Salamander Trail Loop (Mount Warner Reservation)

Salamander Trail Loop (Mount Warner Reservation)

Hike Type: Lollipop Loop

Distance: 2.21 miles

Elevation: 269 feet

Time: 45 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Operation Alaska Benchmark Challenge

The Hike

...and now for something new! I was exploring the National Geodetic Survey map and saw that there was a disc along this trail, so it was next on my list! The drive from Mt. Toby was just beautiful and brought back countless memories from my time at UMass Amherst. The parking lot was a little hard to see, but it was marked by the Trustees logo, which helped. The lot itself was relatively small with room for about six cars (there were four others already parked). The hike starts just behind the trailhead kiosk, marked with yellow blazes.

"Mount Warner: Overview"

https://thetrustees.org/place/mount-warner/

Old cart paths and woods roads reveal the farming and logging past of this sloping woodland that rises between the energetic college community of Amherst and the broad Connecticut River in the historic village of North Hadley. Admired and appreciated by locals and visitors alike, Mount Warner stands amid a 500-acre swath of protected land linking nearby Lake Warner to a range of conservation treasures.

The breeze continued from before, shaking loose many yellow leaves. The Salamander Trail, the only trail here, loops around the property through beautiful woods, gently winding with the terrain. There were a few criss-crossing woods roads at various stages of clarity, but each junction was clearly marked, and the first couple even had gates up to help.

The footing overall was fantastic minus MANY acorns scattered about - I even got hit on the shoulder by one near Lou's Rock, a nice erratic. 

The Salamander Trail continues between two vernal pools (which were fully dried up on this autumn day) and then comes to old fire tower footings with the USGS marker on a rock slab right on the trail. http://www.firetower.org/lookouts/us/ma/mount-warner-fire-tower-site/ states that the lookout was built in 1939, but removed in 1940 - I cannot find any more info on this from Google, though.

Continuing on, I hit the junction with the Fire Road soon after, and hiked to the height-of-land as a mini side trip (no more than 50 feet), before returning and continuing along the Salamander Trail. The trail turned onto a wide, possibly formerly paved road, and then turns off again before approaching someone's back yard and a fire tower, which either has an access, ski, or pipe line cut leading to it from the road.

Soon enough I was back at the car after another lovely hike! The rest of my day included stopping at Atkins Farms to get Cider Doughnuts, and getting to check in to the hotel in Connecticut early for a shower and nap before Gen's rehearsal dinner. 

Step-by-Step

- Park at main parking area (Trustees Sign).

- Start hike along yellow-blazed Salamander Trail.

- At split, turn right and take loop clockwise.

- Return to car at the end of the lollipop loop.

Map of Mount Warner Reservation

Photo Album