Today Megan and I took a hike up Mount Toby just north of Amherst in Leverett. I had read that the hike starts near a waterfall, but the stream was all dried up when we went, so the Roaring Falls trail had a pretty weak roar. The very start of the hike quickly climbs up along some steep cliffs where you need to watch your step. After that, it levels off and follows an old fire road along the creek to the top of the mountain. The leaves are only beginning to change now, but it was a very pretty hike.

I had heard there were good views from the top, but I hadn’t realized that you had to climb up the (slightly rickety) fire tower to see them. From the upper platforms you do get a very nice view of the pioneer valley. The Connecticut River snakes along one side off towards the Holyoke Range. Looking north you can supposedly see some of the peaks in New Hampshire like Mt. Monadnock, but we weren’t quite sure where to look. It was also extremely windy and cold at the top of the fire tower, so we didn’t stay too long.

Other than the view, the top of Toby isn’t that great. Some sort of utility building surrounded by barbed wire takes up most of the clearing, but there is a small picnic table off to the side. The nicest part is definitely the hike up and down. Including a break to eat crackers and cheese at the top, it took us a little over two hours to do the full round trip. Given that it’s only about fifteen minutes from Amherst, it is well worth checking out.

Getting There

From Amherst, head north on Route 63. Turn left into a small parking lot by the sign for Atticus Glass. The lot is a little hard to find–it is 5.4 miles after Pulpit Hill Road. If you reach Jackson Hill Road you’ve gone too far.