Cycling & running events in Amherst Town, 2026

Pioneer Valley Base Miles

Running: Locals run a mix of campus loops, rail trail miles, and quiet country roads between Amherst and Northampton. Downtown Northampton has the classic NoHo set, with 5 or 7 mile options through Main Street, Elm Street, Smith College, Paradise Pond, and the Manhan Rail Trail. Downtown Amherst keeps shorter intervals easy, with 3 and 4 mile running options around North Pleasant Street, Amherst College, and the Emily Dickinson house. Cushman Corner gives a 6 mile route on residential streets, farmland, and rolling hills. Northampton Run Group meets Thursdays at 6:30pm, and Western Mass 10 & NoHo 5K is the anchor event.

Cycling: Locals ride the rail trails for Z2 and the roads for the good stuff. The route from Northampton to Amherst is 4 km and gains 80 meters, and the 24 mile out-and-back works cleanly for base miles. Northampton Cycling Club brings the group rides, Time Trial/Hill Climb Series, Mountain Bike Rides, and Trail Blasters Racing Team. The Hatfield Lions Annual Bike Tour is the local road anchor. Rattlesnake Gutter, Mount Tom, the Holyoke Range, Sugarloaf Mountain, Turkey Hill Road, and Westhampton hold the climbs, while Smith School Drive and March Ride cover gravel.

Season: Spring, Summer, and Fall are the best months for runners and cyclists here. Summer keeps the Norwottuck Rail Trail open sunrise to sunset, and Northampton Cycling Club runs its Summer cycling series and weekly group rides. Locals use Amherst College Wildlife Sanctuary, Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, Puffers Pond, and Paradise Pond for easy trail runs when it's hot out. Winter changes the rhythm for both sports, because the Northampton bike path is not plowed or maintained. Roads become the better bike option, and runners lean into campus loops, sidewalks, and steady Z2 instead of soft singletrack.