New England Trail, Outdoors, Public Transit Hikes, Transportation

Pioneer Valley Public Transit Hikes: New England Trail MA Sections 3 & 4

My spouse Sara and I are section hiking the New England Trail using public transit. There are some areas that require overnights due to the distance between public transit stops, but most can be done as day hikes.

In 2022 we hiked Massachusetts Section 3 and Section 4, which are in the towns of West Springfield, Westfield, and Holyoke.

A plethora of delicate mushrooms scattered amongst a lush carpet of moss.
  • Hike difficulty: Moderate – some steep climbs, long distance.
  • Approach difficulty: Moderate – crossing two busy highways and navigating a narrow underpass.
  • Distance: 7.5 miles (7.8 miles with approaches)
  • Transit: PVTA B23 (schedule, weekdays only) from the Holyoke Transportion Center (HTC) or Holyoke Community College (HCC) & R10 (schedule) from Springfield Union Station. Route G73E provides trips every half hour from Northampton’s Academy of Music to Springfield Union Station. B48 provides service from Northampton to the HTC, R41 provides service from Northampton to HCC, and P21E provides service from Springfield Union Station to HTC. Use the transit directions below for directions from where you live.

Interactive map:

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Directions to the northern end: Take the B23 to the Westfield / Apremont (Flag Stop) – Stop 5053 (transit directions), walk 0.3 miles west of Route 202 to the trailhead (walking directions). Be careful crossing Route 202.

At the southern end, the bus stop is just to the east of the trail right after you cross Route 20 (transit directions). Be careful going under the railroad underpass on Old Westfield Road and crossing Route 20.

Section 4 runs from Route 202 to the I-90 underpass.
Our timing (late September) was perfect for amazing flushes of mushrooms. Here, a gilled mushroom with umbro stands above the duff.
A hand painted sign reading “Armageddon Trail” with skull and crossbones. The tree has begun to grow around the sign. In the background, the leaves on the living trees are still vibrant green.
A luscious mushroom cap with sunlight pouring through a spider web.
Purple aster at the base of an oak of some kind (we are guessing).
One of the many views along East Mountain.
A gorgeous yellowish-gold coral mushroom nestled in the dry leaves.
Emerging from the MassPike (I-90) underpass.
The guardrail of the MassPike is visible at the top as Section 3 begins at Bush Notch.
Autumn olive at peak ripeness.
Peckham Industries quarry.
A smattering of bright orange-red chanterelle-type mushrooms poking through the dried gray-brown leaves in striking contrast.
An old beaver-gnawed tree with fresh oyster mushrooms at its base.
Signing in to the log book at the Harold Akey Camp Area.