2017 Hike #17: Keystone Arches Bridges and Glendale Falls - Middlefield, MA

Date Hiked: Sunday, May 7, 2017
Estimated distance:  4.87 miles
Weather: 50°F, overcast
Resources: Keystone Arches, Keystone Arch Bridges Trail, Trustees of Reservations-Glendale Falls
Highlights of the trip:  views of waterfalls and arches
Progress toward 2017 Outdoor Goals:  17/52 hikes; 55.94/250 miles hiked

In our continuing effort to visit new places, my hiking partner and I decided to hike at Keystone Arch Bridges Trail in Middlefield, MA.  As a bonus, we also went over to see nearby Glendale Falls, one of the Trustees of Reservations properties.

Keystone Arch Bridges Trail follows the Westfield River and offers views of the magnificent bridges built to carry freight trains.  Some interesting information from the Keystone Arch Bridges website:

While the West Branch of the Westfield River is the only one without a dam, that is not to say there are no grand earth and stone structures. Indeed, in terms of structure, the West Branch “rules.” Along its length sit the first keystone arch railroad bridges built in America. They are wholly dry laid, range in height to 70 feet and made possible the longest and highest railroad in the world, the Western Railroad, in 1840.

A lot more information is available on the website, including the fact that the bridges were designed by Major George Washington Whistler, father of the famed painter, James McNeill Whistler.

The parking area for the trail is just off Middlefield Road and there is room for a few cars.  We got our packs and poles and were just heading down the trail when we heard a rumbling sound.  A train!  Ugh.  We could just make it out through the trees.  I wish we could have been in a better place to view it.  The train, with what looked to be scrap metal and CSX cars, took awhile to go by.  We continued downhill and crossed a small bridge with views of a great little waterfall.

After leaving the waterfall, we soon came to a view of the Double Arch Bridge.  Very cool.  Too bad we hadn't been here when the train went by.

There were several places along the trail where streams make their way down to the the Westfield River.

Hobblebush?

Toothwort?

Where the trail turned away from the river, we came upon an old rock wall.  The map indicates an old artist colony in this area, I think.

The trail turned back to the river and we came to Keystone Bridge 'B'.  This bridge is no longer in use by the trains.  Breathtaking.  And I am not just referring to the stone work.  That bridge is high and there are absolutely no railings or other impediments to prevent you from going over the edge!  I cautiously approached the edge and looked down.  It was scary.  If I had young kids with me, I think I would have had them on a leash.

Keystone Bridge 'B'

A very poorly focused picture of Wild Red Columbine.

We reached the end of the trail and came out on to the train tracks.  We walked along them and found discarded spikes and other metal pieces used to attach the rails to the ties.

A car down over the rocks near the tracks.

After investigating along the tracks, we turned around and headed back.  This was definitely an interesting hike.

Purple trillium.  Also called wake-flower.

Pedestrian bridge.

As we neared the parking area, what did we hear?  Another train.  Are you kidding me?!  There were several places along the trail where we could have had a good view of the train, but our timing was off today. 

From the Keystone Arches, it is only five miles to Glendale Falls, so we figured we might as well head over there while we were in the area.  I am so glad we did!  There is not much of a hike there, but you can walk out and view the top of the falls and then follow the trail to the bottom of the falls.  Very impressive.

At the bottom of the falls, we met a mother and daughter duo and had a nice chat with them.  The mother lived in NYC and the daughter lived in the Boston area and they had met in Springfield and were out seeing the sites.  And this was the kicker.  The mother was about to turn 80!  Wow!  She was out there on the trail.  I hope I will have the mobility to be out on the trail at that age.

I am really enjoying checking out some of these new locations.  It is a reminder that there is still so much in this area that I haven't seen.