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We will walk on the Hatfield Dike. While we will start at the usual place--opposite the Hatfield Town Hall at 59 Main Street--an option will be offered to take a different route back by walking along the historic Main Street, where some of the houses date back to the Revolutionary War.

MEETING TIME AND PLACE: 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 16, 2024. We will meet at the trailhead for the Hatfield Dike, which is on Main Street in Hatfield, across from the Hatfield Town Hall/Public Safety building; for GPS directions, please use 59 Main Street, Hatfield, MA 01038, which is the address for the Hatfield Town Hall. The trailhead for the Hatfield Dike is to the immediate right of the old Hatfield Elementary School which has been converted into apartments. Please note there are no signs saying Hatfield Dike. There are no restrooms at the Hatfield Dike, but are available in the Hatfield Town Hall across the street from where we will meet.

DRIVING AND PARKING DIRECTIONS:  From Northampton, take North King Street north past the River Valley Market. Approximately one mile past the River Valley Market, make a right hand turn onto Elm Street which goes over I-91 and then continues to our meeting place, a distance of 1.9 miles. Elm Street is the first right hand turn after the River Valley Market and the entrance to I-91 South is just past Elm Street. Continue on Elm Street which becomes Maple Street, and then curves left and finally becomes Main Street in Hatfield. When you see the lovely, old large homes that line Main Street, you know you are getting close to the Hatfield Town Hall. Parking is available on Main Street in front of the old Hatfield Elementary School mentioned above and in front of the nearby homes.

If parking on Main Street is not available, you can park in the municipal parking lot across Main Street. Just past the Town Hall, make a left hand turn onto School Street and an immediate left hand turn into the municipal parking lot.

DESCRIPTION OF WALK: We will be walking south on the Hatfield Dike which parallels the Connecticut River for about ¾ of a mile before the dike turns to the southwest as the River turns west before flowing to the south at the Coolidge Bridge. This is an out and back walk, so please decide how long you want to walk. There are farm fields to the west along the dike and once the separation between the River and the dike widens, there are farm fields to the east, as well. We may encounter a farm tractor or two along the dike and the field hands use their cars to reach the fields.

While we will start at the usual place and walk on the dike for almost one mile, an option will be offered to take a different route back by walking along the historic Hatfield Main Street, where some of the houses date back to before the Revolutionary War. Those who do not wish to participate in the historical tour, can continue walking on the dike. 

Hatfield’s Historic Main Street:

From the 2009  historical report on Hatfield;  “Houses that date prior to 1776: the C. Dickinson House, 69 Main Street, 1770; the Moses C. Porter House, 49 Main Street, ca. 1770; the F. D. Billings House, 31 Main Street, 1760; the David Billings House 15 Main Street of 1772;”    

COORDINATOR:  David Herships; (Cell phone) 413-320-2799; email: davidhersh22@gmail.com

CANCELLATION POLICY:  If the walk has to be canceled for rain or otherwise, we will email a notice the night before or the morning of the walk.