Mt. Toby

Mt. Toby Forest
Mt. Toby Loop

Distance: 4.67 miles
Duration: 1 hour, 49 minutes
Elevation Min: 441ft
Elevation Max: 1270ft
Total Elevation Gain: 853ft

Maps: As Mt. Toby Forest isn't maintained by the Massachusetts DCR, there are no good maps of the trail network here. The main loop is very easy to follow, which we did by guessing and checking. Instructions will be outlined in the hike description.
Parking: Roadside parking on Reservation Road 42°30'13.94"N, 72°31'52.22"W

Mt. Toby is a great hike if you're looking for a little challenge and to kill a few hours. The first time I did this hike it involved a lot of guessing and checking because there were no trail maps to be found, but it's pretty easy to follow. The hike starts out very flat, going through a demonstration forest for UMass and through some old pipes(?). After a bit of distance the trail comes to a fork. Taking a right brings you up a very steep trail to the top through a power cut, and taking a left goes down and takes a more gradual, scenic route up- we made a left. 

 The Robert Frost trail traverses through Mt. Toby (more information here and here). The signs on the telephone pole are where the trail splits. The more popular route up is to follow the blue sign right which is a very steep ascent, but we preferred to take the more gradual approach going through the brook. 

The trail goes down briefly then starts to climb after turning left, and soon it comes to another fork. A marker points to take a left but the trail to the top is on the right. The trail continues to a split with the Roaring Falls trail (which we didn't take this time) and the Arnold D. Rhodes Natural Area, which is where the trail follows a brook while climbing more. The trail continues to ascent, passing a few other side trails and the "Upper Link Trail" (we have no idea where this goes). The trail becomes blazed with orange markers about halfway up, and when it comes up to the Robert Frost Bypass Trail, make a right to stay on the summit trail. After following for a little bit you arrive at the Sunderland Fire Tower, which has gorgeous views of the area from the top!

The trail was a gravel road the whole way up which made it very easy to follow. In the third photo the blue marker is for the upper link trail while the orange markers were for the trail to the top.

 The summit of Mt. Toby is featureless, but climbing the Sunderland Fire Tower provides amazing views of the pioneer valley.

 Mt. Holyoke and Mt. Tom ranges, UMass, the Connecticut River and the Sugarloaf Mountains are all within view from the top.

 Some small graffiti on the fire tower.

The hike down is pretty easy to follow. It's right down a power cut which can get very steep and wet. The trail veers away from the power cut about halfway down, and the trails get a little confusing but just remember to keep near the power cut as the trail rejoins. Once you get back to the original loop split, turn left and follow the trail back to the parking!