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Hickory Ridge Trails

5 ★★★★★ 1 Google reviews · Running trail in Amherst, Massachusetts · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Crushed gravel
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Hickory Ridge Trails' own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Crushed gravelLoopStroller / ADATrailhead parking

What runners say about Hickory Ridge Trails

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (1 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

The Town of Amherst bought this former golf course to preserve woodlands, offer walking paths, improve access to South Amherst, host solar panels, and protect the endangered Wood Turtle. The trails used to service golf carts, so they are wide and gentle.

★★★★★ — Usha , Apr 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 1 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone

“They are finished in fine gravel, and easily accessed by people with limited mobility / kids / dogs.”

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🔁 Loop trail

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Stroller / ADA accessible

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Plan your run at Hickory Ridge Trails

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websiteamherstma.gov
  • Social Instagram

Hours

Monday 8 am–4:30 pm
Tuesday 8 am–4:30 pm
Wednesday 8 am–4:30 pm
Thursday 8 am–4:30 pm
Friday 8 am–4:30 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Hickory Ridge Trails

178 W Pomeroy Ln, Amherst, MA 01002

Get directions

Running trails near Amherst

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Groff Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 363 reviews

Amherst, MA

Shaded

14-acre green space with ball fields, picnic areas & BBQs, plus a playground, trail & shallow river.

1.3 miles away

Sweet Alice Conservation Area

4.3 ★★★★☆ 24 reviews

Amherst, MA

LoopScenic

1.5 miles away

Norwottuck Rail Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 34 reviews

Amherst, MA

11 miPavedScenic

1.6 miles away

Mt. Pollux Conservation Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 65 reviews

Amherst, MA

Scenic

Nature preserve offering kid-friendly hikes and picnicking.

1.6 miles away

Fort River Birding and Nature National Recreation Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 50 reviews

Hadley, MA

1 miLoopMixedScenic

Easy nature park offering boardwalks and gravel trails, along with benches for resting and bird-watching spots.

1.8 miles away

Silvio O. Conte Accessible Nature Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 28 reviews

Hadley, MA

MixedScenic

1.9 miles away

All running trails in Amherst, MA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.