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Mount Toby is the highest summit of a sprawling collection of mostly wooded hills and knolls that rise from a distinct plateau-like upland in the towns of Sunderland and Leverett, MA. Mount Toby is considered one of the most biodiverse areas in New England (pictured: red trillium). Photo credit: Jeannette Pierce.

Bear Hole, West Springfield, MA. Bear Hole is a ~1,700-acre wooded area that encompasses Bear Hole Reservoir. The reservoir supplies a minimal amount of West Springfield's drinking water. The area supports a diversified biological environment including great horned owl, white tailed deer, hawk, and several vernal pools. Photo credit: Jeannette Pierce.

There's a reason they call it Noble View. Elevated at nearly 1,100 feet above the Connecticut River Valley, AMC's Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell, MA provides spectacular views of cities, towns, and countryside. Spend the night in an updated cottage or at a campsite and take in the incredible sunrise from the open hilltop just outside the cottages. Explore miles of trails by foot, snowshoes, or Nordic skis. Photo credit: Jeannette Pierce.

Noble View Outdoor Center, Russell, MA. Originally purchased by AMC's Western MA Chapter in 1931, Noble View's peaceful, pristine mountaintop location overlooks the Connecticut River Valley and features 360 acres of woodlands, trails, and abandoned farm fields to explore. Photo credit: Laura Stinnette.

From its origins in the Berkshire Hills in western Massachusetts, the Westfield River winds its way through historic villages, prime farmland, and pristine wilderness areas. The river features native trout fishing, rugged mountain scenery, and a historical mill town settlement. Photo credit: Jeannette Pierce.

Ashley Reservoir is part of the West Holyoke Water Works and consists of several different bodies of water including Ashley Pond, Wright Pond, Cedar Pond, Clear Pond and Connor Reservoir. Take the Ashley Reservoir Loop trail for an easy hike around the reservoir. Photo credit: Jeannette Pierce.

Hampton Ponds State Park. Hampton Ponds consists of a small complex of waterbodies located off Route 202 in Westfield and Southampton, MA. The park offers water-based activities including swimming, motorized and non-motorized boating, and fishing plus facilities for picnicking. Photo credit: Jeannette Pierce.

Mount Tom, Holyoke, MA. Mount Tom (elevation 1,202 feet), is a steep, rugged traprock mountain on the west bank of the Connecticut River. The mountain is the southernmost and highest peak of the Mount Tom Range and the highest traprock peak of the 100-mile long Metacomet Ridge. Mount Tom is known for its continuous line of cliffs and talus slopes visible from the south and west, its dramatic 1,100-foot rise over the surrounding Connecticut River Valley, and its rare plant communities and microclimate ecosystems. Photo credit: Jeannette Pierce.

Bash Bish Falls State Park, Berkshire County, MA. Bash Bish Falls, a waterfall in the Taconic Mountains of southwestern Massachusetts, is the highest waterfall in the state. The falls are made up of a series of cascades, nearly 200 feet long in total. Photo credit: Jeannette Pierce.