Keystone Arch Bridges Trail & Glendale Falls

Keystone Arch Bridges Trail and Glendale Falls
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A few of us will be camping at Tolland State Park for the weekend. I'll post that separately.

Exploring Massachusetts History and Natural Beauty Part 273

This event has 2 parts. !st is a 5 mile hike along the old Boston -Albany Railroad line that traverses 3 stone bridges. The second, after a short drive, is to one of the largest waterfalls in Massachusetts - Glendale Falls.
The Keystone Arch Bridges Trail is one of my favorites. It's a 5 miles with about 500 feet of elevation gain. since most of it is along an old Railroad bed, there really aren't any steep inclines.

The history of these bridges and track is very interesting to learn about. Built in the early 1800s with only black powder & hand tools it was an engineering wonder of the time. The first keystone arch railroad bridges built in America are wholly dry laid, and range in height to 70 feet. They made possible the construction of the Western Railroad, the longest and highest railroad in the world in 1840.

We will see 3 of the 27 stone bridges and other structures built. They were constructed with chiseled stone with no steel or concrete supports. yet almost 200 years later it still stand and many of the other structures still used by CSX trains today. AMAZING!

WANT TO LEARN MORE ? https://hidden-hills.com/keystone-arch-bridges-trail/

Glendale Falls is only 11 miles from the Keystone Arch Bridges Trail and an interesting sight to see. They entire trail is only about 1/2 mile but worth the stop.

Fed by more than five square miles of watershed, Glendale Falls is one of the longest and most powerful waterfall runs in Massachusetts. The surrounding forest comprises hemlock, birch, and beech with an understory of maple, hornbeam, witch hazel, shadbush, and mountain laurel, an intriguing range of species to track during your journey. In spring, you’ll want to bring your camera and watch as the waters of Glendale Brook roar over steep rock ledges to join the Middle Branch of the Westfield River below.

Bring water and a bag lunch. We'll stop somewhere after for a sit-down meal and some libations. But bring snacks anyway.

GPS is spotty out there at best so I might pick a spot off the highway to meet before we head in. Stay tuned.