Best Mt. Toby Outdoor Activities

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Mt. Toby in Sunderland, Massachusetts is the perfect destination for outdoor activities. There are waterfalls to admire, mountain top views, hikes through New England woods, bridal trails, rock climbing, and even a cave to explore. The area is gorgeous in all seasons.

The Story of Mt. Toby

Mt. Toby, at 1269 feet (387 m), is the highest summit in the upland areas of Sunderland and Leverett, Massachusetts, east of the Connecticut River. The three smaller peaks of Roaring Mountain, Ox Hill, and Bull Hill surround Mt. Toby to make the whole area a delightful place for outdoor activities.

The Mohican people named the mountain Kunckquachu, meaning high mountain. The area was also the ancestral home of the Pocumtuk tribe. From the fire tower on Mt. Toby, an expansive view of Kwinitekw, the Indigenous name of the Connecticut River Valley can be seen.

For more viewpoints in Western Massachusetts visit this post.

Mt. Toby Outdoor Activities

I’ve spent many years exploring the Mt. Toby watershed. This area has something for everyone, from short hikes to waterfalls to climbing steep trails to the summit fire tower. Add in horseback riding, caving, climbing, and cross country skiing and you have many ways to enjoy Mt. Toby outdoor activities.

Roaring Falls

If you want a short but beautiful hike in the Mt. Toby area, try the pleasant quarter-mile stroll into Roaring Falls. A private trail leads to the majestic waterfalls. The upper and lower cascades pour through spectacular mossy green conglomerate boulders. The 18-foot falls are called a punchbowl and plunge in waterfall terminology. Who knew?

The trailhead is located on Route 63 at a private parking area. Heading north on Route 63, look for the lot entrance on the left, after a cemetery on the left.  If you get to Montague Road, you have gone too far.

The owners of the parking lot request a $2 donation to help with maintenance. Throw a couple bucks in the box at the trailhead to support the accessibility of this wonderful trail.

The trail wanders through hemlock woods, crossing the railroad tracks to arrive at the falls. Make sure to explore around the falls to see a cave arch in the conglomerate rock cliffs. The trail continues steeply to meet up with the Summit Road trail on the top of the cliff.

Gunn Brook Falls

This waterfall of two cascades is a wonderful hike for everyone. The distance is short, about 0.1 miles to the falls, but the reward is great. In the spring or after a few days of heavy rain, the upper and lower falls put on quite a show. They cascade over ledges of sedimentary rock in a cool green valley.

In the springtime, this whole area is covered with wildflowers. Look for trillium, dutchman’s breeches, and columbine at the cliff bases. Later in the season, a variety of ferns can be found here. Any budding botanist will find much to be excited about in the Gunn Brook Falls area.

The hike is on a wide wood road. Find the trailhead on Falls Road in Sunderland. Heading north, turn right onto Gunn Cross Road just past the pond where the power line crosses the road. More exact directions are here.

Hikes of Mt. Toby

A robust network of trails winds over Mt. Toby with trailheads on every side of the mountain. Hiking is the most popular of the outdoor activities of Mt. Toby. The trails mentioned here all start at the Mt. Toby State Forest headquarters on Reservation Road. From Sunderland center, take Route 47 north for about 4 miles. Turn right on Reservation Road and continue to the Mt. Toby Forest sign and parking lot on the right.

Summit Road

Take a hike to the fire tower on top of Mt. Toby for outstanding views of the Connecticut River Valley and the major peaks in the neighboring states.

From the forest headquarters parking lot find the Tower Road heading south up the mountain. This trail (also known as Summit Road) wanders around the mountain as it gradually descends to the top. A few other trails intersect and the color of blazes changes but if you stay on the two-track woods road and follow the Tower signs, you will be good.

In the first part of the trail, sparkling sylvan streams run near the trail. If you have extra time, take a side trip to Roaring Falls on a blue-blazed trail to the left. The rest of the ascent is somewhat unremarkable. However, the views on the summit from the fire tower are quite remarkable. You can see Ktsi Amiskw or the Great Beaver, which is the Indigenous name for South and North Sugarloaf Mountains and the Pocumutuk Ridge. I write about these peaks in this post.

On a clear day, you can also see Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, Mt. Greylock in the Berkshires, and the Peace Pagoda in the Leverett Hills. If you are extra lucky, the forest ranger will be in the tower to explain their job in wildfire management. If not, you can still climb the tower below the cab for the scenery.

Telephone Line Trail

One of the intersections on the Tower Road is the Telephone Line trail. This trail is the shortest way to the summit. However, a short trail comes with a deep ascent. The trail is rocky and wet in places, but it is my favorite way to the top of Mt. Toby.

Hike on the Tower road for about a half-mile and turn right on the red-blazed Telephone Line Trail. It climbs along the old phone line eventually turning into the orange-blazed Robert Frost Trail to the top.

If you have strong knees or a good pair of hiking poles, the trail makes a nice loop with the Tower Trail. Hike up the Tower Road trail and descend on the steep Telephone Line trail for a 4.3-mile cruise through the woods.

Cranberry Pond

If you don’t have a lot of time and want a tranquil walk with woods and water, try Cranberry Pond. This kettle pond was formed by the recession of the last glacier in New England.

On Tower Road, hike about a quarter mile until you see the Cranberry Pond trail on your left. Follow the trail down the ravine to the lake. From there you can hike along the west shore of the pond. Make a loop by hiking back to your car on the blue-blazed Timber Management Trail found at the north end of the pond.

Fall foliage makes this a spectacular autumn hike. The reflection of colors in the still water is magnificent.

Cranberry Pond is stocked with trout so you may have good success if you dip a line. Even if you don’t catch dinner, you’ll certainly fill up on the beauty and peace of the pond.

Rock Climbing

A small but popular rock climbing crag is located on Bull Hill, a lower peak of the Mt. Toby highlands. The Sunbowl climbing area is known for the sun that warms climbers as they ascend the conglomerate rockface of the 35-foot cliff. There are climbs for beginners and for more experienced climbers looking for a quick half-day climbing session.

Parking for the hike into the crag is at the water tower on Reservoir Road. More information and directions are here.

Sunderland Cave

The Sunderland Cave is an amazing underworld adventure on the slopes of Mt. Toby. Unlike solution caves that are formed by water eroding limestone, the Sunderland Cave was formed by rifting and uplifting of the sedimentary layers. The conglomerate rock layers are distinctive in this cave.

To get to the cave from the Reservation Road parking lot, follow the orange-blazed Robert Frost Trail for about a half-mile until it intersects with the blue-blazed Cave Trail on the right (also called the Sugar Farms Trail). Take another right at the Cave sign and descend the hill. The trail will reach a T intersection and you will stay right. After a few minutes, you will see an impressive chasm in rock. The cave entrance is around the corner from this split in the rock.

The climb down into the cave can be extremely slippery in the winter and early spring so use microspikes on this part then. The cave maintains a constant temperature so it will feel cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Be sure to explore all the different size chambers in the cave. I’ve seen hibernating bats and porcupines taking shelter in the cave.

A helmet and a headlamp are essential caving gear. I recommend the Black Diamond Half Dome helmet that can be used for both cave and rock climbing. If you are a casual caver, just bring your bike helmet–it will work fine.

For more inside info on the Sunderland Cave, hop over to my post on 10 Outdoor Adventures in Western Massachusetts.

Horseback Riding

For many years I took groups of college students on a horseback trail ride through the woods around Mt. Toby in the fall. Winding along the trails atop a trusty steed is a delightful experience.

Trail rides can be arranged through the Craig Memorial Equestrian Center on Route 63 next to Mt. Toby’s Cranberry Pond. This local stable is a special place you won’t want to miss if you love horses. Roberta Bryant, the longtime owner/manager, is a competent horsewoman with a heart of gold. If she’s not in the ring putting on a gymkhana for the local 4H riders, you’ll find her in the barn telling a great story.

Winter Hiking and Skiing

When the snow flies, the Mt. Toby outdoor activities definitely don’t end. Snowshoeing on all the trails mentioned brings you to a magical winter wonderland of snow-coated hemlocks and ice-encrusted streams.

Several of the wood road trails are perfect for cross country skiing. While they are not groomed, they are usually well tracked out after a snowfall. The Tower Road is a gradual accent on skis that has a fun ski out on return. When conditions warrant it, the downhill run is a continuous ride.

On the other side of the mountain, North Mountain Road is another great cross country skiing trail. Located at the end of Park Street in Sunderland, this trail meanders up the mountain. There’s also an escalator return ride on skis down to the trail head.

Wrap Up of Mt. Toby Outdoor Activities

After almost 40 years of enjoying the outdoor activities around Mt. Toby, I can confidently say there is an outdoor adventure for everyone in the area. I’m shared some of my favorite activities and trails but there are certainly many more. Study the old hand-drawn map here for other hiking trail possibilities.

After a day in the woods of Mt. Toby, head over to the iconic Bookmill in Montague. The Bookmill ambiance is a perfect ending to a day of outdoor activities on Mt. Toby.

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