Fort River Bridge – Topping Farm Conservation Area loop from Amherst

Fort River Bridge – Topping Farm Conservation Area loop from Amherst

Hard

3.0

(12)

riders

Fort River Bridge – Topping Farm Conservation Area loop from Amherst

03:30

48.6km

670m

Gravel riding

Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: October 27, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment that goes up or down a series of steps

You may need to carry your bike.

After 47.0 km for 3 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.79 km

Downtown Amherst (South Pleasant Street)

Highlight (Segment) • Settlement

The historic downtown of Amherst is just north of Amherst College and south of UMass Amherst, and has been the heart of this area since the 18th century. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, there are plenty unique shopping boutiques, great restaurants and coffee shops, and historic buildings to explore. This is a great place to check out when visiting the area.

Tip by

2.45 km

Amherst College Main Quad

Highlight • Historical Site

Amherst College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1821 and is the third oldest institution of higher education in Massachusetts. Amherst was originally an all-boys school until 1974 and is an exclusively undergraduate institution. This small, highly-selective school only has about 2,000 students has many notable alumni including: Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States; Harlan F. Stone, the 12th Chief Justice of the United States; novelist David Foster Wallace; and the former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta. The Main Quadrangle is the heart of the college campus. Academic and residential buildings surround the green lawn, which is the traditional setting for the Commencement ceremony. Although you are allowed to walk through campus, please be respectful of students and faculty attending this historic college.

Tip by

4.82 km

Fort River Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

This bridge along the Norwottuck Rail Trail crosses the Fort River and offers great views of the waterway.

Tip by

5.15 km

Norwottuck Rail Trail

Nature Reserve

7.18 km

Southern section of Norwottuck Rail Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

This is a great section of the Norwottuck Rail Trail. It winds through beautiful pine forests and wetlands. The trail is completely off the road, so you should have a comfortable traffic-free ride.

Tip by

10.8 km

Topping Farm Conservation Area

Highlight • Natural

With forests, brooks, swamps, meadows, and wetlands, the Topping Farm Conservation Area really is a haven for the plants and animals that call the property their home. A few different paved roads wind around the area and offer views of the nature preserve from the roadside.

Tip by

15.0 km

Arcadia Lake

Lake

15.2 km

View of Arcadia Lake

Highlight • Viewpoint

You get a pretty good view of Arcadia Lake between the trees from here along Federal Street. There is enough room on the side of the road to pull over and step off the bike in case you need a break.

Tip by

41.7 km