15 Best Things to Do in Belchertown (MA)

The city, with a population of just over 15,000, is located east of the prominent university town of Amherst, and is known for its historic fair held each September.

The Belchertown Fair continues to be a sight to behold, with timed attractions and events from a parade along Main Street to a livestock show.

Belchertown boasts stunning views from the eastern peaks of Mount Holyoke to the seemingly limitless expanse of Quabbin Reservoir, the state's largest inland body of water.

From Belchertown it is possible to hike west along the Metacomet-Monadunk Trail, or head east to Quabbin Park, climbing to great views in the hills on the reservoir's south shore.

1. Mount Holyoke Range State Park

Belchertown is located in the eastern foothills of the Holyoke Range, an east-west mountain stream that runs to the east bank of the Connecticut River at Hadley and South Hadley.

The range is part of the Metacomet Ridge, which traces the Connecticut River valley for 100 miles from Long Island Sound to the MA-VT border.

From Belchertown, you can drive seven miles to the ridgeline of Mount Holyoke Range State Park, most of it within the city of Amherst. Crossing the ridge here, admiring peaks like Long Mountain (920 feet) and Norvotic Mountain (1,106 feet) is the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, which hugs the ridge for 116 miles.

In Belchertown, pick up the trail off Bay Rd on Bay Path Rd and soon you'll be admiring the views of the Fort River Valley for miles.

The state park has more than 30 miles of trails, and for longer hikes you can head west to Skinner State Park.

2. Quabbin Reservoir

The northeast corner of Belchertown touches the largest body of inland water in Massachusetts. The Quabbin Reservoir, which covers an area of 38.6 square miles, was built in the 1930s, wiping four towns off the map in the process.

Together with the Wachusett Reservoir, it is Boston's main water source. Water moves from front to back along the 25-mile-long Quabbin Canal, one of the longest aqueducts in the world.

It is 2,640 feet long and 295 feet high, and has a great view from Winsor Dam, just west of the reservoir.

Located in the Quabbin Administration Building, the Quabbin Visitor Center contains fascinating facts and figures as well as displays explaining the history of the reservoir and its importance to greater Boston.

3. UMass Cold Spring Orchard

The University of Massachusetts Amherst has an agricultural research park in Belchertown.

Here, UMass scientists are looking for ways to reduce the amount of dangerous chemicals used in growing fruit, studying the resistance of different trees to pests and diseases, and finding ways to grow more fruit with less space. .

For the public, UMass Cold Spring Orchard is a place where you can enjoy stunning views of the Mount Holyoke Mountain Range, and purchase delicious apples after summer and fall.

More than 100 varieties are grown here, including Macon, Cortland, Red Delicious, Honeycrisp and McIntosh, and you can bring a picnic to make the most of the rural views for as long as you want.

4. Belchertown Town Beach

Located off Route 9, Arcadia Lake is a beautiful place, with a backdrop of high, undulating hills to the east and west.

In the summer, you can relax on the beach at Town Beach, which has a large expanse of sand, a roped swimming area, and amenities including picnic tables, charcoal grills, outdoor showers, and changing rooms.

If you want to see more of the lake, you can rent rowboats here during the season. In the off-season, Town Beach is home to a sailing team made up of five colleges – offshore, Arcadia Lake is known for strong winds that test even the most accomplished sailors.

5. Belchertown Center Historic District

You can take a look around downtown, protected as a historic district, to learn about the history of Belchertown.

Essentially public, it is unusually large at 1,200 feet long, and includes a Civil War memorial and a bandstand dating back to the 19th century.

In the summer, find Belchertown Community Band concerts here. More than two dozen houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries are shared, most of them timber-framed. Arguably the finest single building in the area is the Clapp Memorial Library (1887) on S. Main Street.

Built in the style of a Roman basilica, it was financed by bequests and is still held in trust.

The building is crowned by an octagonal lantern, part of an eight-foot tower. Inside, take a look at the magnificent stained glass windows in the arcades, which depict an allegorical image of literature to the south, and Saint Cecilia, patroness of music, to the north.

6. Stone House Museum

Founded more than a century ago, the Belchertown Historical Society maintains this impressive Federal-style home, which is open for tours on Saturday afternoons in the summer.

The Stone House was built in 1827 as a wedding gift for the daughter of a wealthy local landowner.

The interior is presented as it would have looked in the 1840s, and you can see nine rooms filled with period items including fine 18th and 19th century ceramics, furniture, quilts, musical instruments and historical costumes.

One room is dedicated to the museum's special exhibitions, which highlight a particular aspect of the city's history and are updated every two years.

The Ford Annex here was built with money donated by Henry Ford, and displays preserved farm implements, cobbler's tools, looms, spinning wheels, sleds, and wagons.

7. Quabbin Park

Most of the Winsor Dam and its drainage are adjacent to the Weir District, which acquired land to the north when the reservoir was built.

Here, Quabbin Park is located on a peninsula on the shore of the reservoir and has a few worthwhile attractions within easy reach of Belchertown.

The park has 22 miles of forest roads and hiking trails, one of which leads to the summit of Big Cobben Hill.

The summit is crowned by the Quabbin Observation Tower, which offers an exceptional 60-mile panorama in all directions.

Other notable viewpoints in the park include Bull Mountain Hill and Enfield Lookout, which can be reached by road or walking from the observation tower.

8. Norwottuck Rail Trail

Belchertown is located at the eastern end of the 11-mile rail trail, which runs through Amherst and Hadley, and terminates in downtown Northampton, where it connects to local trails.

All of this lies on the rail line of the Massachusetts Central Railroad, first laid in the 1880s and later absorbed by the Boston and Maine Railroad.

Toward Belchertown, the eastern portions of the trail pass through remote landscapes and former reserves such as Lawrence Swamp and the Brickyard Conservation Area, with opportunities to cross trails along the particularly secluded banks of the Fort River.

A little further, the path runs to the prestigious Amherst College at the south end of campus.

9. Metacomet Lake

Adjacent to Arcadia Lake is a large 74-acre pond that is considered a fishing spot in Belchertown.

Beyond it, Lake Metacomet sits in a picturesque corner of town, surrounded by forests, and with a public boat ramp on the east shore just off Paul Road.

It's a good place to watch the sunset, and it's the only part of the lakefront that has shore fishing. The lake is stocked with trout every spring and fall, and in the winter people go ice fishing, with trout and stringers being regularly caught at this time of year.

10. Robert Frost Trail

On the western border of Belchertown, the Norwottuck Rail Trail meets another long-distance trail.

This is the Robert Frost Trail, which runs about 50 miles along the eastern edge of the Connecticut River Valley from Mount Holyoke Range State Park in the south to Wendell State Forest in the north.

The track is named after the famous poet who spent much of the 1920s and 1930s teaching at Amherst College.

You can hike for several miles without straying far from Belchertown, as the trail follows the western boundary after descending Metacomet Ridge, passing through the village of Dwight before entering Lawrence Swamp along Hop Brook.

There is convenient parking at the junction with the Norwottuck Rail Trail on Station Road in Amherst.

11. Phoenix Fruit Farm

The farm has been part of the community in Belchertown for over 60 years, and opens its doors to the public in the summer to pick their own fruit.

Phoenix Fruit Farm is over 100 acres and has stunning views of Cobben, less than a mile to the north.

One of the many things we recommend about this place is that it is 100% pesticide-free – while the fruit won't win any beauty contests, the trees are part of a rich ecosystem.

The season starts with strawberries around June, and then you get peaches, which are usually ready to pick in August. Then come the apples, starting in mid-September and continuing through October.

12. Jessica’s Boundless Playground

Built in 2014, this stunning facility is part of the expansive Chestnut Hill Recreation Area and was designed to be universally accessible.

This means that the play structure at Jessica's Boundless Playground has wide, shallow ramps, able to accommodate wheelchairs, rather than stairs.

The ground is a soft, rubbery surface, and in the absence of tree cover, the stadium has giant canopies that provide plenty of shade.

Outside the main body are a variety of stand-alone components, such as the “Turntable” and “Oddle Swing,” creating immersive, multi-sensory play experiences. Outdoor fitness stations set up near the playground allow caregivers to stay active while supervised.

13. Cold Spring Country Club

Despite the name, this highly rated 18-hole course is semi-private. Opened in 2012, Cold Spring Country Club has a Mary Armstrong vibe and is set in rolling hills with far-reaching views in every direction.

There are five sets of tees on each hole, and there is a noticeable difference between the narrow and technical east side, and the more open and forgiving west side.

One of the many memorable holes is the “Isolation” 15th, a par 3 with stunning panoramic views and a large, comfortable green pad with a slope back providing long approach shots.

14. Belchertown Fair

Every September, Belchertown celebrates its agricultural roots with a fair more than 160 years old.

Over three days, the Belchertown Fair features carnival rides, live music, children's entertainment, great food, and all kinds of classic fairs.

One signature event is the parade along Main Street on Saturday morning, featuring the award-winning Belchertown High School Marching Band, as well as a host of local organizations, services and clubs.

The exhibit hall also features an array of exhibits for everything from quilts to scarecrows, while a 4-H tent offers kids a chance to see farm animals up close.

In the bridle area, you can watch demonstrations of a variety of skills, from handling a K-9 unit to throwing hay bales and pulling horses.

15. Belchertown Farmers’ Market

There is a weekly farmers market every Sunday in the town common from mid-June to September. A typical week features more than 20 vendors, and everything you see is locally grown, locally produced, or made locally.

Think seasonal vegetables, poultry cuts, grass-fed beef, eggs, honey, maple syrup, cut flowers, baked goods, spice blends, handmade candy, popcorn, dog food, and more.

Craft vendors are also well represented at the market, selling jewelry, home decor, bath bombs, yarn, hand-carved wooden objects – the list goes on.