Home › Massachusetts › Amherst › Hickory Ridge Trails
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.
What runners say about Hickory Ridge Trails
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.
Trail conditions & character
“They are finished in fine gravel, and easily accessed by people with limited mobility / kids / dogs.”
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 |
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
14-acre green space with ball fields, picnic areas & BBQs, plus a playground, trail & shallow river.
Mt. Pollux Conservation Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 65 reviews
Nature preserve offering kid-friendly hikes and picnicking.
Fort River Birding and Nature National Recreation Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 50 reviews
Easy nature park offering boardwalks and gravel trails, along with benches for resting and bird-watching spots.