting Reservoir, which is owned by the Holyoke Water Department. The distance around the Reservoir is about 3.8 miles. Including the walk to and from the parking area, the distance is about 4 ⅜ miles. For those who choose to walk a shorter distance, they can either decide to walk for a set time, such as one/half hour, and once they reach that point, turn around and retrace your steps to the parking area.
More information about the Whiting Reservoir and a map can be found at this link:
Link
TRAIL CONDITIONS: The trail around the Whiting Reservoir is gravel and generally flat, but a few sections may be muddy due to the recent rains. The pace will be moderate. Please wear stout hiking boots, bring a rain jacket, hiking staffs if you use them, and water and snacks. The Holyoke Water Department has a Porta-Potty available near our meeting place. However, the group will have a separation break along the trail, if needed. Since this is watershed land that abuts a potable water supply, NO DOGS ARE ALLOWED.