Welcome!  If you're not a member of Women Outdoors, but would like to come to an event, please CONTACT Liz or Tusi.  If there is not a limit on the number of participants at that activity, you may join us for the event before deciding to join Women Outdoors. 

Liz lizrotti@gmail.com      Tusi ritachild@hotmail.com

July, August, September 2026

When you participate in an event, you assume the risk as stated here:

Please note that all Women Outdoors trips are cooperative trips led by volunteers.  While members are concerned for safety, our experience levels differ and mistakes may be made.  There may also be equipment failure, unexpected dangers, or conditions beyond our control (such as weather).  There is also an inherent level of risk in many of the activities that cannot be eliminated.  Women Outdoors and its coordinators don’t train, screen or certify any of the leaders or supervise the trips.  All trips are offered in the common adventurer spirit – where each participant is responsible for her own skills level and safety.  Please be sure to verify all of the information above as well as the organizer’s experience and trip plans to your own satisfaction so you can make an informed decision about whether the trip is right and safe for you.  Remember that in choosing to participate you are agreeing to assume responsibility for all risks associated with the activity.  Women Outdoors trips have an excellent safety record.  We ask that you take care to keep it this way!

Sat. Oct. 10. Bike & Art at Park Hill Orchards.  10:45 am: Those bicycling, gather at the orchard parking lot. 11:00 am: Ride: 6.3 miles (approx. 1 hour), mostly flat, 3 short (one steep) hills. Beautiful view of farms and Mt. Tom along the ridge. The intrepid can add an extra 4-mile loop that includes uphill sections and 1 mile on: Gather for the art walk. You may opt to come just for the sculpture tour. "Art In the Orchard is a walking sculpture trail which winds through our productive fruit gardens.  The self-guided trail is about a half-mile long.  A walk through the labyrinth adds about a quarter mile. Estimated viewing time might be 2-4 hours...Please wear sturdy shoes." The views are stunning, but it can be windy on Park Hill, so dress accordingly. Bring bags and money if you plan to pick apples or buy fruit, pies, fudge, etc. There are picnic tables under a large tent. Bring your own lunch or buy soup, baked potatoes, and more at the indoor farmstand.

Sun. Oct. 11. Walk at Ashley Reservoir.  Meet for an easy walk of 2-3 miles.  Park at the Elks Club behind the reservoir.  Please arrive between 10:45 and 11:00. The trail is soft stones. Please bring water, good shoes, hiking stick, and snacks if you want. Please RSVP me if you plan to show up. I need to know when everyone has shown up.Rain will cancel this event, and I will reschedule it for another date.

Wed. Oct. 14. Hike Keystone & KB Trails at Mt. Tom. 1:30 at the main parking lot.  We’ll be going up the mountain on Keystone Trail and down on K. B trail. Intermediate hike with steady ups and down. About 2 hours long.

Sun. Oct. 18. Book Group.  1:00 pm. Discussion of The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland by Michelle Young. If you’re interested in a walk before hand on the Marian Street path we can meet at 12:00 pm and walk before the book group. If you’re able please bring a snack to share. We’ll have some cheese and crackers and water/seltzer/coffee. 

Sun. Oct. 18. Leaf Peeping Paddle or Bike Ride.  1:30 pm. If the weather is good, we’ll paddle on the CT River at Sunderland. Otherwise we’ll do a bike ride to view the Fall colors. 

Sat. Oct. 24. Hike to Keystone Arch Bridges in Chester. The Keystone Arch Bridges Trail is a moderate hike along the West Branch of the Westfield River near Chester, MA, leading to two 60 foot keystone arch stone bridges built in 1840 for the first railroad through mountains. (It was abandoned not long after.) The trail is 5 miles out and back, about 2-1/4 hours total including a little time spent at each bridge. Trail is mostly flat or nearly so, mostly wide, with some short climbs that aren't terribly steep in a couple places. Those who want can turn back after the first tall bridge to shorten the distance and time. (The trail is easy to follow going back, and there's usually a few of us who skip the last bridge.)  

Sun. Oct. 25. Bike Ride Green River Road Greenfield. Meet at 1:00 pm. Total ride about 20 miles with the option to turn around at any point.

Wed. Oct. 28. Hike Beau Bridges, Mt. Tom. We’ll take the Beau Bridge trail to the Look Out Tower.  Intermediate hike. Meet 1:30 at the main parking lot. We will then take our cars up to the beginning of Beau Bridge.for this easy to intermediate lovely hike along a stream and to a nice view.  About 1 - 1.5 hours.

Sun. Nov. 1. Bike Ride. We’ll meet at 1:00 for an easy to moderate bike ride of 12-15 miles.  Place TBD. 

Sat. Nov. 7. Hike & Games Night.  Meet at 3:00 pm for a hike at Fitzgerald Lake Marian St., followed by Games. There’ll be up to 3 different game stations – various card and board games.  Snacks, too.  

Sun. Nov. 8. Hike Mt. Wachusett. Meet at 11:00 am at Mt. Wachusett with car pool option from Northampton.  Moderate hike of about 3.4 miles, approx. 2.5 hours with optional stop at the Mountainside Cafe after. 

Wed. Nov. 11. Hike at Mt. Tom.  Meet at the main parking loot.  We will do a mixture of trails starting with Bray Brook,, continuing on the Lost Boulder trail and coming back on the Link trail and Kay Bee. Intermediate hike.

Sat. Nov. 14. Lunch & Hike at Chesterfield Gorge. Meet at 12:30 pm at the Chesterfield General Store for lunch, then on to Chesterfield Gorge, River Rd for a hike. It’s an easy to moderate hike on the flat road next to the river.  

Sun. Nov. 15. Hike TBD.

Thurs. Nov. 19. Games Night. In Florence. Snacks at 6:30, games begin at 7:00. Bring a snack or game or just yourself.  

Sat. Nov. 21. Nature Poetry Hike.  Meet at 11:00 am at Rocky Hill Greenway on Old Wilson Rd in Florence. We’ll read poetry at stops on the various trails. Bring a poem if you’d like and a bag lunch and chair to eat after the hike. 

Sun. Nov. 22. Book Group. Discussion of Tomorrow There Will be Apricots by Jessica Soffer. Place and time TBD.

Wed. Nov. 25. Eyre Ruins Hike at Mt. Tom. 1:30. We will not meet at the main parking lot. I will let you know where to meet as the hike gets closer.  We will hike to the Erye House Ruins and back.  Our longest and most difficult hike in this series but one of great beauty.  Intermediate to slightly difficult. About three hours long.

Wed. Dec. 2. Quarry Trail Hike at Mt. Tom.  Meet at the main parking lot at 1:30. This hike does not have as many challenging ups and downs as the previous ones but is long, about 2 1/2 hrs, mostly on flat terrains.

Mon. Dec. 14. Games Night. 20 Bridge Rd, Unit 41, Florence. Snacks at 6:30, games begin at 7:00. Bring a snack or game or just yourself.