The Mount Tom Link

Cue sheet northbound | Cue sheet southbound

This 14-mile alternate route between Southampton and Northampton offers bicyclists the opportunity to visit the Mount Tom Reservation, with its spectacular views of the region. The climb to Mount Tom is very steep from the Reservoir Road end; but this is the price for the scenery. The Mount Tom Reservation includes a museum and picnic tables.

The segment follows relatively level roads except in the Reservation, and is a less strenuous alternative to the main route for bicyclists who simply wish to travel between Southampton and Northampton. A shortcut which avoids the mountain climb is indicated on the cue sheet and map.

The Mount Tom Link south to Route 141 also serves as one segment of a "River Level Route" -- sketched out on the maps but not surveyed in its entirety -- which offers less strenuous riding at the expense of increased traffic to the south in West Springfield and Agawam.

Recommendations

Roads in the Mount Tom Link are mostly suburban, with moderate traffic. Like most roads used for the bicycle routes in the southern part of the Connecticut Valley, they will become unsuitable within a few decades unless they are widened to accommodate increased motor traffic along with bicycle traffic. The route includes a couple of segments of numbered highway, on Route 141 in Easthampton and Route 10 in Northampton. These are relatively wide, and comfortable at present levels of traffic, at least for the experienced bicyclists who are likely to undertake a climb up Reservation Road to Mount Tom.

Warning signs should be posted for the steep descent out of the Mount Tom Reservation of this is a designated bicycle route.